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Bruce wrote:
How do you have your anchor rigged? Are you using all rope or a chain
leader? I assume that you drag out some rode and carry the anchor back
and hang it on the stern pulpit and just toss it overboard when you
want to stop. But how about retrieving it?

Cheers,

Bruce


Hi Bruce,

It's a flood control lake on the Red River along the border between Texas
and Oklahoma (98,000 acres). The lake is mostly 50-60 feet deep to the shores.

The Oklahoma side slopes down into the lake, and the Texas side is mostly
shear cliffs. That's part of the Red River Valley...

So it's not easy to find a comfortable place to anchor.
Last night, exploring the Little Mineral Creek arm, when I found a section
where the bottom came up *SMOOTHLY* to 18 - 20 feet, way out in the middle
of the creek (about a mile wide), I ran a search pattern over it half a dozen
times to make sure I wasn't trying to anchor on some submerged barn.

I have a heavy Bruce type ( !) and a Danforth type in the anchor locker
with 200 feet of rode and 10 feet of chain already bent on. Old habit.

I added a rail bracket and another Danforth on the st'bd side stern rail
as a quick drop in case of sudden need. That one has 120 feet of rode
and 6 feet of vinyl covered chain. The rode is kept in an anchor line bag
(net bag) in the cockpit locker. It can be bent to the anchor, or added
forward, as needed.

So the anchor is in place (when you want it there), but the rode is stowed.

She comes to a stop with the breeze on the stern - very comfortable.
Also directly facing the rising moon last night. Very romantic environment.

To face the boat INTO the wind, I pull up some slack in the rode, and walk that
forward to a bow cleat outside the lifelines.

At no time is the rode ever unfastened.

As for retrieving, we are probably less than 8000 pounds all up weight.
So the above works well to bring the boat head-to.

In heavy weather, cleat the rode to the bow before beginning this evolution.
Do a conventional into-the-wind approach and drop.
It's easier on me when solo.
Maybe safer too? The helm is manned and no moving around on deck.



I guess my worst fear is close maneuvering in the marina.

An anchor there isn't going to help much when the water is a lot
deeper than it is wide!

--

Richard Lamb