For deployment, one good method is to set your first anchor and let out
twice the scope or length you will need. Then drop the second anchor at
that spot. Pull in on the first rode to the desired scope while letting
out on the second. You are now anchored with a Bahamian Moor.

Courtney Thomas wrote:

Assuming an anchor from the bow is to be deployed using the windlass,
what is the proper technique for deploying a second anchor and what is
recommended to secure it's rode ?

For example, if the second anchor is taken out in the dinghy and lowered
away, what is then the best technique for securing the second's rode for
storm security ?

Also, if the original is not left on the windlass, what is regarded as
the stoutest method of securing it as well ?

Both rodes might be all chain, or mixed.

Appreciatively,
Courtney

This doesn't answer the OP's question in any way. What is your
point?

Doug
s/v Callista

"Bill Adams" wrote in message
news:iOq%c.4615$j62.2895@trnddc04...
For deployment, one good method is to set your first anchor and let out
twice the scope or length you will need. Then drop the second anchor at
that spot. Pull in on the first rode to the desired scope while letting
out on the second. You are now anchored with a Bahamian Moor.

Courtney Thomas wrote:

Assuming an anchor from the bow is to be deployed using the windlass,
what is the proper technique for deploying a second anchor and what is
recommended to secure it's rode ?

For example, if the second anchor is taken out in the dinghy and lowered
away, what is then the best technique for securing the second's rode for
storm security ?

Also, if the original is not left on the windlass, what is regarded as
the stoutest method of securing it as well ?

Both rodes might be all chain, or mixed.

Appreciatively,
Courtney

I will wait for the response of the grand and to the point of JAXAshby!

What makes you think jaxie has ever anchored, let alone double anchored? He has
tried to make the case that a single Danforth is all the anchor you ever need.

I used to think double anchoring was hard, until I started using it more often.
For heavy weather, the goal is to have the two anchors rodes at about a 45
degree angle, with the anchors roughly equal distances ahead. After setting the
primary (presumably your heaviest, most reliable anchor), let out some extra
rode and power over to where the second belongs and set that. Then adjust both
rodes.

A few things help: while the primary is probably a heavy plow (or Bruce, or
Spade, etc) with a lot of chain and perhaps a windlass, the secondary does not
have to be the same. A Danforth, or better yet, an oversized Fortress, will
have tremendous holding power and can be set easily with limited chain. The one
flaw of this style anchor, failing to reset on a shift, is not a problem in the
double anchor setup. It can be deployed by hand and usually set with a sharp
tug, and is light enough to set from a dink.

For the record, I use a Delta 35 with 50 feet of chain plus nylon rode as my
primary, and a Fortress FX23 with 20 feet of chain as a lunch hook/secondary. I
have moved to the "lighter is better" approach, partly because I have a cat
which would suffer if I used a big CQR and all chain, but mainly because I've
found the most important part of anchoring is getting properly set in the right
place, which is a lot easier with lighter gear.


--
-jeff www.sv-loki.com
"Constant Vigilance!" - Frances W. Wright


"Garuda" wrote in message
...
I will wait for the response of the grand and to the point of JAXAshby!

Comments Below.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
I have moved to the "lighter is better" approach, partly because I have a
cat
which would suffer if I used a big CQR and all chain, but mainly because
I've
found the most important part of anchoring is getting properly set in the
right
place, which is a lot easier with lighter gear.


I have to dissagree. Lighter anchors tend to float and flutter so that
getting
then to set where you want is harder. Heavier anchors drop quickly and
tend to stay put while paying out the rode. I have a Spade anchor that is
rated for a boat that is
far larger than mine. It won't set reliably in sand and grass. So lighter
is easier to handle but certainly doesn;t give as reliable set as a heavier
anchor. I understand that the Fortress anchors do perform very well
for their weight, but I will be getting one that is still oversized for my
boat. I read that any anchor less than 35 pounds will not set well.
Just not enough weight to allow it to settle in reliably.


--
-jeff www.sv-loki.com
"Constant Vigilance!" - Frances W. Wright


"Garuda" wrote in message
...
I will wait for the response of the grand and to the point of JAXAshby!

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
I have moved to the "lighter is better" approach, partly because I have a
cat
which would suffer if I used a big CQR and all chain, but mainly because
I've
found the most important part of anchoring is getting properly set in the
right
place, which is a lot easier with lighter gear.


