"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.

"JG" wrote in message

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.

Yet you can't get a 40lb CQR to hold???.... Bwahahahahahahahahaaa


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.

Chain rattle at anchor off Green Cay... Bwahahahahahahahahahaaa


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.

Bwahahahahahahaaaaaa..... Oh you need the "practise" all right!

CM

Are you on drugs? Where did I say I have or use a CQR?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
news:RIoWd.15312$fc4.10673@edtnps89...

"JG" wrote in message

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.

Yet you can't get a 40lb CQR to hold???.... Bwahahahahahahahahaaa


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.

Chain rattle at anchor off Green Cay... Bwahahahahahahahahahaaa


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.

Bwahahahahahahaaaaaa..... Oh you need the "practise" all right!

CM

JG wrote:

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.

As I say, if you had enough, maybe 4:1, to start, and it drags, more
won't help. On the other hand, I often try to to set on minimal
scope, maybe 3:1, and then lay out more after fully assessing the
situation.

Of course, sleeping on 10:1 scope is a bit easier than on 3:1!



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.

Our FF is not that expensive, but it has a fair "white line" bottom
read. Its handiest in checking out new anchorages, and especially in
Maine where a sandy area can easily have a large ledge in the middle.



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.

Yes, sometimes you can tell from that - and sometimes I'll put a
finger on the line while my wife is backing, hoping to feel the
vibration or snag. But you don't get that through a 100 feet of chain
to a soft bottom.

I don't think 4:1 is enough for decent scope... minimally 5 and up to 7 is
more typical. 4 is ok for lunch, even 3, but if it's overnight, longer is
better. Since there's rarely room for 10, I've never done it.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
JG wrote:

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.

As I say, if you had enough, maybe 4:1, to start, and it drags, more won't
help. On the other hand, I often try to to set on minimal scope, maybe
3:1, and then lay out more after fully assessing the situation.

Of course, sleeping on 10:1 scope is a bit easier than on 3:1!



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.

Our FF is not that expensive, but it has a fair "white line" bottom read.
Its handiest in checking out new anchorages, and especially in Maine where
a sandy area can easily have a large ledge in the middle.



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.

Yes, sometimes you can tell from that - and sometimes I'll put a finger on
the line while my wife is backing, hoping to feel the vibration or snag.
But you don't get that through a 100 feet of chain to a soft bottom.

JG wrote:
I don't think 4:1 is enough for decent scope... minimally 5 and up to 7 is
more typical. 4 is ok for lunch, even 3, but if it's overnight, longer is
better. Since there's rarely room for 10, I've never done it.

I agree - I normally go to at least 5:1 (at max tide, of course). But
I always let out extra after setting - at the very least, the point of
the rode that was on deck will be at the water's surface after I
construct the bridle.

IIRC, Hinz points out that beyond 5:1 the geometry isn't improved,
though you have some added protection in a surge.

My point is that if I can't set at 4:1, I don't bother letting out
more, because there is likely something wrong with the location, or
the anchor is fouled. I'd rather just pull it up and try again.
Since I'm usually in tight quarters, if I couldn't set I'm probably
already a few boat lengths away from where I wanted to be. Perhaps
I'm just spoiled with the Delta, which usually grabs within a few feet.

Must you gay up every post?


"JG" wrote ...
I don't think 4'' is enough ... minimally 5'' and up to 7'' is
more typical. 4'' is ok for lunch, even 3'', but if it's overnight,
longer is
better. Since there's barely room for 10'', I've never done it.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.gaynow.com

That is Jon quest. He gay's up everything. Without gayness he is
nothing.

Joe

Joey knows all about gayness, apparently. He's an expert.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
That is Jon quest. He gay's up everything. Without gayness he is
nothing.

Joe

Yes, you must fatboy.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Scott Vernon" wrote in message
...
Must you gay up every post?


"JG" wrote ...
I don't think 4'' is enough ... minimally 5'' and up to 7'' is
more typical. 4'' is ok for lunch, even 3'', but if it's overnight,
longer is
better. Since there's barely room for 10'', I've never done it.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.gaynow.com