Need help about Anchoring

[WhisperBlade]

Hello Forums:

I'm new to boating (newbie), and I need some help;

This weekend, I'll be heading out to a location about a kilometer offshore to observe fireworks.

I understand I need to anchor. I have just purchased the necessary items for anchoring:

1. 250 ft of line
2. A danforth anchor
3. 2 Shackles
4. 15 ft of iron chain

If someone could give me a quick walkthrough for the procedure, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Well, you have a pretty good setup there to anchor. The chain will make a huge difference; lots of people try to get by without it, but it is the difference from anchoring the first try or the 10th.

Of course your anchor is attached to the chain which is attached to the rope. What I do is find a spot where I want to anchor, paying particular attention to the wind and currents, and my relationship to any obstacles (other boats). I drop my anchor straight off the bow and make note of how deep the anchor goes when it hits bottom, then I ease her into reverse and let out roughly 7 times the amount of rode that I am deep; as I feel the anchor grab I generally pull against the bow cleat to seat the anchor. If I'm in tight quarters and not planning on staying too long, I may pull in some of the rode to limit my swing.

Then I just secure the rope to the cleat and I'm all set...​

 

[WhisperBlade]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Thanks, cheers.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

get a West Marine Catalog..couple pages on everything ya ever wanted to know about tossing a hook

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

you may have too much chain, depending on size, if it's really deep, you will really have to work hard to get it back on board. check out the total weight of anchor and chain.

 

[Kimper]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Cool, I needed to learn about anchoring too.
So next question... Is there a trick to unanchoring? I mean do they sometimes get hung up down there?

Thanks!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Cool, I needed to learn about anchoring too.
So next question... Is there a trick to unanchoring? I mean do they sometimes get hung up down there?

Thanks!

With the danforth anchor, pull the line in until the boat is right over/next to the anchor. Then pull straight up. The anchor is designed to "disengage" the bottom when pulled up, and "dig in" when pulled sideways.

15 feet of chain is way overkill, even on a larger boat. 3 to 5 feet works fine for most boats up through the 20 footers.

 

[WhisperBlade]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

We'll be about 25 - 40 Ft from the bottom; not too deep. Can I go without the chain this time? Quite frankly, I don't have a chain cutter :\

Thanks.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

I use 15 feet of chain and it's no problem to pull up in 20 feet of water. Don't let these old ladies scare you.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

The length of chain you need depends on the size chain you use, the size boat you're anchoring and/or the conditions in which you will be anchoring. This info was left out of your post. I run 6' of 3/8 stainless but my folks run 20' of 3/8 galv. (they're in fresh water). Both of us run swivels in addition to the shackle on the anchor (keeps your line nice). You'll need somewhere between 5:1 and 7:1 of scope to stay put, again, depends on conditions.

Does the line you bought have a thimble for the anchor shackle? If not, you'll have to splice one in.

Make sure the other end (the very end, not where you're tied off) is tied securely to your boat at all times. Many boats have an eye in the anchor locker for this purpose.

When the anchor is dropped/retrieved, pay attention to where the line is, i.e. do not overrun it and give it a high speed tour of your propshaft.

Although not that important, I have a dedicated long handled scrub brush in my locker. Sometimes my anchor comes up with some serious pluff mud on it and it makes it easy to clean.

 

[Wotam]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

>'even on a larger boat. 3 to 5 feet works fine for most boats up through the 20 footers.'

Depends a bit on if you are temporarily anchoring for lunch or want to be equipped for overnight or rough conditions.

A commonly used rule of thumb for anchor setup is 1' of chain for every foot of boat length. The size of the chain is usually matched to the size & strength of the anchor line used. (aka the rode). 3/* chain would be a very common size for boats up to the high 20's.

Important considerations:

What size is your boat?
What weight anchor did you get?

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

I use 15 feet of chain and it's no problem to pull up in 20 feet of water. Don't let these old ladies scare you.

I have 15 ft of chain and it's no problem to pull in. That's what the wife's for. Unfortunately she disagrees with me. I tell her I'm the captain but she claims to be the admiral.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

You do not have to use chain at all if you anchor right but you should know what the chain is used for before you make that decision.

The chain is use mainly for two reasons.

1: If you anchor in rocks the chain stops the anchor road from rubbing on sharp rocks and cutting your anchor line.

2: If you anchor with a short Scope (less than 7 to 1) the chain will help to hold the shank of the anchor lower and helping it dig in and hold. This is only a factor with light wind or current loads. When condition get bad high currents or wind load even with chain and a short scope the anchor shank will point at your bow where the anchor line is tied. With a short scope this will be a angle high enough to cause the Flutes to angle up instead of down. At this point the only answer is pay out line until your get to normal scope. With normal scope or more the anchor shank still points at the point it is tied but the angle is so low the flutes still point down so as load increases the anchor goes deeper and holds better.

 

[WhisperBlade]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Alright, here's a bit more details:

I have a 21 Footer, a Bayliner 215 (Olympic Edition)

My chain is quite think; My guess is 3/8, and hell it's heavy

My Anchor is a 14 lbs, Danforth anchor

I will be anchoring in a beach-bay.

Should I bother with the chain? Or is the line fine?

(I'm very new to boating; please give me the info in plain Jane English... Thanks.)

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Use the chain. After you've been anchoring for a while, you can decide if you're not man enough to pull it up. Than you can cut it off like all these old ladies do.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Definitely use the chain. Much easier to anchor quickly. I use about 15' of stainless chain for my 19'er; no problem pulling it up.​

 

[firehog6305]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

I have 20ft of 3/8 chain on my anchor, with 200ft of rope, I have a larger boat then yours, but even with my 19fter I always used 15ft of chain, just grabs better, I fish in the bay where the bottom is any where from sand to rocks, or mud. use the chain, you never know when you have to throw out that anchor for an emergency too!!! when you throw that anchor out, you dont want to worry if its going to stick

 

[WhisperBlade]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

Thank you all for the kind help!

My last question;

Should I anchor from bow or stern?

Thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

bow, absolotutely.........

stern is very dangerous......

 

[Wotam]

Re: Need help about Anchoring

>"stern is very dangerous......"

Indeed. Lots of boats and lives have been lost that way. It is particularly dangerous in outboards with transom cutouts.

There's not a lot of freeboard available if current and wave action pick up. The boat would start to take on water and the occupants would go to the back of the boat trying to pull the anchor up... and that would be the end.

P.S. Don't forget to cleat the bitter end before lowering the anchor.