I have to dissagree. Lighter anchors tend to float and flutter so that
getting
then to set where you want is harder.

I said lighter, not underweight. Cruisers should always go up at least one
size, especially on the primary, simply because the sizing charts are based on
45 knots of wind. And while many boaters swear by their CQRs, I've heard a lot
of stories about how they drag on their sides for 100 feet before setting (and
experienced it myself); I've even seen videos of this. My somewhat smaller
Delta tends to land "point first" and sets with less hassle.


Heavier anchors drop quickly and
tend to stay put while paying out the rode. I have a Spade anchor that is
rated for a boat that is
far larger than mine. It won't set reliably in sand and grass.

The ability to set in a given situation has absolutely nothing to do with the
size of your boat. What you're saying is that Spade anchors aren't good in
grass. Many anchors have trouble in grass, and more often than not you end up
hooking to the grass which gradually gives way. When I have to anchor in grass
I double anchor.

So lighter
is easier to handle but certainly doesn;t give as reliable set as a heavier
anchor. I understand that the Fortress anchors do perform very well
for their weight, but I will be getting one that is still oversized for my
boat.

You should consider the light weight of a Fortress an oppurtunity to go up one
size. My "lunch hook" is a FX23, which is rated for boats 39 to 45 feet (mine
is a 36 foot cat). But it only weighs 15 pounds. I have a modest amount of
chain on it (20 feet), just enough to ensure it will go straight down.
Frankly, adding more chain doesn't help it hold better in the double anchor
situation, but it does make it more difficult to set, since you can't "feel the
bottom" as well. And it certainly doesn't help if you have to row it out or
haul by hand.

Its true that the smaller Fortresses (10 pounds and under) can "sail" in a
current - when you lower one you should watch the orientation carefully, since
they can end up 10 or 20 feet away from where you intend.

I read that any anchor less than 35 pounds will not set well.
Just not enough weight to allow it to settle in reliably.

I'd have to agree that my Delta 35 seems to set easier than my previous Delta
22, but I went to the 22 (on my previous boat, a Nonsuch 30) because the CQR 35
it came with was a pain to deploy and worse to recover, and was more prone to
drag before setting. I also reduced the chain from 90 feet to 45, and life was
much better.

I have to agree that the CQR is more difficult to set and there is
definitely a technique to setting it. I saw far more CQRs in the
Bahamas than any other anchor. Our 45 poundes saved our
cookies when the Spade wouldn;t set. You can;t just drop it
and back down on is though. Our Spade just flopped over on its
side and dragged and wasn;t heavy enough to get a bite.

I'm planning on getting a 45 lb Fortress as a sand/grass anchor and
also to use as a storm anchor.

DOug
s/v Callista

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
I have moved to the "lighter is better" approach, partly because I have
a
cat
which would suffer if I used a big CQR and all chain, but mainly
because
I've
found the most important part of anchoring is getting properly set in
the
right
place, which is a lot easier with lighter gear.


I have to dissagree. Lighter anchors tend to float and flutter so that
getting
then to set where you want is harder.

I said lighter, not underweight. Cruisers should always go up at least
one
size, especially on the primary, simply because the sizing charts are
based on
45 knots of wind. And while many boaters swear by their CQRs, I've heard
a lot
of stories about how they drag on their sides for 100 feet before setting
(and
experienced it myself); I've even seen videos of this. My somewhat
smaller
Delta tends to land "point first" and sets with less hassle.


Heavier anchors drop quickly and
tend to stay put while paying out the rode. I have a Spade anchor that is
rated for a boat that is
far larger than mine. It won't set reliably in sand and grass.

The ability to set in a given situation has absolutely nothing to do with
the
size of your boat. What you're saying is that Spade anchors aren't good
in
grass. Many anchors have trouble in grass, and more often than not you
end up
hooking to the grass which gradually gives way. When I have to anchor in
grass
I double anchor.

So lighter
is easier to handle but certainly doesn;t give as reliable set as a
heavier
anchor. I understand that the Fortress anchors do perform very well
for their weight, but I will be getting one that is still oversized for
my
boat.

