anchor from stern?

[ShihanRocco]

New to boating so bear with me! I have bad knees so it's really difficult to climb and walk acros the sides of the boat (21' starcraft chieftain w.cabin) to set the anchor from the bow. It woulld be much easier to set the anchor from the stern. Any problems with this? thanks.

 

[KingsPoint]

Re: anchor from stern?

Two problems from anchoring at the stern.<br /><br />Number one is that there usually is no windlass or chain locker on the stern of small boats, so you have to deal with that issue. If you plan to stow the anchor at the bow when not in use, why even bother dragging it back to the stern in the first place?<br /><br />Second is that anchoring solely from the stern in semi-exposed locations can be very uncomfortable, even dangerous if the weather gets too heavy. Remember now that the whole cockpit will exposed to the wind, and on boats like yours, it doesn't take too much of a chop to start sending spray into the cockpit. In short, the boat will ride much better if anchored from the bow.<br /><br />Have you considered installing a two-way, remote control electric windlass? It would save on your trips to the bow to set and retrieve the anchor.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: anchor from stern?

Where are you anchoring at? If you're in a cove on some small lake with no weather, you'll probably be all right. <br /><br />With that said, anchoring astern is generally a bad idea for the reasons GB noted. <br /><br />Plus, a good wake or swell could send a LOT of water into your boat real fast.

 

[Big-E]

Re: anchor from stern?

Im going to have to ask what kind of water do you anchor in? Here in florida when im flats fishing or looking for bait i will anchor from the stern alot. That anchor line is allways in the way when i throw the net. With this being said i am usually in less then 3 feet of water when i anchor. If im off shore i allways anchor from the bow. I woudl say to allways anchor from the bow if your in deep water or in exposed areas. <br /><br />later, <br />Big-E

 

[ShihanRocco]

Re: anchor from stern?

WOW! Quick responses! thanks very much. I plan to stay around Greenwich Bay in RI which is very well protected from rough open water. Plan to anchor in shallow water (4' or less) so thanks again for your quick rponse and help. I think I will be ok.

 

[KaGee]

Re: anchor from stern?

Many a boat has been swamped and sunk by the wake of a passer-by because of rear anchorage.<br /><br />You can be safe... or you can be sorry... you could even end up dead.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: anchor from stern?

Of course all that has been said above is true, to a point.....however....talk to anyone from Scandinavia and they will tell you that stern anchoring is the ONLY way to anchor. Nobody in Sweden, Norway or Finland anchors from the bow. In fact, most have their windlass on the swimstep. Now with that being said, perhaps large wakes or seas on the stern simply don't occur as often in the places most northern Europeans anchor.<br /><br />But I'd never do it personally.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: anchor from stern?

I'd say you will get some wake in the stern. The electric windlass may be a good investment for you.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: anchor from stern?

If the boat can take on water, from a wake at the stern, why would it matter which way it's anchored? A wake could come from any direction, no?<br /><br />I understand the swells part, but not the wake part.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: anchor from stern?

when fishing in calm areas, i occasional anchor from the stearn. the conditions have to be right. and you need plenty of freeboard.

 

[Bondo]

Re: anchor from stern?

Around here, every couple of years,.....<br /><br />Somebody Drowns from anchoring from the Stern,+ River Currents, or Waves, from Whatever Reasons,...<br />Wash Over the Stern...........<br /><br />Anchoring from the Bow,... Or Atleast a forward Cleat will keep the boat somewhat pointed Into the waves.......<br /><br />Doesn't that Chieftain have a forward Pop-up hatch in the Bow,..??...

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: anchor from stern?

Originally posted by Speedwagon:<br /> If the boat can take on water, from a wake at the stern, why would it matter which way it's anchored? A wake could come from any direction, no?<br /><br />I understand the swells part, but not the wake part.

SW, usually the boat will turn bow first into the current/swell because of the bow anchor. Similarly, a big wake will push the boat bow first into the wake. When you anchor astern, the boat can't do this and so every big wake/swell has the potential to swamp the boat.

 

[jch7450]

Re: anchor from stern?

aways from the bow

 

[ShihanRocco]

Re: anchor from stern?

Can't beleive all the good info from you people. Maybe a windlass is the way to go. Bondo, as to the hatch, for someone my size trying to squeeze through it would be like re-enacting birth. Thanks to all for your help.

 

[stevens]

Re: anchor from stern?

however....talk to anyone from Scandinavia and they will tell you that stern anchoring is the ONLY way to anchor. Nobody in Sweden, Norway or Finland anchors from the bow. In fact, most have their windlass on the swimstep

Indeed!<br /><br />One of our local windlass producers has a bilingual website. On the English version of the site (link), they only show bow-monted winches. On the Norwegian language version (link) , they show mostly stern-mounted ones.<br /><br />Yes, we tend to seek sheltered areas before we anchor, but I have yet to see anyone swamped from over the stern. I suppose if the weather got bad enough it might happen. But, in those cases I'd rather be safely in harbour, out at sea with a drift anchor riding the waves out or, if I had absolutely had to, with the anchor fastened from the bow....

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: anchor from stern?

as to the hatch, for someone my size trying to squeeze through it would be like re-enacting birth.

A bit of silicone spray lube may make the birthing process easier.

 

[salty87]

Re: anchor from stern?

if you're stern to the waves with a tight line to the bottom, your boat will be very much like a bucket leaning to the side waiting to scoop up water. add some wake or waves...<br /><br />i once had a numbskull do a big circle around my boat when we were floating, i didn't know him or know why he did it. but, the stern took on lots of water...the stern dropped into the trough of the wake and when the peak came it was time to get wet. i barely even got a look at the guy. maybe i did know him.

 

[Solittle]

Re: anchor from stern?

rocky - You can have it both ways. Here is how - <br /><br />You said that you typically anchor in 4' of water. Allowing for scope tie your anchor line to the forward clete say about 25-35' away from the anchor. Lay the anchor line along the side of the boat and tie a loop in the line close to the stern. Tie a second line to the loop that you will use to retrieve your anchor. Stow the anchor in the stern and when you get to the spot where you want to anchor, drop the anchor overboard from the stern keeping the end of the second line in the stern. When you want to leave pull on the second line which brings the anchor line back to you.<br /><br />Worked for me when I had cabin boats.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: anchor from stern?

No! In case you didn't hear me, NO!<br /><br />Mark