Leaving Your Boat at Anchor on a Windy Day

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Emmalina

My insurance specifies I can't leave the boat unattended for more than 4 hours when at anchor. Don't know where this figure came from ??

Biggest fear around here is bare boat charters for dragging

We leave our boat for up to a month at anchor and fly out halfway over the world and back without worrying... Also fine with the insurance.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by boatman61

My 1st boat with a Danforth type anchor was a 23ft Virgo Voyager... Seagull outboard..

Those Seagulls make great anchors. But what were you hoping to do with the Danforth?

I heard that with a bit of skill a sailor can use one to open beer bottles. Otherwise, they seem too big for a shackle key.

[Autumns Wind]

[QUOTE="Bash;1233823"]
But what were you hoping to do with the Danforth?

[Autumns Wind]

I can answer that, Drag bottom! This past weekend we were stopping at a local ancrorage of 6' of water with no wind. So I decided to drop our Danforth with 20' of chain and 50' of line, instead of the plow with 50' of chain. Held great through the night and tide shift, no problem... (not one anchor alarm) We left on the dingy toward the beach the next day and were having a great time. As the day progressed I watched as the tide shifted and then noticed my boat had turn and started drifting. I jumped in my brand new dingy and the motor would not start, and I had to row like crazy. By the time I got to the boat it had moved 600' and was heading toward a dock NOT GOOD!!! Needless to say the Danforth became a reef that day.(whistling) IMO... A Danforth is only good for a beach anchor. A lesson I will not forget.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Emmalina

My insurance specifies I can't leave the boat unattended for more than 4 hours when at anchor. Don't know where this figure came from ??

Biggest fear around here is bare boat charters for dragging

Seems like the more reasonable restriction would be to state that you could not leave your boat for 4 hours after anchoring. Much dragging I see is from the people who motor in, dump their gear and are in the dinghy heading to shore before the boat even drifts back on the rode.

Mark

[engele]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

Short scoping it is the single biggest problem I see. I don't know how often in a crowded anchorage I have had someone drop their hook right about where my hook is, then let out half as much scope as me and come to a rest with their stern 10 feet in front of my bow. They don't dare back down because they might "pull it loose." Luckily most of them realize that isn't a good place to be, so they pull up and then try the same stunt a few more times until they end up in some marginal location, not quite on top of someone, with significantly short scope, and an anchor that is not well dug in. Often they then proceed to demolish large quantities of alcohol prepping themselves for the inevitable thundersquall.

This has to be my worst pet peeve, and unfortunately a very common occurrence.

[d4raffy]

Having the correct anchor ... anchoring correctly ... etc ... aside.
This is a useful little device ... helps my nerves when anchored & ashore ... Had one for about 3 years now - just upgraded. Boat Security, Boat and Yacht Security from Yacht Sentinel | the ultimate security system

Assuming you have a mobile phone signal - it will txt alert you if you drag out of your geofence - and you can automatically trigger another back-up anchor deployment - if you wish.

[rbyham]

The thought occurs to this newbie to ask. How do these anchor drag phone apps work? For example could the app be activated and left on board with instructions to call the wife's phone if drag is occuring? That would be cool...

[engele]

Originally Posted by rbyham

The thought occurs to this newbie to ask. How do these anchor drag phone apps work? For example could the app be activated and left on board with instructions to call the wife's phone if drag is occuring? That would be cool...

Some of them claim to do that, but we have had mixed luck testing. I set the swing radius extremely tight to trip the alarm, but none of my tests ended up giving me any confidence in reliability. Maybe other users have had better testing luck, but really there is no substitute for staying aboard if there is any question on holding.

[foggysail]

[QUOTE=Autumns Wind;1234070 This past weekend we were stopping at a local ancrorage of 6' of water with no wind. So I decided to drop our Danforth with 20' of chain and 50' of line, instead of the plow with 50' of chain.g .[/QUOTE]


You anchored with a scope of almost 12 with a crappy anchor???

In our crowded harbors that tactic would infuriate your anchoring neighbors. Time to consider others and a new anchor.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by foggysail

You anchored with a scope of almost 12 with a crappy anchor???

In our crowded harbors that tactic would infuriate your anchoring neighbors. Time to consider others and a new anchor.

Wow, I guess I would not give a crap what my neighbors thought. It's my boat and my crappy ground tackle. Fact is, I would do the same thing with my good ground tackle. That said, I would not jamb myself into a tight space though.

[foggysail]

Originally Posted by Guy

Wow, I guess I would not give a crap what my neighbors thought. It's my boat and my crappy ground tackle. Fact is, I would do the same thing with my good ground tackle. That said, I would not jamb myself into a tight space though.

Too many people have your attitude. But if you persist and do anchor around here with a scope approaching 12, your anchoring neighbors are going to drop their anchors such that yours will quickly become an entangled mess.

Most of the people that I find in anchorages do not share your pompous, self righteous, screw you buddy attitude!

And though it is your anchor, if you bang into my boat you will damned well pay for damages one way or the other!

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Guy

Wow, I guess I would not give a crap what my neighbors thought. It's my boat and my crappy ground tackle. Fact is, I would do the same thing with my good ground tackle. That said, I would not jamb myself into a tight space though.

Thats the way to win anchorage friends ............................ you know the ones that you hope help keep an eye out for you what the weather picks up and youn are ashore.

[model 10]

You guy's crack me up. I don't depend on anyone to keep track of my boat. I can see why you do. As I said I would not anchor among a bunch of boats with only 40' out, anywhere. I am surprised that on a "cruisers" forum anyone would argue for such a thing. If my boat drags its going to be something where you could not help even if you wanted to. And, I suspect with this kind of attitude your boat will drag long before mine.

[boatman61]