"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
One of my recent students who shall remain nameless, failed to
complete a homework assignment after apparently losing interest in the
subject. Therefore I will throw it open to the group.

You are in a 40 something boat, power or sail makes no difference,
anchored in over 40 feet of water with 3/8ths chain and a 60 pound
anchor. The combination of chain and anchor weigh about 150 pounds
not counting the large mud ball that wants to come up also, easily 200
pounds total. The chain and anchor are worth something over $1500
and not easily replaced in remote locations.

The problem: The anchor windlass has failed in some unfortunate way,
and not easily repaired. How do you retrieve your expensive anchor
and chain?

On the 33 footer I crewed on, we would motor forward to the anchor & a bit
beyond to help loosen it. We would also get a couple of deck hands to bounce
up & down on the foredeck... using the boats rise to help lift the anchor a
few feet at a time.