Dinghy Etiquette vs Safety

[off-the-grid]

In Miami Beach there's this ledge along the canal where most people tie up, that does a great job at sinking dinks. Basically tide goes out, dinghy floats under ledge, tide comes back in, dinghy stays under ledge, and you return to what looks more like a kiddie pool than a boat.

What some people do is use a stern anchor to keep the boat off the wall. But in a narrow canal that gets very shallow at low tide, I don't think this is a good idea. Very easy to run over someone's rode, especially when there's wind or current.

So, should I just drop a stern anchor since that's what some others seem to be doing?

Or does anyone have a better solution?

[markpierce]

If your rode consisted mainly/all of chain, you would not need to worry so much, especially since stern anchoring is an accepted practice at the location in question.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Not sure who is at risk of running over the rode, other dinks or passing vessels?

If other dinks, then there answer is to look where they are going - and where neccessary raise the engine.

In both cases a couple of foot of (light!) chain (on the dinghy end - and non-floating warp) should do the trick.

Or a bigger bailer........

[GordMay]

What Mark & Davis said.

[Hud3]

Use your stern anchor, but park in the middle of the pack. It's the guys on the outside who'll have their anchor rodes run over.

[lorenzo b]

Go around the corner to the police dock, they are very friendly and nobody will steal it. Make sure you have your nav lights and registration numbers. The sign says 20 minutes only but they say they don't enforce it. Just two blocks from where you tie now and no need to go up that channel. Great burger joint on the corner.

[off-the-grid]

Thanks!

Stern anchor it is...and yes, Burger & Beer Joint is awesome!