Proper anchoring skills

[talltigeguy]

I started some discussion in another thread about the proper way to anchor the boat. My problem sometimes has been that I would like to have the boat close to shore, where it is accessible, but it either pulls the anchor off, or blows away with even a mild breeze.

I think there are a lot of different approaches, and I would like to hear what some of you have done and found that works via trial and error.

Sometimes it works perfectly for me to tie up the anchor about 40 feet from shore using a rope and a dock buddy (bungee). This is tied to the nose. Then I put a rope around the ski pylon that I put on the shore tied to a large stake. When I want the boat to be closer, I just pull it in a little and the bungee stretches, and I usually don't have to even get my shorts wet to step up on the swim deck. This allows the nose to face the water where the waves are coming in from, keeps the prop out of the shore and has served me OK from time to time.

It doesn't work when I have a small breeze, the bimini up and a surf board and wakeboard in the racks.

The goal is to keep the boat within walking distance, (no swimming to the boat) and to keep it without moving and to protect the running gear.

[Tequilasun]

Couple of things that might help.

1: Better type of anchor...I don't know what your using now, but you mentioned getting a box anchor.

2: Begin your anchoring process further away from shore so you can use more scope for your anchor line. Might need a longer dock buddy for this though.

3: Use a chain rode. This helps with all types of anchors as it pulls the anchor into the floor of the lake when you set it, and also helps absorb some of the shock of waves and the general yanking around of the wind.


I've had my best luck with about a 5:1 scope to depth ratio. But I don't use the dock buddy system.

[wrangler]

Tall...on our 24Ve, we are using the large box anchor. At Mojave last week in 25 plus mph winds, we had the anchor at about a 2.5 to 1 scenario and had the boat sitting in about 5 feet of water at the transom facing the beach. Tied the transom to a sand spike. Never budged when the wind came up and blew hard. I do not have a chain on the box anchor as they don't recommend it...and to this point haven't had a problem once. I had the same anchor with my deck boat and utilized the same strategy. I hope this helps...wrangler

[chpthril]

I also use a chain on my anchor, 3rd boat with this same ground tackle. Our lake has a mud bottom so the anchor likes to 'dredge' in high winds or rough seas, for this, I like to use a 7:1 ratio.

[TeamAllen]

The chain is a must. It gives the proper pull angle on the anchor.

[scootc]

Ditto on the box anchor. I was very skeptical until I finally broke down and bought one. They're great - just throw it out and tie it off. No worries!

[Wake Havasu]

Originally posted by wrangler
Tall...on our 24Ve, we are using the large box anchor. At Mojave last week in 25 plus mph winds, we had the anchor at about a 2.5 to 1 scenario and had the boat sitting in about 5 feet of water at the transom facing the beach. Tied the transom to a sand spike. Never budged when the wind came up and blew hard. I do not have a chain on the box anchor as they don't recommend it...and to this point haven't had a problem once. I had the same anchor with my deck boat and utilized the same strategy. I hope this helps...wrangler

Did you leave the Bimini up?

I did well at Powell in wind using the large box anchor. Even with the Bimini up!

In the future I will be taking the bimini and and any boards off the racks.

[ctcranor]

Box anchor

I only use an anchor at Lake Powell and was concerned as you never know what the bottom is going to be like. We used a small box anchor (20V) with 6 foot chain lead. I anchored for 4 days with a 2.3/1 ratio and never had to reset. We were fairly protected this trip so we didn't have any super strong wind. We did have a short burst one evening with desent wind and chop coming from head on and we never broke. I was very impressed. I'm not sure a flute style would have held me as strong as this trip we camped with a fairly rocky bottom.

[dogbert]

I have two slip ring anchors, one for boats up to 28' and a larger one for boats over 32'. I have 8' of rubber coated 3/8" attached to the anchor and about a 100' of rope. I normally use the smaller one if I'm just anchoring for a little while. If we're doing a float with 3 or 4 other boats, I use the larger one and it will hold all boats regardless of wind. I use a minimum of 3:1 scope and will go to 7:1 on the larger anchor if I'm mooring it overnight or in storm conditions (in both cases I'll anchor with the bow into the wind and use the smaller anchor to secure the stern and minimize swing).

I only had this fail once when a buddy of mine drug his anchor across my chain during a storm.

[Tequilasun]

I use the same type anchor as Dog. We don't get sandy conditions here, just rock and submerged trees. It works pretty well.

BTW, mine is coated in rubber and is rated for a 26 foot boat. My Chain Rode is also coated.

[wrangler]

Originally posted by Wake Havasu
Did you leave the Bimini up?

I did well at Powell in wind using the large box anchor. Even with the Bimini up!

In the future I will be taking the bimini and and any boards off the racks.

Actually, we did have the bimini up and one board on either side of the boat...so there was some sail area to be sure. Still no movement even with all that!

[xpjim1]

I ussually have 4 boards and the extended bimini up. I anchor off the bow and spike off the back. If its really windy I will also take another line off the bow and spike it to the shore oposite the way the wind is blowing. Ussually overkill but I am old and I do not need to be swimming after my boat

I have a box anchor with no chain.

[b/w05]

xpjim1,

Do you use an anchor buddy rope? What size box anchor do you have? I just bought a small box anchor & new anchor buddy for my 22i. Lost 18 lb. mushroom anchor & anchor buddy last weekend, ARRRG!

Mark

[NICKYPOO]

Originally posted by dogbert
I have two slip ring anchors, one for boats up to 28' and a larger one for boats over 32'. I have 8' of rubber coated 3/8" attached to the anchor and about a 100' of rope. I normally use the smaller one if I'm just anchoring for a little while. If we're doing a float with 3 or 4 other boats, I use the larger one and it will hold all boats regardless of wind. I use a minimum of 3:1 scope and will go to 7:1 on the larger anchor if I'm mooring it overnight or in storm conditions (in both cases I'll anchor with the bow into the wind and use the smaller anchor to secure the stern and minimize swing).

I only had this fail once when a buddy of mine drug his anchor across my chain during a storm.

Cheese-n-Rice Dog! Do you carry all that crap with you every time time? I'm glad I live in the desert. Nothing but sandy bottoms. At least at the places I anchor at. The mountain lakes can be pretty rocky but, I never anchor there.

For my sandy bottom ( I just like saying that), I use a fluke style with an Anchor Buddy. No chains, no ropes, just the anchor buddy with the anchor on one end and a bouy on the other end. I tie an old slalom rope to one of the transom lifting rings and push the boat out untill the platform is in about chest deep water, chuck the anchor out as far as I can, go grab the handle on the old slalom rope and pull the boat back untill I can throw the handle around either a stake or the trailer guide pole ( if the truck happens to be on the beach). Works great every time. Well, most everytime................mostly.

[Paublo]

I bought a size medium, box anchor and an anchor buddy bungie this spring for our 22V. After two trips to Powell this summer, I am sold on this set-up. Getting the right depth to length ratio and making sure it isn't sliding across rock is important. But we left the bimini up, boards on racks and had a few serious winds with no problems.

I did use a 5' piece of chain from my last anchor- why do some think this is wrong?