You should consider the light weight of a Fortress an oppurtunity to go up
one
size. My "lunch hook" is a FX23, which is rated for boats 39 to 45 feet
(mine
is a 36 foot cat). But it only weighs 15 pounds. I have a modest amount
of
chain on it (20 feet), just enough to ensure it will go straight down.
Frankly, adding more chain doesn't help it hold better in the double
anchor
situation, but it does make it more difficult to set, since you can't
"feel the
bottom" as well. And it certainly doesn't help if you have to row it out
or
haul by hand.

Its true that the smaller Fortresses (10 pounds and under) can "sail" in
a
current - when you lower one you should watch the orientation carefully,
since
they can end up 10 or 20 feet away from where you intend.

I read that any anchor less than 35 pounds will not set well.
Just not enough weight to allow it to settle in reliably.

I'd have to agree that my Delta 35 seems to set easier than my previous
Delta
22, but I went to the 22 (on my previous boat, a Nonsuch 30) because the
CQR 35
it came with was a pain to deploy and worse to recover, and was more prone
to
drag before setting. I also reduced the chain from 90 feet to 45, and
life was
much better.

In article ,
"Doug Dotson" wrote:

I have to dissagree. Lighter anchors tend to float and flutter so
that getting then to set where you want is harder. Heavier anchors
drop quickly and tend to stay put while paying out the rode. I have a
Spade anchor that is rated for a boat that is far larger than mine.
It won't set reliably in sand and grass.

I believe you're the one report I've heard of a Spade not hooking well.
I tried ours (aluminum 80) in every "tough" spot I'd found in my travels
and it hooked every time, though I had to go slow in one hard
current-swept sand spot. One or two of them were weedy, and it hooked
without any trouble.

Then again, I've got oversized chain (30') hooked to it. That's twice
the weight of the anchor. Where it hits, it hooks.

I'm also of the "kick it overboard and let the boat settle back"
mentality, which could be a difference. I'll only back down after a few
minutes, and then not very violently.

Last weekend, we were rafted up with 10 boats, about 100k pounds (we're
7k) with the two 40+' big boats. After a wind shift, our anchor, put out
only to angle the raft into the waves, held everyone quite nicely in 15+
knot winds for a couple of days. One poor sod not looking where he was
going, was quite surprised when he was slingshot backwards after trying
to run his outdrive through that line ;-) The big boats' anchors didn't
do squat most of the weekend.

(yeah, hauling anchor was a bear: As far as I can tell, the anchor was
buried in 5 or so feet of that lovely Chesapeake Bay mud on Monday.)

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Doug Dotson" wrote:

I have to dissagree. Lighter anchors tend to float and flutter so
that getting then to set where you want is harder. Heavier anchors
drop quickly and tend to stay put while paying out the rode. I have a
Spade anchor that is rated for a boat that is far larger than mine.
It won't set reliably in sand and grass.

I believe you're the one report I've heard of a Spade not hooking well.
I tried ours (aluminum 80) in every "tough" spot I'd found in my travels
and it hooked every time, though I had to go slow in one hard
current-swept sand spot. One or two of them were weedy, and it hooked
without any trouble.

We found it very reliable in everything we encountered until
we got into the Bahamas. Then it was hit or miss. Had to resort to the CQR
several times.

Then again, I've got oversized chain (30') hooked to it. That's twice
the weight of the anchor. Where it hits, it hooks.

We have 3/8" all chain.

I'm also of the "kick it overboard and let the boat settle back"
mentality, which could be a difference. I'll only back down after a few
minutes, and then not very violently.

Same here, although I have to lower it using the windlass. Then I pay
out chain while the boat drifts back. Once it settles in I back down on
it gently severla times until I get a set.

Last weekend, we were rafted up with 10 boats, about 100k pounds (we're
7k) with the two 40+' big boats. After a wind shift, our anchor, put out
only to angle the raft into the waves, held everyone quite nicely in 15+
knot winds for a couple of days. One poor sod not looking where he was
going, was quite surprised when he was slingshot backwards after trying
to run his outdrive through that line ;-) The big boats' anchors didn't
do squat most of the weekend.

(yeah, hauling anchor was a bear: As far as I can tell, the anchor was
buried in 5 or so feet of that lovely Chesapeake Bay mud on Monday.)

The bay is a forgiving place in terms of anchor. I've never dragged
anchor anywhere on the bay. Same with the ICW and FL. Only
started having trouble with the Spade in the Bahamas and then pretty
much only in grass.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/