Hey all,


I read a while back in a book about building docks
a method for making an anchor: pour about 100 lbs.
(or more?) of cement into a smallish tire. Sink a
U-shaped piece of metal into it to attach the chain.

Now, my question: is this an environmentally sound
anchor? Doesn't cement leach out or something under
water? And, wouldn't the tire decompose over time
under water? (I'm talking about fresh water in
upstate NY, by the way).

I'd think making some other disk-shapped mold would
be a better way to go, if one is using cement, just
wondering what anyone else thought.


Thanks,

Julien

On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:10:20 -0400, Julien Mills
wrote:

Hey all,


I read a while back in a book about building docks
a method for making an anchor: pour about 100 lbs.
(or more?) of cement into a smallish tire. Sink a
U-shaped piece of metal into it to attach the chain.

Now, my question: is this an environmentally sound
anchor? Doesn't cement leach out or something under
water? And, wouldn't the tire decompose over time
under water? (I'm talking about fresh water in
upstate NY, by the way).

I'd think making some other disk-shapped mold would
be a better way to go, if one is using cement, just
wondering what anyone else thought.


Thanks,

Julien

Tires seem to last forever underwater. It's probably better for the
eenviroment to use an old tire than to make something similar out of
new materials.

Julien Mills writes:

Doesn't cement leach out or something under water?

Leach out what? Limestone? So what?

Mass alone does not make a good anchor.

Richard J Kinch wrote:

Julien Mills writes:


Doesn't cement leach out or something under water?


Leach out what? Limestone? So what?

If it doesn't matter then I'm OK with that.
Thanks.

Mass alone does not make a good anchor.

I know, are you talking about cement here?
Not quite sure you are meaning.

There are lots of things to consider in an anchor - and you haven't given us
any idea of what it is you are trying to anchor, where, or under what
conditions. But to look at just one consideration. If you made a 1000 kg
anchor out of something with a density of say 2.0 ( mix of rubber and
concrete.), it would take a force of 500 kg to lift it vertically up. If
you made it out of something with a density of 5.0 ( mix of steel and
concrete ) it would need a force of 800 kg to lift it vertically up.
Obviously boats don't usually try to lift anchors vertically up, they roll,
slide, dig into mud, get undermined by current ......... So the
statement that mass alone does not make a good anchor is very much an
understatement.

DF




"Julien Mills" wrote in message
...
Richard J Kinch wrote:

Julien Mills writes:


Doesn't cement leach out or something under water?


Leach out what? Limestone? So what?

If it doesn't matter then I'm OK with that.
Thanks.

Mass alone does not make a good anchor.

I know, are you talking about cement here?
Not quite sure you are meaning.

Goo'day,

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:56:17 +1000, "David Flew"
wrote:

There are lots of things to consider in an anchor

Doesn't the very use of the word "anchor" mean that the anchor itself
needs to anchor itself to something?

How are you going to anchor the anchor if it's but a block of
something heavy?

Would that a block of something *would* anchor. But of what value is
a block of something sitting on, say, sand, in a 40kt wind?

If, though, the block had flukes to anchor it in place, then there's a
difference, and it might be of some use. Even fluked anchors have
been known to drag in tide and wind - and that's what you're guarding
against - dragging. The physical weight of the thing is far
outweighed by the ability to withstand something trying to move it
sideways, not vertically.....

Your only option in an anchor is the degree of "fluking" required the
locality/s you're going to want to anchor.

You think I'm wrong? Toss a block of concrete the same weight as a
fluked anchor over the side and see how far you drift/drag.....

Home made? Waste of bloody time! And a danger to all concerned...
especially to those striving to rescue you..

B.

Some of y'all take this stuff (and perhaps yourselves) a little too
seriously don't you?

Ed

--
When replying via email, replace spam with speak in the address.
"Bruce Nichol" wrote in message
...
Goo'day,

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:56:17 +1000, "David Flew"
wrote:

There are lots of things to consider in an anchor

Doesn't the very use of the word "anchor" mean that the anchor itself
needs to anchor itself to something?

How are you going to anchor the anchor if it's but a block of
something heavy?

Would that a block of something *would* anchor. But of what value is
a block of something sitting on, say, sand, in a 40kt wind?

If, though, the block had flukes to anchor it in place, then there's a
difference, and it might be of some use. Even fluked anchors have
been known to drag in tide and wind - and that's what you're guarding
against - dragging. The physical weight of the thing is far
outweighed by the ability to withstand something trying to move it
sideways, not vertically.....

Your only option in an anchor is the degree of "fluking" required the
locality/s you're going to want to anchor.

You think I'm wrong? Toss a block of concrete the same weight as a
fluked anchor over the side and see how far you drift/drag.....

Home made? Waste of bloody time! And a danger to all concerned...
especially to those striving to rescue you..

B.

