Wear and Tear from Long Term Anchoring?

[petecasey]

Hi all! I’ve posted a couple of times on here before I owned a boat, but now I am a proud owner of a 1972 Islander 36! Super excited about the boat, and can’t wait to learn more about all its ins and outs, and keep cruising around the Channel Islands here outside of Santa Barbara, CA.

I am going to keep my boat anchored out for a while - not a ton of protection from wind and swell, so it’s a pretty rolly anchorage. I was wondering what people thought about the stress that rolling around out there continuously would have on the boat. At first I didn’t think much of it, but I would also understand how rigging, interior bulkheads, etc. get some extra wear and tear on them from this movement. My hope is that it’s just enough to uncover problems that are already creeping up, but not enough to make me need to replace my rigging 5 years sooner than otherwise!

Thanks!

 

[jssailem]

Pete your query is difficult to answer. You have a boat that is 51 years old. You do not identify the age of the rigging that you want to last another 5 years. At 51 years with unmentioned sailing exposure, I would expect the rig and mast are due for a major overhaul. Think a car that has 150,000 miles on the odometer and never been in the shop for service.

For a properly prepared, serviced and tuned boat you shouldn’t have much immediate worry. The flexing and movement of the sea is going to require inspection and maintenance. Likely more frequently than if the boat was tied up at a slip protected by a breakwater. You‘ll need to watch the lines for chafe. Mooring lines will wear. If they break your boat will head out to sea or onto the rocks. The use of chafe gear and constant routine inspection will help protect your boat.

 

[RoyS]

If your anchor rode is rope you should watch that for wear from rubbing along the bottom. One sharp rock can do a lot of damage in a short time. Use a kellet to keep the (rope) rode from wrapping around your keel. Not a good idea in my opinion to leave your boat on an anchor for the season.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Hi Pete,
Congratulations on your boat. Very exciting and a great size to gunkhole around in. I'm also glad to read your post. Your question shows you are a thinker and paying attention. You will be a good caretaker of your new mistress.

When you say anchored, we are assuming on an anchor instead of a mooring ball. Either way, the same concepts are of equal concern.

John's statement about proper tuning is important. Your boat will suffer far less wear sitting at anchor than being sailed, in most ways, but a contestant, 24/7 rolling about, can be a real concern versus a constant single directional strain under sail. Your keel flexes, your ground tackle and rodes can chafe, chain plates, stays, mast and hardware, all the way back down to the keel are being subtly works back and forth where a sail puts a more constant pull on these things. This is where you want your rig properly tuned to be tight and placed correctly without being over tightened. Your hull can put up with a lot, but hogging the sheer from over tuning will probably happen faster in a rolly anchorage than in a protected marina.

I can't answer the questions about the effects on a rudder that is fixed or allowed to swing loose, my gut feeling is making the helm fast is better. Then there's hidden wiring that might have come loose and be swinging back and forth between two anchor points. Look around, anything that swings, swivels, flexes, etc. can potentially have a limit.

Halyards, topping lifts, and lazyjack's are also things you want to pay attention to. There are plenty of threads on SBO about halyard slap. Anchored boats probably don't get the attention paid to that problem that marina docked boats do. But it can shorten the life of your running lines.

I wouldn't knock myself out over it, but this is a good common sense question that will give you a longer lasting boat to enjoy.

-Will

 

[dLj]

What does "awhile" mean? A week? A month? 6 months? A year?

When you say "anchor out" - do you mean use the anchoring system on your boat or do you mean to put out a mooring? Are you going to stay on the boat? Or are you anchoring the boat and then leaving it there unattended?

This sounds like a new-to-you boat - I would not leave a boat anchored out that I have not fully vetted. Don't ask me why I say this...

