Anchoring Your Boat In Remote Places To Go Ashore

[Jim Cate]

There are two different issues to consider when leaving your boat on the hook: will the anchor hold under all feasible conditions, and will someone rip it off?

Both of these issues are very location dependent, and one's decision must be made with considerable local knowledge. One can develop a good feel for the quality of the holding after a few years of experience and a little local experimentation, but judging the social security of an area is IME a bit difficult. For instance, in New Caledonia I have felt pretty secure re thieving as we made our way around Grande Terre. Yet an acquaintance was robbed at anchor in the secluded bay on the east side of Isle Ouen, some distance from the nearest habitation. And again, while we have always felt quite secure in Tasmania, our dinghy was stolen from astern of our moored boat in the "high rent district" off Battery Point. In both cases, a general feeling of security brought on a unrealistic complacency and significant losses.

Note that both of these losses occurred with the owners nearby or aboard, and in areas thought to be non-threatening.

We have lived mostly at anchor for the past 25 years and don't usually worry about leaving the boat during the day, or for evening absences. However, we have never yet left the boat at anchor for an extended period, and would be worried if we should ever have to do so.

Cheers,

Jim

[John A]

Safety Depends in the circumstances.
While in Harts Cut in Trinidad, after 8 years cruising, I was ashore tending to happy hour when the bartender relayed a message from another boat at anchor that a Hunter 42 had drug anchor for a half mile and scooped my anchor out of the ground and both were headed for the beach! I managed to save both but the other owner was dismayed because he wanted to total his boat for the insurance.
His insurance paid for my damages.

[Greg S]

Originally Posted by John A

Safety Depends in the circumstances.
While in Harts Cut in Trinidad, after 8 years cruising, I was ashore tending to happy hour when the bartender relayed a message from another boat at anchor that a Hunter 42 had drug anchor for a half mile and scooped my anchor out of the ground and both were headed for the beach! I managed to save both but the other owner was dismayed because he wanted to total his boat for the insurance.
His insurance paid for my damages.

Yes, that's the real problem isn't it. Perform due diligence, pick a secure location, set out some good ground tackle and life is good until another boat drags and hits you. And being in a marina is no guarantee either as we found out when we were hit by an out of control sailboat while tied to the face dock. Whether at anchor or at the dock we would always try to find some one to watch the boat if we were going to be gone longer than a day.