"Roger Long" wrote in
:


"Geoff Schultz" wrote

This is one of those things that's easier said than done. If you're
in a benign situation, then yes, it is easy. If you've got 20+ kts
of wind and other boats anchored too close, then it would be a huge
challenge.

There's your problem. Why are you anchoring right there?

Chances a pretty good that the anchor will take if there are enough
boats there to cause crowding. Most people don't know how to anchor
and they wouldn't be there if the bottom was poor. I'm trying to
remember though the name of the harbor that has a notorious big hard
flat ledge right in the middle. People come in, see that nice open
spot left, and drag right down into the other boats. This is one of
the things I appreciate about having a boat small enough that the
ground tackle can be deployed by hand. I feel for that first contact
of the anchor with the bottom. If it's rock, you can feel the "tink"
right up the line and start working on Plan B right away. You can even
feel the flukes going through thick grass or weed if you pay
attention.

Statments like this make me think that you haven't anchored all that
much. I spend about 1/2 of my year at anchor in various locations
throughout the Caribbean. If you have any doubts about my statement,
please check out my Google Earth file showing all of the anchorages that
I've been in: http://www.geoffschultz.org/GoogleEa...gleEarth.shtml

I've been anchored for days in a location to suddenly have the boat
start dragging (this has only happened twice, but it does happen.) I
can't tell you how many times we've had to re-anchor because the anchor
just won't grab. I almost always dive the anchor to check to make sure
that it's set. While I'm doing that I have Sue back down on it to make
sure that it doesn't pull out. You can't do that single handed. I'm a
firm believer that if I can pull the anchor out with the motor, then a
good blow can do it too. We'll back down to 2500 RPM with a MaxProp and
2800 is our normal cruising RPM.

As to why someone anchors in a given location: Well, maybe there isn't
a lot of choice; you could have bad weather moving in; it's getting
dark; other boats are anchored where you normally anchor; the bottom
changed since you were there last; weather has forced you and others
into a sub-optimal location; you name it.

One problem that I have is that I publish extensive logs as well the
Google Earth KMZ file, and on many occasions I've found people anchored
at the exact location that were in these files. Now I'm making my
anchorage locations less specific...


There's a good passage somewhere in the Patrick O'brian books about
the mate standing for twelve hours with his hand on the anchor cable
while the ship is anchored in a deep and dangerous spot.

Single handed operation is inherently more risky and that's
especially true
when anchoring around other boats where mistakes can cause harm to
others.


Yes, but it can be done as safely as most multi handed operation is
usually performed.

BTW having someone motoring ahead as an anchor is hauled in is very
risky if it is being handled by hand. Even if you have a windlass,
it's hard on the topside paint.

If the wind has your anchor line is tight, how do you pull it up? I
motor forward so that we're not using the windlass to pull the boat. If
you're single handed, how do you do this? I don't over the chain (well,
I try not to) and I've never scratched the paint by doing so.

-- Geoff