Anchor vs Mooring Buoy vs Trailer...

[WD]

Anchor vs Mooring Buoy vs Trailer


Hi all, firstly I apologize that it is not a Mac that I own yet but I don’t think that influences the question all that much. Presently all I have is an older 17' foot Reinell(dare I say it) stern drive that weighs in around 2500 lb but probably closer to 3000 or better soaking wet with the enclosure on, which would be methinks pretty equivalent to a 26X(just because they are faster) if/when I have one.

So, I will be renting a cabin for a week at a beach in Alberta where typically locals with cabins will put a boat lift out for their favorite water ride. In my case I will not have that luxury and the only launch ramp is about ½ hour around the lake and is generally lined up 8 to 10 deep depending on the time of day(early and late being worst), so that trailering on a daily basis is a major pain d’touche.

The beach(known as the Alberta Riviera) is a sand beach on the south east end of the lake and is a very gradual slope sand bottom where you can walk out for approximately 100 yards and still only be about chest deep(assuming average adult male height).

The prevailing winds are from the northwest and there is no protected area. I have mispent considerable of my youth on this beach and can tell you that generally if there is a storm or high wind condition it will be from the northwest(head on to the beach) and that the wave height out on the water would probably max out around 6'.

The beach is protected from winds from the southeast and close inshore have very little consequence regardless of velocity. Winds from points of north and south have very little opportunity to build any sort of wave along the beach that might be concerning.

So my question then is whether it is reasonable to think of anchoring or using a mooring buoy, and if so which might be preferable and why. Obviously I would prefer to simply anchor and save myself the issue of building/buying a buoy and setting it up and in the water.

My thinking is that I could purchase a really good anchor that sets well in sand(and possibly a second) for the bow pointing into the prevailing wind and then drop my mushroom anchor off the stern to help limit swing and be just as well off as with a buoy - all at a depth of say around 3-4' water. But there is the question begged, I have no experience and have no idea if this type of arrangement would stand up to say a 30 - 40 mph storm(which could be for an extended time) which I have witnessed more than once on this beach. I can tell you for sure it’s a real challenge getting a boat like that out of the sand in shallow water later on, they set very well like a good anchor!

Anchoring reasonable? And if so anchor suggestions(the lake bottom here is truly just pure sand)?

Mooring ball a storm improvement on anchor?

Trailering advised?

Cheers, Bill

[Trouts Dream]

Are there any mooring balls available that you could rent from someone. Personally I don't mind anchoring when I'm aboard so I can react when my anchor alarm goes off, but if I'm sleeping on land and the nachor drags there isn't much a person can do.

[Sumner]

Personally I wouldn't be comfortable with the boat being there in 30-40 mph winds and 6 foot wave, especially lake waves that high. If it drags then it is going into the shore under the conditions you are talking about. If you can monitor the weather and feel pretty good about the forecasts then it might be doable if you could take it some place else or back out if conditions are going to deteriorate.

I'd forget the mooring ball as not being a good short term type remedy. We have a 22 lb claw, 25 lb. Manson Supreme, a Fortress FX-11 and a danforth. Personally I'd use either the Manson or Fortress and would favor the Manson as it should reset better under wind shifts. With any of those I'd have at least 30 feet of 1/4 chain and a 3/8 nylon 3 twist line of good quality.

Also I would not put a stern anchor down. The swing isn't going to hurt the boat and if you have a wind change the forces on the anchoring gear can get tremendous...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ll-09.html

...if the boat can't swing. I'll never put a stern anchor down or tie the stern to shore again while anchored unless I'm sure the wind isn't going to come up and change. Even if I'm on the boat it is no fun dealing with a situation like that in the middle of the night in rain or now rain.

We now use an anchor sail...



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... vas-5.html

...to limit swing on anchor, but that isn't an option for you with your boat.

Good luck and have a good trip,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

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[Chinook]

I'm on the side of cautioning against leaving an untended boat at anchor in an exposed location for more than a brief period, and with favorable weather forecast. Wind conditions on inland lakes can become severe in a hurry, and wind direction can shift quickly. I've seen shortly spaced, steep faced 3 to four foot wind chop come up on a lake with less than 1 mile of fetch. The 50 mile per hour winds on that lake blew a ski boat up onto the beach, and caused me to drag. The anchor didn't fail, but did manage to rip out a large chunk of weed bed from the bottom. The extended shallows you mention could also cause breaking waves to develop. Your anchor might hold, but the boat could easily take on water and possibly even sink in a strong blow. And once things kick up, it would be next to impossible to get out to the boat and run for shelter.

[Russ]

Anchor.. nope as mentioned above. It's not reliable enough.

Mooring? There are only a few ways to do it right and they are expensive. The screwed in moorings are the only kind I'd ever use and then with lots of heavy ground tackle.

I've seen boats bobbing like broncos on moorings. You have to have lots of chafe and spring in it.

[jschrade]

There is a Beneteau First that is perennially anchored outside our marina in the ICW. It has never broken loose and I have seen it being used only once so the owner seem to live out of town. There a lots of boats left on anchor and most stay a few months and move on. Most of them stay anchored quite securely, occasionally one breaks free and ends up on the beach. Good ground tackle checked frequently can certainly work if the bottom is right.

Last big storm they were all dragging, one broke free and it's mast was slamming into the large windows at the waterfront restaurant - lots of excitement! Nice boat, owner was off visiting folks in Orlando.

