How many anchors??

[fishsail]

Ok for this question the type of anchor is not important, as we know everyone has their favorite. The chain /rope is the same 100' chain, and 500' of rope, you have plenty of rode. Use as much as you want.You are anchoring in windy conditions say 20-30knts. in 20' depth sandy /muddy bottom. Swing room is also not an issue and you have the windlass strong enough to pull everything up. And yes you want to get a good nights sleep.
Question would you rather use one well over-sized anchor or two separate
normal sized anchors/ Chain and rode combos ?
thanks

[Emmalina]

Biggest anchor we have and all chain.... Rope rode has little place on a liveboard except as emergency stuff IMHO.

[Sailmonkey]

I'll take one big anchor please with a side of chain.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I'll take one big anchor please with a side of chain.

+1

[Tayana42]

I agree with the monkey. One big anchor and all chain.


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[FSMike]

Just one anchor, although I would be asking myself why I was anchoring so deep lol.

[Hard Rock Candy]

I anchored one night in Hawks Channel, about 800 ft from shore. I mean by the time I got in there it was already dark. I dropped the anchor and put out about 60ft of chain, in 6 ft of water. Had a warm beer and crashed. About midnight I heard the wind pipe up a little, but no worry I had backed off on the anchor and it held good when I set it. Then I felt the little jerk when the anchor comes loose and the boat turns a little as it drags. Oh sh--. I got up and went on deck. There was enough light to see the mangroves about a 1/4 mile away, that I was heading toward and see the lights on shore diminishing as I watched. I went forward and put the second anchor down, a rather large Danforth that I had hanging on the rail. I ran out 20 ft of chain and then about 70 ft of nylon. I could feel the anchor bouncing along on the bare coral bottom. All of a sudden I got the runs. I put another anchor down over to the side that was nearest to the wind and it held. so I finally made it to the head. then I went up and pulled the two anchors up that were on the bow. they were all twisted together of course. But I got them straightened up and headed back to the cockpit. about half way there the anchor that was holding off the side came loose and away I went again. well I was about 1000 ft from the mangroves, I knew I could start my motor and motor out but I figured one more try. this time I dropped the smallest anchor I had. It was the one I used for my dingy. it had very sharp points on it and always worked with the dingy. It had new3.8 by 100 ft nylon on it and I just let it all out and yanked on it as I let it out. It caught and held at about 60 ft. I then was worried that if I went to sleep it would come loose again, so I took the anchor that I originally put over the side and dropped it straight down and tied it to a skillet setting on the stove. Just in case. I woke up the next morning with the keel gently bumping a sand bottom. Woo what a night. Mac

[zboss]

Using two anchors sucks. I was forced to use two anchors here in Marathon because thats what the neighbors have and now they are all wound up in one another.

[Wench'sCaptain]

One over sized with all chain is normal op.

I do carry 2 smaller anchors for Stern and emergency.

[landonshaw]

Definitely one anchor and chain. In the windward islands, 20 to 30 knots is normal.


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[Biggusstickus]

Would use 1 anchor however would certainly be open to using 2 in a piggy back configuration. We often use the 2 anchor set up in my work however in a much much much bigger scale i.e. 12t anchors and 800m of 52mm wire rope.

I would think 1 anchor down then 6-8ft of 3/4 rope or smaller wire rope even then the 2nd anchor and chain and you would sleep soundly for the night.

[Benz]

If I could carry an anchor that was so big and heavy that it was an obscene joke, I would do it. I have the biggest anchor I can lift, and though it doesn't drag, I would love for it to weigh 600 pounds.
Ben
zartmancruising dot com

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by fishsail

Ok for this question the type of anchor is not important, as we know everyone has their favorite. The chain /rope is the same 100' chain, and 500' of rope, you have plenty of rode. Use as much as you want.You are anchoring in windy conditions say 20-30knts. in 20' depth sandy /muddy bottom. Swing room is also not an issue and you have the windlass strong enough to pull everything up. And yes you want to get a good nights sleep.
Question would you rather use one well over-sized anchor or two separate
normal sized anchors/ Chain and rode combos ?
thanks

I'd let out 2 boat lengths more chain... do not like rope rodes on my boats.
If you set 2 anchors on the single chain I'd recommend a way to bouy and dump the chain in hurry.. collect when the spray settles.

[thinwater]

1. Oh no! Another anchor thread. Thank goodness we won't cover anything new.

2. The OP was really a leading question, no?

Better, ask what are the reasons for using 2 or more, that will not be best served by you regular anchor. Of course, you will need a new thread for each reason. And better stay away from rope vs. chain, just to save space.

Disallowing anecdotes might help.

[sy_gilana]

Big One + Chain = :zzzzzzz: