"Jeff Morris" wrote in message

Backing at 1800 for 30 seconds? You ought to be able to tell with a range
if you're holding.

Well a range is a given..... I'm making certain the hook is set and holding.
I'll often fire up and back down on a set before turning in just to make
certain my tackle is holding solid.


I've seen people do the "downwind toss" - it looks slick when it works.
But more often than not I'm trying to place the boat within 10 feet of a
spot. I usually don't have the luxury of an open anchorage.

I can't understand that... I can do it in a mooring field and have. A ten
foot spot is the target but you still have a swing radius to contend with
after the set. If you are on a downwind approach you should allow sufficent
swing radius room for other vessels anchored in that area. The depth of the
anchorage as well as the bottom conditions are important in deciding where
and how to set... but I'm assuming anyone with experience has already taken
these into consideration.



As I say, I like to end up in a predictable spot - the CQR felt like a
crap shoot. As for dragging, in the 12 years I've used a Delta I've never
dragged after setting. In fact, I never dragged with a CQR, I just had
trouble setting it and didn't like the weight. Dragging 4 times doesn't
sound that great to me.

Say what.... dragging 4 times out of maybe a thousand sets isn't bad at all
Jeff. I find it hard to believe that you never dragged.... that's just
unrealistic.


OK, there was one time with the Delta: we anchored for the afternoon and
noticed a slow drag immediately. Since we were planning to lunch in the
cockpit and relax for a hour or so, and had about 1000 yards to the lee
shore, we let it be and enjoyed the changing perspective. We found out
later we had anchored in soft spoil from the Boston Big Dig and nothing
was going to hold.

Ah Hah! ... look Jeff, no matter how good you are at setting hook... you
will eventually drag on occasion until you have a system set up that
minimizes or neutralizes that possibility.

CM