What Anchor Do You Use?

[highdesertM26]

Hey High Desert What part of NM are you in. Love the State, especially up around Taos. Lake Mead is a great place to sail if you don't mind lack of trees. Was built with flood control #1 and boating came in somewhere way down the line. Plenty of coves to get hiddien in. What lake do you sail on most? My aunt lived in Roswell in '47, very interesting stories.:naughty: 'nuff said. Fair Winds and Full Sails...

Hey Freedom,

We're living outside of Albuquerque in Rio Rancho NM. We sail up at Cochiti Lake which is about 45 minutes north of here. It's a small (1200 acre) reservoir, but it's close and it's a no wake lake so there aren't many power boaters. We wish it were larger, but we just pretend we're somewhere else. We've also got a large lake (Elephant Butte) about 2 hours south, but we keep the boat up at Cochiti.

Roswell must have been an interesting place in '47. Hell, must of New Mexico must of have been pretty amazing (and empty) back then.

Take Care.

Todd

 

[cscott]

I find it hard to have too many good cleats with backing plates. Since we often have 2 anchors down I use both of the cleats behind the rollers and also the middle one.

Sum,
Why do you generally have two anchors down. Where we anchor up in the San Juans and in the bays in the Puget Sound, (In Washington), All the boats swing on their anchors with the tide changes. If you had two anchors down so that you did not swing, you would cause a world of problems. I have never had a problem with my Bruce. Yes, you do move a little in the swinging process as the anchor bites in after turning 180 degrees. To help, that is why I use a Sentinel.

PS: I know you had a great trip in Florida, but you really should consider a trip to the NW and sail the San Juans, Canada, and Puget Sound. If you are interested, give me a call, 503-749-1797 and I will tell you about the neat places. We are putting in at Olympia the week end after 4th of July and sail the South Sound for 3 weeks to Bremerton and back.

Take care,

Chuck

 

[Faris]

There are all kinds of reasons for using two anchors, both off the bow. It's handy in small anchorages where you can't really afford to swing much (two opposing anchors are placed so the anchor doesn't have to reset when the tide changes. However, as you mentioned, we don't do that much up here. So, if you are in close quarters with other anchored boats, the fact that they are swinging and you are not can cause a problem. It can still be smart, but you would want to position yourself astern all other boats with no chance of someone position astern you. This way, when all of the boats swing with the tide you will not get an unwelcome visitor.

I think they do this more in more crowded anchorages than we typically see around here. I don't know if that's true, but the only place I've seen people using two anchors is in the Bahamas.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I use 2 anchors in a V pattern off the bow, to counteract the 'sailing on anchor' these boats tend to do...

Most important thing to do is use plenty of rode. That is the normal reason people drag, not enough scope.... (see it all the time. they use 3 or 4:1 at the lake, then come out to the ocean and think they can get away with that... use 7:1 or more.)

 

[cscott]

In all the bays that I have anchored in up in the San Juans and Canada, I have not seen two anchors used. Even in the small bay at Port Ludlow only one anchor was used. All the boats would swing with the tides. That has been my experience clear back to the early 70's. Over at Butchard Gardens Bay, they do have about 4 bouys that are close. To eleminate swinging the boats on the bouys use stern ties that hold the boats in one place. They bay is to small for anchoring.

Chuck

 

[timebandit]

This is what I use--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPZmsdk3hg&feature=related

You must use what the other boats are using when anchoring with other boats, if they swing so must you and visa versa.