A mooring is much more secure than anchoring and works wonderfully for many. It's the most common way that boats are left - most do not trust anchors for long periods of time. Most serious cruisers when faced with a storm will:
1) Look for a Marina to duck into
2) Find a mooring ball to hang off of
3) Anchor out

In any situation other than putting it on the hard, you need someone to check in on your boat for you. Especially after a storm.

Good luck!

Jim

[Divecoz]

Proper mooring ball is NO Issue.. whats to say its proper??
I have installed screw anchors / moorings.. Hummmm I am a Scuba Diver though and It took two of us and we had 2 extra tanks and regs sitting on the bottom.. Took most the day.. I told the guy paying the bill..My guarantee evaporates when I get back in the boat../ 10 minutes after I say we are done..
He wasnt a diver.. I did a quick 10 minute class and took him down to see what we had done / per his instructions on the install.. Cash No Receipts and I have never seen you in my life.. $500.... We used? His supplied - 2 ....6 foot screws.. Looked almost like the auger off a Gas powered post hole digger..
PITA!!

[FAAbaddog]

All,

I have my 2011 26M moored all season long (APR-NOV) in front of my condo on Pensacola Bay in 3-4 feet of water.

I have this helix: http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse. ... 36140.html

I have these shakles: http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... GYQ8wIwBQ#

I have 10 feet of this chain: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... KgodPGaUYw

I have this anchor riding sail: http://www.sailrite.com/Anchor-Riding-F ... -5-Sq-Feet

Finally, I have a double bridle of 5/8th three strand anchor rope about 7.5 feet in length that runs from the top of the chain's swivel shakle to the bow cleats which gives her a 3-1 ratio with the 10 feet of chain that is attached to the helix anchor.

To date, she has seen 3-4 seas and 65+ knot winds due to storms and she has held on with zero problems with that set-up.

BADDOG

[Russ]

I have installed screw anchors / moorings.. Hummmm I am a Scuba Diver though and It took two of us and we had 2 extra tanks and regs sitting on the bottom.. Took most the day.. I told the guy paying the bill..My guarantee evaporates when I get back in the boat../ 10 minutes after I say we are done..
He wasnt a diver.. I did a quick 10 minute class and took him down to see what we had done / per his instructions on the install.. Cash No Receipts and I have never seen you in my life.. $500.... We used? His supplied - 2 ....6 foot screws.. Looked almost like the auger off a Gas powered post hole digger..
PITA!!

That sounds like a lot of work


And remember, those Helix anchors need to be inspected regularly by a diver.

This is what happened when boats where not moored correctly during tropical storm Ernesto.
The Passport 42 was a friend of mine's boat. He got a call from the Navy that it was bashed up and sunk against their pier. $250k of trash. The Fleet Captain of the Raritan Yacht club made an interesting report on the reason for mooring failures.

BTW, many of the boats had their jibs unfurl. I constantly see boats with the clew of their jibs unfurled about a foot. Nice to leave something for the wind to grab and rip your jib open. I wrap the sheets a few times around the furler just for good measure.

Mooring your boat is not something for amateurs. An anchor is very likely to get ripped out when the wind changes 180 degrees. Hopefully it would reset, but what if not? Sandy bottom can be tricky to anchor in.
I say if you are willing to pay a diver $500 bucks and another $500 worth of decent ground tackle, go for it. Otherwise, drive the 30 minutes.

[Trouts Dream]

Installing one of these in chest deep water wouldn't require a diver. Remember this is for very shallow water in Alberta and installing and removing the screw may be an option versus simple anchoring.

[Semper Fi]

I once watched a brand new 25ft Wellcraft crack open like an egg during a severe thunderstorm. This was due to big waves in shallow water (4-5ft) causing the boat to pound on the sand bottom. The boat was lost. The capitan's mistake was anchoring in too shallow water. We rode out the same storm on the same size boat in deeper water(8-10 ft). Regarding best mooring a professionaly installed mooring is the safest bet. Helix type anchors must be driven until proper torque is reached. I don't know if that torque can be reached by hand. We endured 117mph wind on such a mooring in Boot Harbor, Marathon FL two years back. Fierce abrupt wind but waves did not get a chance to build.

For anchoring we use a 22lb Delta or a Fortress FX16, 30ft 5/16 hi test chain and 1/2 inch nylon 3 strand. If I suspected high winds/current I would opt for the Delta with additional 25ft chain on at least 7 to 1 scope. If swing room is an issue I would use two anchors (Bahama style). Many boats are left at anchor this way(two anchor) for extended periods. If there is a grassy bottom I would not use a Fortress (or any danforth style) because the grass will foul it. Beware of shallow water. Even the best morring or anchor will not prevent the boat from hitting bottom if you anchor too shallow and the waves get too large.

Semper Fi

[Divecoz]

RussMT ... Hahahha Those two sissy's are using a Machine!! Hahahahaha
Yep it was a PITA.. Proper torque I have no idea but I know the last 4 feet !! Of 6 feet hahahaha went hard using a 6 foot bar for leverage if it had been longer we could have been on opposite sides Fighting It Down and In.. Popular and seems to work ???? The use of 3 Hernia Blocks.. 4'x4'x4' Concrete.. chained together.. Chains protruding out two sides and all three sort of becoming one and a chain looped on the top .. humm When Hurricanes are in the immediate forecast down there, everyone who can runs for cover.. or pulls them out and uses those auger anchors on land to hold boats in place.. The rest PRAY... Lots of Ropes Straps Fenders Floats Buoys even Inflatables JAMED IN .... EVERYWHERE.. and continue Praying..