I am going to test some anchors on our August trip to the BVI. This is
the second test and I learned a lot on the first one about what to do to
make it more accurate. To measure the set distance I need some means of
marking exactly the location that the anchor was dropped. I am
invisioning some sort of pointed weight with a boyant shaft that can be
dropped as the anchor is released. A float on a line will also give me
a refference point for the next test so I can be sure each anchor lands
in similar bottom.

Anyone ever seen such a device or have a better idea?


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:32:57 -0400, Glenn Ashmore
wrote:

Anyone ever seen such a device or have a better idea?

==================================================

This would be sort of expensive and hi-tech, but how about a fishing
bobber tied to a concrete block with monofilament line? Adjust the
length of the line so the bobber is just starting to be pulled under
to ensure accurate positioning.

Ever try to pack a concrete block? :-) I need something that will drop
straight and fast and most of all I can pack without adding much weight.
I am already carrying 110 pounds of anchors and need a little room for
a bathing suit and a toothbrush, :-)

Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:32:57 -0400, Glenn Ashmore
wrote:


Anyone ever seen such a device or have a better idea?


==================================================

This would be sort of expensive and hi-tech, but how about a fishing
bobber tied to a concrete block with monofilament line? Adjust the
length of the line so the bobber is just starting to be pulled under
to ensure accurate positioning.


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn Ashmore wrote:

Ever try to pack a concrete block? :-) I need something that will
drop straight and fast and most of all I can pack without adding much
weight. I am already carrying 110 pounds of anchors and need a little
room for a bathing suit and a toothbrush, :-)

How straight do you need? You could start off with the ball from a
trailer hitch (simple and cheap), or work your way up thru large lead
sinkers and the monofilament that Wayne mentioned.



--
"All we are given is possibilities -- to make ourselves one thing or another."
-- Ortega y Gasset

Glenn Ashmore wrote:

Ever try to pack a concrete block? :-) I need something that will
drop straight and fast and most of all I can pack without adding much
weight. I am already carrying 110 pounds of anchors and need a little
room for a bathing suit and a toothbrush, :-)

How straight do you need? You could start off with the ball from a
trailer hitch (simple and cheap), or work your way up thru large lead
sinkers and the monofilament that Wayne mentioned.



--
"All we are given is possibilities -- to make ourselves one thing or another."
-- Ortega y Gasset

"Glenn Ashmore" writes:

Anyone ever seen such a device or have a better idea?

IMHO, you can't get there from here with what you are considering.

Your friend will be a high speed, hand held GPS.

You won't get it for $100, but it will do the job.


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

I kinda like the trailer knobs and adjustable fishing bobbers. I have
accumulated several GPS units so getting back to the same general place
will not be a problem but these test have gotten a bit more complicated
than I first thought. last time we just duplicated the Practical Sailor
tests and got pretty much the same results. This time I want to measure
creep under loads 10-15% below where they drag, how far they sail from
the drop point and get more accurate mesurements on how far they take to
set. A lot of that requires mesurements in inches.

All this may seem a bit over the top but if I am selling these things I
want to know everything about them. Besides, I made a little profit on
the anchors last year and need to be able to show the tax man that 10
days in the BVI is a legitimate business expense. ;-)

Lew Hodgett wrote:
"Glenn Ashmore" writes:


Anyone ever seen such a device or have a better idea?


IMHO, you can't get there from here with what you are considering.

Your friend will be a high speed, hand held GPS.

You won't get it for $100, but it will do the job.



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:08:14 -0400, Glenn Ashmore
wrote:
Besides, I made a little profit on
the anchors last year and need to be able to show the tax man that 10
days in the BVI is a legitimate business expense. ;-)

=============================================

I suspected something like that but restrained myself from comment
:-}

For those who don't know, Glenn is selling these anchors at pretty
fair prices. I bought a 44 pounder from him 2 years ago and regard it
as the best all around anchor I've used in 40 years of boating. If I
get the Grand Banks 49 that we're contemplating, I'll probably spring
for a new 66 pounder as the primary anchor.

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:08:14 -0400, Glenn Ashmore
wrote:
Besides, I made a little profit on
the anchors last year and need to be able to show the tax man that 10
days in the BVI is a legitimate business expense. ;-)

=============================================

I suspected something like that but restrained myself from comment
:-}

For those who don't know, Glenn is selling these anchors at pretty
fair prices. I bought a 44 pounder from him 2 years ago and regard it
as the best all around anchor I've used in 40 years of boating. If I
get the Grand Banks 49 that we're contemplating, I'll probably spring
for a new 66 pounder as the primary anchor.

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:08:14 -0400, in message
UeFjc.673$Lm3.174@lakeread04
Glenn Ashmore wrote:

This time I want to measure
creep under loads 10-15% below where they drag, how far they sail from
the drop point and get more accurate mesurements on how far they take to
set. A lot of that requires mesurements in inches.

You may want to re-evaluate how your measurements will be used. I
can't think of an anchoring situation where differences in past
performance data measured in inches would affect my decision.

As for providing a solid reference point, it seems you don't care
exactly where your reference is, just that it should stay where it's
put. Drop one of the anchors you aren't in the process of testing with
the fishing bobber attached, then make your reference point wherever
it happens to land.

Ryk