Anchoring

[Be Free]

Bill,

I’m not the brightest bulb in the box, so not sure I grasped the finer points you were making.

My anchor locker is always closed, except when I’ve just been out and washed the boat down, and have the lid propped up to let everything dry in my garage.

In an effort to speed my rigging process, my dock lines are always in place on all four corner cleats, Velcro’d to the stanchions. I’m pretty sure two strands of anchor line will come out with my lid closed. If the starboard cleat is too jammed up, I’ll just take a wrap around it and tie off to the pet side to keep on the roller. Don’t see any advantage to one cleat over the other as long as you get the alignment you’re after.

I don’t have to go forward for anything but docking and anchoring. Haven’t noticed that the extra line was a significant tripping hazard. But, I haven’t tried it in the dark.

If I totally missed your point, I’ll blame it on the cancer med’s which “may have cognitive side effects”. More likely, it’s due to my not being the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Jim

I think we are both on the same page. I think the differences are mostly due to different use cases. I suspect that you are mostly going out for a day and either docking or pulling the boat out of the water at night. I seldom go out for less than three days at a time and anchor out exclusively so my dock lines go on just before I launch or retrieve and are stowed as soon as possible after leaving the dock. It never occurred to me to have the dock line and the anchor line attached at the same time, much less to the same cleat. I was looking for enlightenment and you provided it. I can see where that would be an advantage if the boat is returning to the dock regularly. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

[Jimmyt]

I think we are both on the same page. I think the differences are mostly due to different use cases. I suspect that you are mostly going out for a day and either docking or pulling the boat out of the water at night. I seldom go out for less than three days at a time and anchor out exclusively so my dock lines go on just before I launch or retrieve and are stowed as soon as possible after leaving the dock. It never occurred to me to have the dock line and the anchor line attached at the same time, much less to the same cleat. I was looking for enlightenment and you provided it. I can see where that would be an advantage if the boat is returning to the dock regularly. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

You are exactly correct. So far, my use has been trailer sailing one day at a time. Hoping to change that when the weather gets cooler. Right now, going outside makes me feel like I might spontaneously combust.

[OverEasy]

Hi JimmyT!

I can see from the weather app that your neck of the woods has been a tad warm as of late.
The advantage is that you can’t shovel “warmth” but the cold stuff seems to have a nasty habit of accumulating!

Hope the Meds aren’t to much of a problem… we’re pulling’ fer ya!

( Yeah, we knows the eyelet is fer da masty raisin’ thingamobob system but it’s not some thin’ that we get a whole lotta use out of (unless one has a whole bunch of low bridges ta contend with) so usin’ it fer da anchor line seems ta be a beneficial byproduct (that an’ the aspect we’ve seldom found that the mast raisin’ doohickey system and anchoring are concurrent occupants of that eyelet given we mainly exclusively have been operating in trawler mode in our forays.

Given the eyelet in question was put there for the mast raisin’ we figured that it was plenty robusta fer holding onto the anchor line even in adverse conditions or untoward events ( like losing one’s grip in the line in strong currents/winds/depths) cause ah forgot ta wear mah gloves🫣).)

Best Regards All
Over Easy

[Jimmyt]

I can't say for sure on an M but that eye strap is where the mast raising system attaches to the deck on an X.

The mast raising rig on the M uses a bow cleat to anchor the winch that pulls the mast up.



I modified my mast raising pole to add baby shrouds; re-positioned my mast raising shrouds to attach them to the mast; and changed the connection points on the stanchions to correct the geometry. But, where the lines connect to the mast and bow cleat is typical of the M mast raising system.

My anchor locker pic shows two lines connected to each bow cleat. Anchor and dock line to starboard and dock line and MRS line to port.

[Russ]

Your "baby shrouds" are connected to the gin pole to the stanchions.
MINE are connected to the gooseneck where your carabiner is attached.

I'm 99% sure this is how Cheryl at Blue Water Yachts showed me how to do it.

At second look, your "baby shrouds" look to be attached to the mast somehow in addition to another set of "baby shrouds" connected to the end of the MRS. Are those permanent?

I modified my mast raising pole to add baby shrouds; re-positioned my mast raising shrouds to attach them to the mast; and changed the connection points on the stanchions to correct the geometry. But, where the lines connect to the mast and bow cleat is typical of the M mast raising system.

