Best Anchor in Kelp

[rognvald]

For those with first hand experience, what is the best anchor for kelp?

[Scott Berg]

In CA we used use a big Luke
Heavy and awkward but held very well
Don't skimp on the chain

[Cheechako]

Yes I agree "best to not anchor in kelp" :>)

[Jim Cate]

Kelp is itself always anchored to rocks. Anchoring in rocks has got drawbacks as we all know.

There is a lesson to be learned here I think, but if you must anchor in kelp, a fisherman (or Admiralty or Herreschoff (sp?)) is usually recommended as suggested above.

Another useful trick is to get a big kelp stalk wrapped around your rudder, keel and propeller. Then no anchor is needed at all.

Jim

[NewMoon]

Don't mean to say that it's "best", but after I replaced my Bruce with a size larger Rocna, anchoring in the more kelpy coves I found that the Rocna would set much easier than the Bruce.

Cruising BC and SE Alaska with the Bruce, in the kelpy bottoms I'd often have to re-set 1-2 times to get a solid hold. The Rocna almost always sets securely first time.

It's also excellent in every other bottom type I've run into.

[rw58ph]

Most plough type anchor like the QCR, Bruce, Rocna as they do not have flukes can get tangled in the kelp. We carry three different style of anchors, QCR, Danfoth, and a Forjord depending on the conditions and bottom.

[jjt]

I found an original Northill (it came from a Catalina PBY plane).
I'm aware that the rode will wrap around the free fluke in a more than 180 degrees rotation.
My plan is to use it in those difficult bottoms.

[zeehag]

i find a better anchorage.
so does a friend who used to anchor my ericson in kelp out of point loma/mission bay to snorkel and scuba.....and fish.....

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by jjt

I found an original Northill (it came from a Catalina PBY plane). I'm aware that the rode will wrap around the free fluke in a more than 180 degrees rotation. My plan is to use it in those difficult bottoms.

What did you with the plane?

[scotty c-m]

Lots of kelp in my area. Kelp grows on rocks (as posted earlier), and rock is difficult holding and fouling ground. There are often areas free of kelp mixed in with areas of kelp. I always look for those areas free of kelp. Seems to work for me. Hope that helps you.

[jjt]

a64pilot:

In fact, my baptism flight was in that plane back in the sixties.
The plane was sold to an american collectionist. It was the last Catalina in service in a military force all around the world (at least that was told to me)

You can see the plane here:
http://www.fuerzasnavales.com/magazine/catalina.html

And a similar anchor here:
http://www.navagear.com/2010/01/05/n...rd-many-craft/

I recently bought the anchor from a navy technician through internet. Never used it yet
The shackle is missing but still a very beautiful piece of stainless engineering made in Los Angeles during WWII

[a64pilot]

Before my Father passed away years ago he admitted to me that his dream was to outfit a PBY as sort of an air camper and fly it around the world, not circumnavigate, just where ever he decided.
They are a much bigger aircraft than most realize and have rather long "legs"

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by rognvald

For those with first hand experience, what is the best anchor for kelp?

The NW corner of Europe like the PNW has kelp, lots of it, big tall stuff which takes an age to swim through as a diver. Always found a grapple anchor very effective at getting down to the rock and then gripping supprisingly well given its size.

Pete

[Roy M]

Kelp grows only on rocks of sufficient size to hold the plant to the bottom (the roots are called "holdfasts"). If you look around in a kelpy area, you will find open spaces. These are where the sand is. Drop your anchor there, then dive down the anchor chain and enter a beautiful new world. The kelp rises in intertangled strands like the trunk of a tree, then spreads out in a canopy on the surface. If there's no kelp, there's likely a good spot to anchor. Unless you are in an area of bull kelp which lies low to the bottom.

For anchoring near kelp, you will likely pick up strands when you retrieve the anchor. I use an arbor (or tree) saw, with a curved blade on a long pole, to trim it off before it gets tangled in the bowroller. I also have a small, mounted floodlight on the pulpit, to help when I'm doing it at night.

Kelp is good. It's one of the fastest growing organisms on the planet (as much as several feet per day!), it's a terrific habitat for all kinds of critters (many of them delicious), and among the most beautiful diving sites I know of. Be kind to it.