Once having a boat that I've understood all the details, then I would leave it anchored out for a week or two, although I'd certainly prefer not in a "rolly anchorage". If I were anchoring it out to leave for a few days to a week or so, I'd anchor and spend a few days on the boat watching how everything works. I'd be particularly concerned with chaffe and making sure all my lines were well secured and not chafing (this includes not having halyard slap). I would run a 10:1 anchor line and I'd prefer an all chain anchor. (This can be controversial)

I feel the biggest concern is the anchoring system (every single part of it) and anything on the boat that may be moving in the wind or waves. That could be inside or outside the boat. I recall a bottle that fell over in a cabinet in my boat years ago and the back and forth movement caused a crease in the base of one of my cabinets and a dent where it hit the front of the cabinet.

I would not be worried about interior bulkheads and such... Staying for a few days on the boat with it anchored allows you to listen to all the sounds that come from all the parts of the boat. Any noise coming from something moving - stop it from moving...

Anything beyond a couple weeks - I'd get way too nervous, That would be time to make a mooring.

dj

 

[FastOlson]

Pete your query is difficult to answer. You have a boat that is 51 years old. You do not identify the age of the rigging that you want to last another 5 years. At 51 years with unmentioned sailing exposure, I would expect the rig and mast are due for a major overhaul. Think a car that has 150,000 miles on the odometer and never been in the shop for service.

This is important information. Very.
I boat in fresh water, at about 46 degrees north. Here, it is normal practice to replace the standing rig at about 20 years, max. (If in salt water make that 15 years, and if warm salt water-- Ten Years.)
At a half century, everything depends (totally) on what preventative maintenance has been done and documented. All deck hardware re-bedded? (due at age 30) chainplates pulled and inspected and often replaced? Same answer.

While the basic design and construction of your boat was way better than the cheapies of the era, only a lower % owners actually do the needed upkeep. Far too many just "defer" it.

I have done a coastal delivery on a sister ship and its sailing reputation is well deserved.
Just have your eyes wide open going in.
Talk to a rigger and have in hand a thorough survey, as you plan for maintenance.
That model is often listed on lists of "modern classics" and for good reason.
Fair winds!

 

[Alan Gomes]

When you say "anchor out" - do you mean use the anchoring system on your boat or do you mean to put out a mooring? Are you going to stay on the boat? Or are you anchoring the boat and then leaving it there unattended?

This sounds like a new-to-you boat - I would not leave a boat anchored out that I have not fully vetted.

Especially if this is off of Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara and especially this time of year. That anchorage is dicey, and anchored out boats regularly are driven ashore from southerly storms.

 

[petecasey]

Thank you all for the responses!

I have had the boat for four months in a slip, and now I am going to live aboard anchored out - at least half of the week spent on my boat. I have looked through the entire vessel, and gotten a TON of local knowledge about the anchorage from local sailors and liveaboards. I understand that the anchorage has a bad rep (when a south storm comes most of the owners move their boats into a guest slip. Every storm a few don’t and inevitably one goes onto the beach). I will be using my anchor system as the harbor keeps an eye out for homemade moorings. All chain and a good anchor, and plenty of beef around the cleats.
I understand the risks.

The boat did not come in perfect condition, but has had a lot of the maintenance done as suggested.

I am mostly wondering about the wear and tear because when I do replace my rigging, I would hate for it to have aged considerably if I keep it out there for a year or so. My theory was that it has to be more gentle than sailing and cruising the boat, but more harsh than a slip. Sounds like I shouldn’t worry too much about it as long as I am doing routine maintenance and keeping an eye on anything that gets loose!

 

[higgs]

I kept my boat on a mooring in a rough harbor for many years. I don't think the bouncing around puts much strain on anything except the ground tackle. Certainly the rudder should not be allowed to swing. Movement = wear. The remaining strain on chainplates, rigging is minimal compared with actually using the boat under sail. I would not be comfortable with leaving the boat anchored and leaving her for any length of time. Anyone who has done much anchoring will tell you not to trust an anchor. Unless you dive on your anchor you have no idea if you are dug into a weed or solid bottom. A weed may withstand the pull from reverse when setting the anchor, but constant tugging over time can finally pull the weed loose from the bottom.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Isn't that area you plan to leave your boat unattended known as Fool's Anchorage ?

 

[justsomeguy]

Fool's Anchorage ?

Oof, couldn't live like that.