[Jimmyt]

Baby shrouds on mast and on MRS pole. Snap shackles installed where they clip to the stanchion loops (I welded additional loops and moved the original MRS loops).

I unsnap them when not in use, so there are some extra shrouds hanging around.

I didn’t like the amount of mast sway during raising when the baby shrouds were attached to the carabiner.

I added the baby shrouds to the MRS after bending one of my bottom brackets on my MRS pole.

[NiceAft]

Jimmy said:

I added the baby shrouds to the MRS after bending one of my bottom brackets on my MRS pole.

I had that happen to me in 2015.

I am fortunate enough to live close to someone who has a forge; Kevin. He repaired the bent bracket, and since then I always carry a package of spare brackets.


He encouraged me to have a try.

[Russ]

Jimmy said:

I added the baby shrouds to the MRS after bending one of my bottom brackets on my MRS pole.

I had that happen to me in 2015.

I am fortunate enough to live close to someone who has a forge; Kevin. He repaired the bent bracket, and since then I always carry a package of spare brackets.


He encouraged me to have a try.

Okay, my MRS bracket has the same problem. It has bent like Jimmy and Ray's.
I now just hold it and watch carefully hoping it won't twist or bend.

How does one use a "forge" to fix that bracket?
Is this something Keven can start a side gig "fixing" brackets?

[NiceAft]

I now just hold it and watch carefully hoping it won't twist or bend.

As do I, but I have spares just in case.

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

An actual home forge! I’m impressed!
Never got that far into it to justify a dedicated forge. Nice though!

Whenever I’ve needed a ‘functional’ forge I’ve resorted to making one from bricks, charcoal and a small electric blower ducted to the base of the fire box through an old metal vacuum cleaner tube. I’ve melted aluminum & brass as well as getting steel hot enough to hammer forge weld together. Also used this approach to heat up iron rivets to set them when joining iron fittings and steel straps or sheets together. Don’t have much of a regular call for forge to make a permanent or dedicated one though…just the odd project.

I’ve used fine silica lightly oiled sand to make one part and two part molds (as well as wax and styrofoam ) to make one-off castings for special projects.

I’ve occasionally resorted to using a cheap ‘Webberette’ like ground level grill, charcoal and the blower in a pinch.
Mind you the ‘Weberette’ is generally “toast” after this process.

(Note: Please don’t ever use any galvanized metal as the fumes, even small amounts, are toxic and damaging not only to you but to those down wind!!!)

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[Pjack]

Prospect As has been mentioned lots of opinions. I’d start looking at what others in your area use for an anchor.
Ask them.
I’m on Lake of the Woods Canadian Shield and boreal. We anchor in mostly mud, some sand, usually in protected anchorages.
I use a 26# Mantus with 30’ of chain and 170’ of rode. We anchor in < 30’ Usually 5:1 scope but always have room for 7:1 if forecast warrants. Our Mantus is larger than most other keel boats anchors in our marina.

Hugh I love this picture of your extended anchor roller.

I've got my 10kg Delta anchor hanging in a 4" PVC sleeve secured to the outside of a pulpit stanchion. This set-up is too hard on my back, and it leads to the chain running off the side of the gel-coat. It also blocks a lot of the starboard running light.

How is this anchor roller extension working out for you?

Pjack

[green]

I have the 2.5lb dinghy version I keep in my cockpit for exactly that reason. It takes about 10seconds. It's a spring-loaded pin that's always attached. In fact it's the anchor I use the most bc most of my conditions for anchoring are light wind and sand. It's held my 26x at 15knots with 2ft rolling white caps. I bought it after I saw SV Panope review it on YouTube.

Could you say more about this cockpit setup?

[pitchpolehobie]

I have the 2.5lb dinghy version I keep in my cockpit for exactly that reason. It takes about 10seconds. It's a spring-loaded pin that's always attached. In fact it's the anchor I use the most bc most of my conditions for anchoring are light wind and sand. It's held my 26x at 15knots with 2ft rolling white caps. I bought it after I saw SV Panope review it on YouTube.

Could you say more about this cockpit setup?

https://www.mantusmarine.com/product/2- ... hy-anchor/

Its in this kit. Its lighty duty but gets the job done. Probably good for 90% of my anchoring needs. The spring loaded pin is visible in the above picture. It collapses down small and I store thr blue bag in my gas cubby.

https://www.sailorsams.com/mantus-stain ... ghy-anchor

[green]

Thanks for sharing the details. Looks interesting.