Anchoring Tricks

[Rebeccaburg]

Hello sister sailors. Hope to have a topic that shares anchoring tips, tricks and techniques. I'm always interested in learning how other solo-cruisers contend with certain conditions while anchoring or weighing anchor. My own system is simple and easy for me- just hauling the hook up by hand and feeding the chain and nylon rope rode into one of the deck pipes. Angel's main hook is a 27' Bulwagga (my favorite) and she carries a selection of others like a Delta, Fortress, storm, etc. It's easy to haul up "dead boat" as Angel's only 31 feet and medium displacement. But when it's blowing over 20, things get tricky. What do you guys do to circumvent this type of situation? (no, I don't want a windlass for such a small cruiser). Currently, I nudge the throttle just a hair where Angel's barely motoring forward, then quick pull up a bunch of rode with out running it over of course. Sometimes this takes a few trips back and forth from throttle to bow, but it works in its own awkward way. Would love to hear other people's techniques. Anchoring is such a vital thing for cruisers:) And how about having to deal with dragging anchor in a tight cove while having two hooks out? This happened in the Bahamas and the only thing I could do was bouy one, haul the other up and motor away (the bouyed anchor was later retrieved)- what a hassle!
Rebecca

[Suky]

zee, thanks for adding to the discussion. I'm particularly interested in the level of difficulty getting up different anchors.
My 17 daysailer held firm for nearly 3 weeks of rain and storms, up to 40knots on 2 danforth anchors. (Why is was necessary is a whole nother story. LOL.)
Danforth are the most common anchor in New England and more affordable I believe, but more often than not, a b**** to getting it back in the boat.

[zeehag]

getting a cqr up is easy--without windlass---overdrive it and just pull it up---no sweat---dragging isnt usually a problem as it supposedly resets self unless in silt over rock--then everything is bad holding and everyone drags---without fail....istill need a ruce for my formosa--i have a cqr and a danforth--danforth is useless in weeds and grass....cqr digs in ....in carib, is good to dive anchor to see if going to stick well---i usually reverse and dig it in....but if sand over rock, is goood to dive it.....just to make sure....

[LOLA]

I JUST STARTED A DISCUSSION UNDER GENERAL FORUM ABOUT BUYING ANCHORS

[Christine Popadentschuk]

Here there are comments on achoring. The real challenge begins when there is no space for a lot of rope. Putting down many anchors or or cobbled toghether riggs? How shall that come up in a hurry? Most anchors will hold, but often you will need it one or two number bigger than the company claims will hold your boat. I had a homemade cqr like anchor. I was not so plesed with it, added some lead to the tip, and never again had to reset that thing. I could drop it and it would hold. When in narrow spaces or at the edge of a channel I useed ar riding wight. A rope through a water hose, that would ride down the chain, or rope, and another line to lower and rise the thing. Allways worked for me.
Getting the anchor up is another challenge. If fouled up badly only a trip line will help you. In anchorages with a lot of traffic, I liked to use a short floating line for that. make it too short to reach prop level, tie an eye to it. easy then to get a trip line to pull it up through that.
And just about the lifting. You need one point to clip your chain into. easy and fast. Windlass on small boats is not needed. At least I managed well without. Don`t hurry take your time. Each boat rides the anchor hard at one time then the chain will get loose again. That is the moment to get the loose into the boat. When the boat pulls again, secure the chain and wait for the next loose period.
Christine

[Steve Knight]

If you don't mind hearing from a guy, you can use a mast mounted winch or even the sheet winch to heave in anchor line. For chain use a chain hook and shackle bent onto a length of rope that will reach the winch