On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 06:03:25 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

When anchoring near shore for boat in lake camping or beach picnicking, what
are the pro's and con's of anchoring stern to or bow to the shore?

Stern to seems to offer the advantage of ladder and swim platform access
with the disadvantage of a more difficult backward maneuver, but the
advantage of not having a line to tangle in the prop.

Bow to offers the advantage of a less difficult forward maneuver with the
disadvantage of climbing onto the bow or swimming around to the stern.

I'm new at this so I'm probably overthinking the scenario, but I have to
teach my wife how to drive the boat (don't ask) and anchor it for her
upcoming camping trip. Our little 18 footer bowrider has an anchor buddy
that I bought for the occasion and 100 feet of rode attached to 6 feet of
chain and a danforth anchor and 30 feet of line for tieing to land.

Shoreline is gravelly with near shore submerged rocks.

Insomnia, the source of imaginary problems and fanciful solutions.


I anchor stern to the shore, for all the reasons you suggest, and because I
can then use the anchor rope to pull myself away from the shore if the tide
comes in or I'm ready to leave. I drop the anchor well off-shore and 'back'
in until I'm at a depth that allows me to walk but is not going to drag the
prop. Then I'll take an anchor or rope ashore to tie up the stern.

BTW, I know my depth finder works!
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***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
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John