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.