anchoring in the bay

[jebby]

Hey all. this is likely a stupid question but my previous boat was small enough we always juist beached it. heading to the local hangout this weekend first time with my new to me chaparral 2050 sl. correct me if im wrong but main anchor off the bow, it out and set as normal then a smaller anchor off the stern to set the boat so she doesnt swing? both danforth anchors a 10 (i think) pouinder with appropriate chain as the main anchor and a smaller 5 pounder (off the old boat) to stabalize.

this is freshwater bay. no tide but people come and go down both edges so without something to stop the swing the boat will spin.

thanks in advance

 

[Chris1956]

That is a good way to anchor, provided everybody else does it that way, or you are alone. Let extra rode out on the bow anchor and then drop the stern anchor. Now pull in that extra rode and it will set the stern anchor.

Make sure you have enough extra rode on the bow anchor to get right over the stern anchor, in case it gets hung up.

JSYK..Thousands of boats anchor up in Barnegat bay, relatively close to one another. Each use a single anchor off the bow, so they all "swing" together with the wind and current, and rarely hit. If someone was to use 2 anchors, they would not swing the same and collision could happen.

 

[dingbat]

this is freshwater bay. no tide but people come and go down both edges so without something to stop the swing the boat will spin.
thanks in advance

A tide isn’t the problem. It comes and goes over a 6 hour period and everybody swings with it.

The real danger of anchoring a boat at both ends is getting swamped by a rogue wave or the wake of a passing vessel.

Where I boat I personnel wouldn’t do it. Too much boat traffic both big and small. But in a small, back water bay with little wave exposure and limited, small boat wake, I don’t see why not.

 

[jebby]

its a nice little back bay (google crystal bay Amherstburg for those curious). Normally everyone rafts off in the middle and the little boats beach around the edges (me before).

with covid nobody is rafting off, everyone is keeping space between the boats. I may just let her swing until I need to do something else. Thanks all