"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
JG wrote:
You know, I just can't remember at this point. It would set briefly, then
on a short watch, it would drag. So, we'd let out more scope and it would
set again briefly. We repeated this until we either ran out of room to
let out more scope or it was obvious that no matter how much we let out,
it wouldn't make any difference.

Adding scope, assuming you had a proper amount to start, hardly ever
helps. Its certainly no help if the bottom is too soft for the anchor.
The one thing it does is give the anchor some time to dig in by itself.

Hmmm... well, it's been my experience that sometimes a bit more chain on the
bottom works, especially if there's a surg on. I guess it would give it time
to dig in. This was a charter boat, so you got all chain rode and
fortunately a windlass.

I've use the Danforth in a weed/sand area with a good amount of success.
If I could actually get it in a patch of sand encircled by weeds/grass,
it would generally hold. Aim was important... there's the sand, NOW! g


That's why I use a fishfinder rather than a depthsounder.

Fishfinders are great... I have one on my Cal 20. It was less expensive than
a regular digital depthsounder. I'm not sure it would help with seeing the
bottom that much... as it's the cheapest they make. I don't using need
anything other than depth knowledge in the bay, and I don't need a sounder
to tell me, because I know the area well.

When I first started sailing in situations that required anchoring for
lunch or sleep, I remember being quite nervous about doing it and tended
to put the engine in hard reverse to try and really, really, set the
hook, but I soon figured out that was not helping at all.

Who cares if you're staying one the boat for a lunch break? The Fortress
is nice as a lunch hook because you can set it by hand and feel when it
grabs. This is one of the problems with a lot of chain: it makes it
impossible to feel when the anchor grabs.

This is certainly true, although you can tell. The rope rode tends to
vibrate; whereas, the chain rode chatters. When we were off Green Cay
recently, I showed this effect to one of the crew.

In the bay, we drop the hook and just let the boat drift back on its own.
Job done. Occasionally, its necessary to give a light hand to reverse,
but this is typically when there's no wind to push the boat back.

That's about all I do for overnight setting, though we'll test by revving
up, otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep. We used to go crazy trying to
back the Nonsuch, which can't back in a straight line. We learned that
plow anchors set themselves best if you give them some time.

I'm going to be getting some practice backing in the next couple of days.
The Yamaha 30 we have needs to get put away in a different spot, and it's
near impossible to turn it around after it gets to its side-tie. I've done
it before, and it should be good practice.


The most difficult place I found was Cooper's Island, BVI, which is
mostly grass. The first time I was there, it took three shots at it
before it stuck. The second time, it stuck the first time, but we dragged
a bit later that night. Since then, I either didn't have any trouble
(checking with a dive on it) or elected to take a mooring.