what's this? (long rope with small fender attached)

[korn_kid_12]

Found a long rope and a small fender attached to it. Never seen such a gizmo. Was neatly stored away like it was used for something any ideas??

[ROAD Soldier]

Anchor Marker. You attach it to the end of the anchor on the part that goes into the sea bottom opposite of the anchor rope or chain. This serves 2 purposes one is it marks roughly where your anchor is depending on current and tides. Second if your anchor gets stuck you can grab this fender and pull the anchor out the oppossite way it is stuck.

[kitcat]

Hmm, yes, perhaps is this something we should all carry?

Paul

[Catigale]

You have to be careful deploying such a toy to make sure you don't foul a fluke - which can stop your anchor from setting correctly. If you are really cruising, some will even dive on the anchor to check the set - most of us are more casual of course.

[raycarlson]

it could also just be a tow bouy. i always trail 50 foot of rope with a small bumper float on the end when sailing. so the crew can dive off the bow and by the time they surface the boat is 10-20' past them so they just grab the tow line and pull themselves back to the transom ladder.

[kitcat]

There would be no danger of that happening in our waters - to dam cold to play those games

Paul

[kmclemore]

it could also just be a tow bouy. i always trail 50 foot of rope with a small bumper float on the end when sailing. so the crew can dive off the bow and by the time they surface the boat is 10-20' past them so they just grab the tow line and pull themselves back to the transom ladder.

Hmm...one hopes they don't get whacked by the centerboard or the rudders when they are coming up. Hopefully they are diving well away from the boat?

[pokerrick1]

I got whacked once

Rick

[Québec 1]

I got whacked once

Rick

How cum u still here bro? When youse wacked youse wacked and u don't come back. Bin watching to much The Wire on Ice films lately.
K

[seahouse]

It could also be a heaving line, as required by law on a boat the size of a Mac (has to be the law in the USA too, right?). Needs to be buoyant line (=polypropylene) 50 ' long, and could also have a lifebuoy attached to it instead of the floater thingy to meet the regulations.

I should also add that, to be legal, the device needs to be dedicated for safety use only. ie. it cannot be used for any other purposes. So if you do use it for something other than safety, and want to be compliant with the regulations, you need to have two of them on board.

-Brian.

[pokerrick1]

It marks the anchor That's it i've had several I've never used

Rick

[Catigale]

Brian..no heaving line required in he US, only a type 4 throwable cushion

[seahouse]

Hey Cat!

I thought the requirements were getting more sync'd between us as time passes (Fortress North America will be easier to implement). I would assume that treaties would exempt US based boats from these requirements for a certain window of time to allow for tourism. I assume they are federally mandated like here(?)

So I can heave my heaving line overboard when I visit the US then!

- Brian.

[Catigale]

Depending on what water you are on you can be under either coast Guard (federal) or state regulations...and osometimes they don't exactly match.

The biggest hassle I've ever had is from CUstoms Border Patrol...they watch us on radar going over to Canada and want us to clear even if we have not set foot in your fine land.....

[Crikey]

And if you didn't have a radio on board to hear them? What then?