Unattended at Anchor

[robert sailor]

Have to admit I have never left the boat for days much less weeks but I was asked to keep an eye on another cruisers boat when he had a family emergency that took him away for around 10 days. Thats what it would take to get me to leave the boat.

[virginia boy]

I regularly left my boat in the Potomac with it's tides and currents for days at a time. I used a new generation anchor with 50 ft chain and nylon. Never had a problem. Never dragged even during hurricane Irene.

There is a 40 foot boat just south of the Woodrow Wilson bridge (same spot as me) whose owner came up from North Carolina three years ago. Been at anchor (sans owner) ever since. All nylon rode. No problem.

[Deck Scrubber]

When you are cruising its part of the life style, we are always on the hook, and never even think twice about leaving our boat, it's just the way it is.

[Deck Scrubber]

Oh but we do have one big mother of an Anchor...haha

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Bad seamanship IMHO to leave a boat unattended at anchor. Everything after that is a compromise

Dave

But it's good seamanship to leave a boat unattended on a swinging mooring? What's the difference?

I actually have more confidence -- much more confidence -- in my own ground tackle, than I do in swinging moorings of unknown provenance and condition. And I know when my anchor is well set.

That being said, I almost never leave my boat completely unattended at anchor -- almost always someone stays on board. But I think this is irrational on my part.

[ShaunJ]

I don't think I could leave my boat for more than 4 hour on anchor. It just about killed me to leave it for 3 hours this past summer.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Bad seamanship IMHO to leave a boat unattended at anchor. Everything after that is a compromise

Dave

Oh well thats my next trip away stuffed. We usually wander off and explore onshore and do two day walks and the like.

[Fuss]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Bad seamanship IMHO to leave a boat unattended at anchor. Everything after that is a compromise

Dave

How can you go cruising if you cant leave your boat at anchor?
How can you go cruising if you can't leave your boat at anchor at least overnight so you can make an overnight trip inland?

I understand concerns about longer periods away from the boat left at anchor but overnight is the absolute minimum for a flexible time.

Not happy with that? , then improve your weather forecasting systems and get a bigger/better ground tackle system.

[SimonV]

If the anchor is in good holding I may leave it overnight when cruising just to give the wife a night out in a good hotel. But I need to know the weather is stable and benign. Also check your insurance policy. Most will not allow more than 24 hrs on anchor unattended.

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Fuss

How can you go cruising if you cant leave your boat at anchor?
How can you go cruising if you can't leave your boat at anchor at least overnight so you can make an overnight trip inland?

I understand concerns about longer periods away from the boat left at anchor but overnight is the absolute minimum for a flexible time.

Not happy with that? , then improve your weather forecasting systems and get a bigger/better ground tackle system.

Answer in our case: Marina

Other answer: Leave someone on board to watch.

[Captaintim1]

I agree with Fuss. If I could never leave my boat at anchor I would not go cruising. The differences we are talking about is leaving it at anchor for a day or two to enjoy what the cruising life is about, and leaving it at anchor for weeks at a time without being on it or able to check on it. I'm very comfortable with my anchor and rode having spent a lot of time on it and learning to trust it. Still, I watch the weather, and if a blow or storm is coming I always alter my plans to get back on the boat. I trust everything, but want to be onboard to take care of any situation. My thinking is that my boat will be fine in a bad blow, but I am concerned about other boats dragging.

[Deck Scrubber]

Originally Posted by Fuss

How can you go cruising if you cant leave your boat at anchor?
How can you go cruising if you can't leave your boat at anchor at least overnight so you can make an overnight trip inland?

I understand concerns about longer periods away from the boat left at anchor but overnight is the absolute minimum for a flexible time.

Not happy with that? , then improve your weather forecasting systems and get a bigger/better ground tackle system.

I totally agree, if you want to go Cruising you need to chill out more, that's the whole idea about leaving your old life behind, and actually start living. just my opinion.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by SimonV

If the anchor is in good holding I may leave it overnight when cruising just to give the wife a night out in a good hotel. But I need to know the weather is stable and benign. Also check your insurance policy. Most will not allow more than 24 hrs on anchor unattended.

What? No docks available when there is a nearby hotel? I'd have second thoughts leaving my boat at anchor overnight.

[Deck Scrubber]

I have to say I'm a little bit gob smacked at all these posts, I can't believe so many people will not leave their boat, is there something wrong here? Or are we doing the wrong thing?
If your cruising and come into a new port/ Country, are you going to just sit on your boat and enjoy the view? Or go out and explore all the new sights and cultures come on guys life is for living.

[VirtualVagabond]

I'm not at all concerned about leaving Wind Wanderer on the hook. We've got good ground tackle and once it's set it doesn't move without dragging Peking with it.
I wouldn't just anchor and leave, but once I've been there for a few days and I'm happy with the boat and it's surrounds, an overnight away is no problem at all.
I'm far more concerned about the dinghy even though locked to a tree, or the batteries if we are having overcast weather and I'm not there to run the genny a bit.

Vic