"Charles T. Low" [withoutUN] wrote in message
wsgroups.com...
I'm a little late getting to this.

A side-issue is that of anchoring etiquette. Although not always practised
properly, many boaters do adhere to the policy of first in getting
priority. So, if you anchor somehow, with lots of swing or little, or with
a stern anchor or not, then boats arriving after you have to give you
room. But you have to accommodate boats which were there before you.

Now - I went and had a friendly talk once with a guy who was there ahead
of me but not anchored according to that little bay's "convention"
(Central Grenadier, Thousand Islands, bow and stern anchors in close to
the beach, single anchors out in deeper water), so making it difficult for
the rest of us, and he was reasonable, so there's no harm in trying to
work things out.

I disagree, BTW, with anchoring by the stern. This will probably reduce
swing, but is only good in a boat such as yours for very calm conditions.
Waves slapping against a big flat transom are not nice. A displacement
hull will handle this much better.

I also disagree with using two anchors. That will reduce swing
considerably, but can leave you (so I am told) with quite a mess when you
wake up and find yourself facing the other way.

Read Hinz's book, The Complete Book of Anchoring and Mooring. It covers
all these points and much more in considerable detail.

====

Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com


Many years ago, I watched a guy down in the BVI anchor his Mooring 405 by
the stern. He ended up with the mooring line caught between the rudder and
the keel. He was obviously having a problem, so my friend and I dinghied
over to help. His explanation was that he wanted to watch the sunset
(whatever). Clearly, this guy didn't have a clue. It took us about 1/2 hour
to free it up. The upside was that he gave us about five bottles of liquor
for our help, and his girlfriend was damn cute. Turned out he was a power
boater who thought sailing would be cool... never raised the sails during
the entire week apparently.

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