He was reading a book about dock building. I would infer he wants to anchor
a floating dock. Lets make 16 100 lb rubber tire anchors place four on each
corner of a floating dock say 10' x 20'. Do you think it will anchor?


"Ed Edelenbos" wrote in message
...
Some of y'all take this stuff (and perhaps yourselves) a little too
seriously don't you?

Ed

--
When replying via email, replace spam with speak in the address.
"Bruce Nichol" wrote in message
...
Goo'day,

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:56:17 +1000, "David Flew"
wrote:

There are lots of things to consider in an anchor

Doesn't the very use of the word "anchor" mean that the anchor itself
needs to anchor itself to something?

How are you going to anchor the anchor if it's but a block of
something heavy?

Would that a block of something *would* anchor. But of what value is
a block of something sitting on, say, sand, in a 40kt wind?

If, though, the block had flukes to anchor it in place, then there's a
difference, and it might be of some use. Even fluked anchors have
been known to drag in tide and wind - and that's what you're guarding
against - dragging. The physical weight of the thing is far
outweighed by the ability to withstand something trying to move it
sideways, not vertically.....

Your only option in an anchor is the degree of "fluking" required the
locality/s you're going to want to anchor.

You think I'm wrong? Toss a block of concrete the same weight as a
fluked anchor over the side and see how far you drift/drag.....

Home made? Waste of bloody time! And a danger to all concerned...
especially to those striving to rescue you..

B.

John Cassara wrote:

Thanks, everyone for the replies.

He was reading a book about dock building. I would infer he wants to anchor
a floating dock.

Yes, someone read the op. Actually I am thinking about attaching the
pipes of a pipe dock to the cement anchors. I have a hard rock bottom
so I can't auger them in, or let them sink into mud.
I could go the floating dock route, but at the moment I am leaning
to a stationary dock.

Lets make 16 100 lb rubber tire anchors place four on each
corner of a floating dock say 10' x 20'. Do you think it will anchor?


"Ed Edelenbos" wrote in message
...

Some of y'all take this stuff (and perhaps yourselves) a little too
seriously don't you?

Ed

--
When replying via email, replace spam with speak in the address.
"Bruce Nichol" wrote in message
. ..

Goo'day,

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:56:17 +1000, "David Flew"
wrote:


There are lots of things to consider in an anchor

Doesn't the very use of the word "anchor" mean that the anchor itself
needs to anchor itself to something?

How are you going to anchor the anchor if it's but a block of
something heavy?

Would that a block of something *would* anchor. But of what value is
a block of something sitting on, say, sand, in a 40kt wind?

If, though, the block had flukes to anchor it in place, then there's a
difference, and it might be of some use. Even fluked anchors have
been known to drag in tide and wind - and that's what you're guarding
against - dragging. The physical weight of the thing is far
outweighed by the ability to withstand something trying to move it
sideways, not vertically.....

Your only option in an anchor is the degree of "fluking" required the
locality/s you're going to want to anchor.

You think I'm wrong? Toss a block of concrete the same weight as a
fluked anchor over the side and see how far you drift/drag.....

Home made? Waste of bloody time! And a danger to all concerned...
especially to those striving to rescue you..

B.

Julien,
In actual fact you are not talking about an 'anchor' but a *MOORING*.

I belong to a Club which is one of the oldest on the Delaware River, just
North of Philly. It is a 'self-help working mans' club rather then a
'Newport Yacht Club'. Strictly sail, and everybody pulls their weight. Since
my Potter only weighs about 1200 lbs, I was thinking of doing something
similar with an old car wheel - which would have simulated a 'mushroom'
mooring anchor. ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed. {There were a couple that were
'grandfathered' . . . but they were RAILROAD wheels and 6ft pipes, weighing
about 900 lbs.} Depending on the boat {and personal preference} a 'single'
or 'double set' of mushroom {or one of the newer 'exotics'}anchors must be
used. The 'set-up' per the guidelines in 'Chapman's'.

We are on a river with a reversing tidal stream and a 7ft swing. About a
third of the field is hauled & inspected each winter. ALL the buoys are
pulled in late Fall . . . and the 'floating docks' as well. The docks use
'permanent' moorings that I understand are massive blocks of concrete. Where
this differs from the 'boat moorings' is that there is no 'bottom chain' and
riding chain' . . . it's all the same size. Also each 'float' is secured
with 4 chains that are 'crossed' like spring lines to hold everything in
place. It make for quite an adventure, twice a year !!

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"Julien Mills" wrote in message
...
John Cassara wrote:

Thanks, everyone for the replies.

He was reading a book about dock building. I would infer he wants to
anchor
a floating dock.

Yes, someone read the op. Actually I am thinking about attaching the
pipes of a pipe dock to the cement anchors. I have a hard rock bottom
so I can't auger them in, or let them sink into mud.
I could go the floating dock route, but at the moment I am leaning
to a stationary dock.