On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:31:40 -0400, W1TEF
wrote:

I wonder something - on your GB, could you use the boom to lift it
aboard once you got it shallow enough?

I had a couple of other ideas also. The old Polyform bouy trick would
work quite well also.

The buoy trick, as I understand it, requires that the anchor rode slip
freely, either through the middle of the buoy, or through a loop
attached to the buoy. I'm concerned that a chain rode might not slip
all that well although it's certainly creative and supplies a much
needed mechanical advantage.

I believe the maximum vertical pull is limited by the maximum buoyancy
of the buoy? If we need a vertical lift of 300+ pounds, that implies
a very large buoy, something over 5 cubic feet. We also would need a
propulsion system capable of providing over 300 lbs of static thrust,
possibly difficult on a sailboat with their typically wimpy little
engines and props.

On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:57:23 -0300, "YukonBound"
wrote:



"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.

That's a good plan for breaking it loose if you don't have a lot of
horse power available. Then you've got to hoist it, not difficult on
a 33 ft racing boat with a light anchor and usually with a mostly rope
anchor rode, quite another challenge on a bigger boat with all chain
and a heavy anchor.

On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:24:27 -0400, W1TEF
wrote:

The A-7 Polyform bouy holds 161.6 gallons of air which ~~ mumble -
mumble - carry the six, add four, times 12, price of tea in China ~~
works out to...24.8 something or other cubic feet? That right?

I'm getting about 20 cubic feet assuming 8 gallons per cube, or about
1200 pounds of buoyancy. That's a big-un, should do the trick if we
can get the chain to slip and have enough static engine thrust. Nice
solution if you've got the room for a big buoy like that. Any idea
what they cost, and what the deflated size is? A couple of them might
be useful as hurricane fenders.

http://www.polyformus.com/doc/product_a7.htm

My personal solution is to use a chain hook led to a 3,000 lb
Come-a-Long. I've tested it enough to know that it works but it would
take a while to bring up the anchor from 40 ft. The nice thing is
that Come-a-Longs are relatively cheap and don't take up a lot of
space. A multi-part block and tackle led to a chain hook or rolling
hitch should be workable also if you have enough mechanical advantage.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:12:32 -0400, W1TEF
wrote:

Then, move up the anchor line until it is vertical. Move the anchor to
shallow water a little at a time taking up the slack. Eventually
you'll get it shallow enough to man handle it aboard.


That's creative although you are likely to run aground at some point.

I wonder something - on your GB, could you use the boom to lift it
aboard once you got it shallow enough?

That's one possibility but I have other ways that I like better. I'd
prefer to pull the anchor right where it sits for various reasons.

You're thinking in the right direction however.

Is the anchor dug into mud or snagged on something? If it's snagged, I don't
see a way to clear it without either driving forward over it or diving on
it. From what I've read, you're supposed to have a second line from the
anchor to the surface with a float attached to mark the spot. Perhaps if it
was a double line with a pulley on it because you thought ahead (and the
anchor was in mud), you could use one end of the float line to haul down a
heavier line, attach one or more fenders and haul those down perhaps using a
regular winch, since I bet it would be pretty hard to do, and then use the
combined effort of muscle and lift from the fender to raise the anchor.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:25:20 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


"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?

Well, you don't do what Larry said, "If the windlass fails, you cut and
run.
I'll bet there are tens of
thousands of anchors on the bottom of the ocean that were stuck and the
Captain had no other choice."


I'm sure there are but this is not a case of the anchor being "stuck".

Do I get 1/2 credit?


No. Failure is not an option if you are cruising in the boondocks
and your primary anchor is playing hard to get.

I'm willing to accept no credit. Is Larry willing to admit he's a failure?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:46:59 -0600, Canuck57
wrote:

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

Drag the bottom with hook the right size to snag the chain.

Then what ?

Blame Obama.

On Jun 21, 9:49*pm, "nom=de=plume" wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message

...

On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:46:59 -0600, Canuck57
wrote:

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

Drag the bottom with hook the right size to snag the chain.

Then what ?

Blame Obama.

No need to blame him for your petty anchor problems, D'Plume. He's
doing enough to catch hell for.

On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:24:55 -0400, W1TEF
wrote:

Mechanical advantage would be a good way. If you used two four rove
blocks in series - that works out to something like 35 lbs (I think).
You could hang the blocks off the boom - should be solid enough for 35
lbs.

Wrong. While using a block and tackle will divide the weight among
several bits of line, the total will remain the same and that is what
the boom feels. The entire weight.

Casady

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:24:55 -0400, W1TEF
wrote:

Mechanical advantage would be a good way. If you used two four rove
blocks in series - that works out to something like 35 lbs (I think).
You could hang the blocks off the boom - should be solid enough for 35
lbs.

Wrong. While using a block and tackle will divide the weight among
several bits of line, the total will remain the same and that is what
the boom feels. The entire weight.

Casady
That's correct. 35 lb pull will be felt at the bitter end of the tackle.

On Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:24:27 -0400, W1TEF
wrote:

The A-7 Polyform bouy holds 161.6 gallons of air which ~~ mumble -
mumble - carry the six, add four, times 12, price of tea in China ~~
works out to...24.8 something or other cubic feet? That right?

21.6 actually. Not a significant difference.

Casady