Anchoring issues

[March]

I launched the Mac on the local lake last week--the weather in the midwest has been pretty mixed--some good winds followed by showers. That was still fine--I enjoyed sailing around and testing out the new 50 HP etec and camping on the lake. Yesterday, however, the low pressure moved into the area--winds gusting at 30 kts. I usually anchor in a little cove, away from the marina. Thw water level is high enough, I know the area even when the water level is much lower, the bottom is rich mud, the banks are pretty steep and some of the vegetation (bushes) is under water. So I set the double anchor, as usual (a Danforth and a Fortress) and went to bed. During the night, it got windier and gustier, and even with the "bridle" on one of the rodes, the boat bobbed and veered, sweeping an 180 degree aech. The weather radio predicted even worse conditions in the morning, issuing a wind advisory. I slept very little pondering the three options: 1) trust that the two anchors, by then securely dug into the clayish bottom, would hold even to the predicted 50 kts gusts, 2) find someone who might bring me the trailer to the marina very early in the morning and pull the mac out of the water in a 30 kts cross wind, or 3) get even deeper into the cove and beach the boat in a sheltered area where the banks are still muddy but not that steep.

The weather radio had predicted tornados and major hail storms in the area.

My question is, up to what wind speeds would you trust your good, solid double anchor, given such a "safe" clayish bottom?

I took the safest, most laborious approach--by 9 o'clock the boat was out, on the trailer. The weather turned out not quite so bad, and tomorrow it will probably be ideal, now that the boat is out. But now I feel that trusting the anchors or beaching the boat would have worked just as well.

[baldbaby2000]

I've had good luck with mud and clay with my Danforth but we almost ended up against the rock cliffs in Pueblo Reservoir one night. We had 2 Danforths out, the bottom was kind of rocky and we woke up to a friend in another boat yelling my name. Come to find we were 10 feet from the rock cliff. Started the motor, got away and got a slip at the marina. I started looking for a GPS with a drift alarm and finally decided to write a program for a computer board I already had hooked to a GPS for my wind instrument. It works but the Admiral is still bugging me to get a different anchor but I'm not sure what to get.

[Harrison]

March,

Sounds like a similar weekend the wife and I did last Memorial Day (2006) in Lake Mcconaughey Nebraska. Found a great calm cove to anchor in for the night. About 13 feet of water. Tossed in the 22# delta with 25’ of 5/16 chain, 3/8 line on a 5:1 scope (cause it was calm) (warning!, warning!, danger Will Robinson!), and set out to close the evening with a DVD. 5 seconds after pressing play, we get hit with a gust that sends us over at about 30-40 degrees. 5-6+ foot swells (we were submarining) for 12+ hours. And I only have 5:1 out! I’m surrounded by a rocky shoreline, and it’s pitch black. The rode is so tight, there’s no way I can unloose it to increase my scope! Nothing to do but hang on and ride it out. Stuff is flying all over the cabin and well as 3 hours of chunks going over the side. . . well most of it! (did you know that Jambalaya looks the same coming up as it did going down?) The wheel is tied down as the motor is flopping from side to side, and I didn’t want it to break off! hull, everything is now tied down, including the rotating mast. NOAA weather radio is calling for 30-40 MPH steady with gusts to 55 MPH. Later the next day we found out that right near the lake was a tornado! We haven’t been back since.

We were anchored in a clay bottom and didn’t drag at all. In fact it took about 20 hard core minutes with the motor, just to free the anchor! I can attest that the boat is definitely tougher than the crew.

---Harrison

[James V]

Take a good look at a Super Max 12. Does hold at 4200 rpm with 50 hp bigfoot and will reset. That equals wind speed at over 45 mph.

You will need to store inside or get new bow roller.

[Catigale]

James - I would have trusted my Bullwaga under those conditions, taking extra caution to get a good set by pulling at long scope, then shortening to practical scope.

You then can back up your anchor with GPS drift alarm as well as an anchor watch too, if needed. Plan travel the next day accordingly, since your sleep level will be down.

A GPS with alarm is required equipment imho, for anchoring.l

[James V]

Catigale - As I recall the reviews on the Bullwaga anchor you would be correct. A good anchor for mud and soft sand. I may have had too small of fluke to hold the boat and I would not recommend anybody use the 13 pound fluke that fits into the anchor locker for any winds over 25 knots. It is not good in shifty winds as it may not reset if pulled out.

I have had my fingures too close to the flukes when deploying and reterving a fluke type anchor and gotton my fingures almost hurt badly. So I did not want one on my cruising boat. However, I do have 2 backup flukes just incase, unless I can sell them.

[Catigale]

I dont believe there is any anchor that meets the criteria

- Holds well in >25 knots
- Suitable for sand, mud, grass
- fits in anchor locker

with that last one being the killer

[craigsmith]

How small is the locker? Try the dimensions of a Spade or Rocna - the Spade's demountable shank may help, although it would be a pain to do it every time.

[James V]

craigsmith - the 13 pound westmarine fluke fits perfectly. For anything else a new bow roller is needed and to raise the foller fuler drum or something else.

[vkmaynard]

We had two Fortress FX7 pull loose this weekend at Harborfest. A cold front rolled in and caused a larger number of boats to drag into the channel. We notice people where having a hard time setting anchors for most of the day. The bottom looked like clay.

Otherwise, the Fortress anchors have been doing well with 12' of chain.

Victor

[Terry]

Otherwise, the Fortress anchors have been doing well with 12' of chain.Victor

I always heard one should have as much chain as boat length for anchoring so I use 25' of 3/8 chain with a big 20# Danforth. And I still can't sleep.

[James V]

Can't Sleep? With that big of anchor and that big of motor it would take a lot of wind before the boat moved. What is the worry?

[KayakDan]

Fortress FX-11,with 15ft of chain and our 26M has stayed glued in some pretty good wind.
On the "to do " list is a 30# Delta to stay put when we go to Exuma.

[Boblee]

We only use the danforth anchor as a backup now as it has dragged a few times. Our main anchor is a SARCA no 3 and the only time it failed was in hard clay but once in it doesn't move.
A some of our anchorages is amongst fallen timber and then we use the Danforth as it is cheap to lose and even it will hold then.

[Catigale]

ANyone on the board have experience anchoring on a rocky bottom? Im thinking some of you Maine chaps?? Would like to hear some equipment and techniques posted.