deep water anchoring techniques and comparison with shallow

[DMCantor]

Not sure where in Martinique you are planning to go. We have anchored in most of the usual anchorages, and have rarely found water deeper than 8-10 meters, never more than 12. We like the Anse d'Arlet harbors on the SW corner as a place to clear in when arriving from St. Lucia.

[georgeg305]

We had an experience with anchoring out for a storm. After the storm, we were NOT able to pull the anchor up. The solution was to get back on the boat in dead calm, and get the anchor rode ( all chain ) straight up and down. Used a "chain hook" and a short piece of "small stuff". We got the rode to "up & down" on the bow of the boat. Then we went to the stern of the boat and waited for the wind to come up. As the waves built, the action of the boat pulled the anchor free of the mud.


On a slightly different topic, I had a lady who sold me my bruce recommend that in deep mud, one should use a wire rope leader on the anchor. Her theory was that in heavy mud, chain will NOT cut through the mud and will keep the local scope on the anchor slightly elevated. That will keep the anchor from penetrating deep enough to finally bite. The wire rope will cut thru the mud and let the Bruce keep going down

[scallowayuk]

hi ive spent 4 winters in the caribbean.the deepest ancorage i found was roseau dominica, 15 meters. ive done most islands between puerto rico and grenada and never needed more than 30 meters of chain.

[Eclipse 2]

We lost a plough anchor in 70 feet of water in the St. Lawrence. Wouldn't budge. I assume it was caught in rocks. When it gets to the point where you've pulled in your scope and are now trying to haul up 70' of chain from directly above, it gets difficult. We've now switched to a claw anchor and are anchoring at shallower depths.

[barnakiel]

Martinique does not have deep water anchorages.


I think St Pierre is deepest but the challenge there is not the depth as much as it is the slope (drop off).


You are not allowed to anchor deep there because of the historic wrecks.


PLS which Martinique anchorages do you consider deep?


barnakiel

[barnakiel]

Otherwise deep water anchoring is all chain.


Good if you have a winch. Bad if you have a rotten back ;-(


That's me.


b.

[billyehh]

It sounds like you are talking about St. Pierre. It has a shallow shelf just off the beach, and then drops off quite deep. This however is a no anchor zone. It is the resting place for a number of ships sunk in the volcano of 1902. There are yellow buoys marking this area. If the shelf is full there is room to the north. It can get crowed on the weekend.

[Bon Temps]

Get yourself the Navionics app and look at the anchorages. They are not “deep water”.