anchor line question

[atomb]

I have a small bayliner 19 ft that i have been taking out and the anchor rope is about 30 feet. I know tht you need a certain amount of scope like 7 ft for every ? I fish a lot of deeper water like 40 feet how much rope should i use for that kinda depth and keep it safe?

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: anchor line question

I think it is 5 feet of rode to every 1 feet of water. Someone else also mentioned that you need to count the height of the boat. It also depend on the current/wind. You might need more...just carry a lot of rope!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: anchor line question

I use my 16' deep V on Erie, I have a navy style anchor and 100' of rope, I commonly fish in about 40' of water and the anchor has held me tight even in 3' waves. By the book I should be paying out close to 200' of rope. Saturday I had my 20 footer out there about 45' anchored perch fishing, the lake was calm hardly no wind, I dropped anchor and payed out as little line maybe 20' and was held tight, so alot depends on conditions waves wind current ect. I also have not had the need for any chain probably never will on the lakes I frequent.

 

[arks]

Re: anchor line question

In normal conditions you need at least 5:1 scope. And yes, it has to be measured from the connection point on the boat, not the water surface.
So that means if you ever intend to anchor in 40' depth you're boat needs a MINIMIUM of 203'.
Here's the math: 40 x 5 = 200 + 3' (estimated height from waterline to bow chock).

Remember, that 5:1 ratio is only a guide. IMO 7:1 is safer- especially if there is any wind or current. In heavier conditions 10:1 or 12:1 is prudent.
In addition, you need a properly sized anchor that holds well in your local waters bottom. Anchors that hold well in rock don't do well in mud.

Look at this anchoring guide: http://www.fortressanchors.com/safe_anchoring.html

 

[rbh]

Re: anchor line question

If your looking into a longer line make sure you get one with chain as that sure makes the motion of the waves not so jarring.
sort of a shock absorber thing
rob

 

[AtoZ]

Re: anchor line question

technically, it is the water depth + height of bow chock to the water line X 5 (or whatever ratio you use).

 

[nitsuj]

Re: anchor line question

I'm glad this came up. I just had this discussion elsewhere as well. I understand the theory behind the extra scope, but I don't see how it's practical. Let's say I want to anchor in 50 feet of water. Some sources recommend as much as 10 to 1. But let's be conservative and say I go with 7 to 1. That mans I need to keep 350 of line on the boat? And, if I want to use 2 anchors to be safe, I now have to carry 700 feet of line, and 2 sections of chain. I'd need to tow a canoe behind my boat just to haul line around.

The other thing I don't understand is the amount of extra line. Lets say I'm in 40 feet on the river. So I need 203 feet of anchor line. Ok, 203 feet gives me a lot of room to drift on. Fine if I only have current to contend with, but if I'm close to shore and have a wind blowing towards shore, 203' of rope leaves me plenty of room to float aground.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not disputing the long help standards of anchoring. But I've just never had a strong grasp on safe anchoring. I've spent a lot of time on boats, I guess I haven't had to anchor that much. So I'm not seasoned at it.

 

[dan t.]

Re: anchor line question

theory is great,reality is somthing else,some of the small bays we anchor in are 40 ft deep and 100 ft across, 5to1 or 7to 1 puts you on dry land (rocks). we usually use 3to1 ,to help we have24 ft of 5/16 chain, also in a blow I tie a 12 lb downrigger weight to the chain where the rope joins, this is called a kellet and can be fixed or slid down the rope on a ring or a loop of rope

 

[redone4x4]

Re: anchor line question

I have 150' of line, and routinely anchor in less than 15 ft of water. its easy to get a 5 to 1 scope out of it. a 7 to 1 or greater I am assuming is recommended for oceangoing vessels, while on a small lake or river it may or may not be neccessary. thats what I go by. What is neccessary for where we boat. I dont need 150' of line, but I know I have it. and 10' of chain also.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: anchor line question

I keep 3 different anchors and rodes on board. The one that I use for "deep" water (40 to 60 feet) is 200 ft of nylon with 15 ft of chain. The chain aids in keeping the anchor line down while the anchor is set into the sand.

I don't anchor in water deeper than 80 feet.

 

[caver95]

Re: anchor line question

I was the engineer on a 100 ton vessel that would take divers to the bahamas, we would put drill the rock and put pins in with concrete and attach a mooring line so we would not beat the coral to death. in good weather we would pay out 150-200 of line plus the mooring line, and that was it. if the seas picked up we would 5:1 plus the mooring line.

 

[rbh]

Re: anchor line question

After the last trip out, I cant think of anything as important than good anchoring skills.
The lake started to kick up around 3 pm and by 4 pm we had 2-5 foot swells, the boats were flippin and floppen all over the place.
we run with a 16 pound danforth anchor, 40 feet of chain and 200 feet of 3/4 line, the boats stern was in 3-4 feet of water, and tied off to a tree on shore and thank god the anchor was set good
It was the first time that I have seen a wave go over our anchor pulpit/davit?when the boat headed down into the waves trough
so take care when anchoring, it could save your boat.
rob

 

[Ned L]

Re: anchor line question

It is good to put things in perspective a bit. If you are anchoring for an extended period of time, or if teh weather is expected to be nasty, yes 10:1 scope is recommended, for a 'typical' overnight situation in a protected anchorage 7:1 scope is normally fine, if you are looking to just stop for lunch, or do a bit of fishing and people will be awake, alert, and paying attention to the situation the entire time then 5:1 or even down to the 3:1 scope can work (some decent chain really helps here).
Anchor rode size is another area for discussion, they don't need to be as heavy as many people think. The rode should be Nylon and not a low stretch Dacron or something similar (think big stretchy rubber band vs unforgiving steel wire for which will do less tugging and jerking on the anchor).

 

[freelancer]

Re: anchor line question

I have a small bayliner 19 ft that i have been taking out and the anchor rope is about 30 feet. I know tht you need a certain amount of scope like 7 ft for every ? I fish a lot of deeper water like 40 feet how much rope should i use for that kinda depth and keep it safe?

This may help

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: anchor line question

one reason to have heavy line for the rode is that it is easier on the hands when pulling; same with mooring lines.