tips for anchoring in grass

[groundtackle]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tDV6KzXh5GI

Thanks again Steve for all your efforts and curiosity.
Chris

[RaymondR]

The "fishermans" was traditionally the anchor for weed and seagrass beds and they do tend to set and hold fairly well but they are horrible things to manage aboard a boat.

[groundtackle]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

The "fishermans" was traditionally the anchor for weed and seagrass beds and they do tend to set and hold fairly well but they are horrible things to manage aboard a boat.

RaymondR, I would agree within rocky and kelpy substrates, nothing better.
Eelgrass is typically soft and needs some fluke area that a Fishermen doesn’t have. If the room I’d carry one.
Chris

[thinwater]

I've been expecting someone to bring up Northill. They built a reputation in the weeds. Sort of like a fishermans with more fluke area. The only real downside is that pesky fluke sticking up.

[groundtackle]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GOo9iVXrECQ‘

Just for something to watch.. it is a heavy one if attempting to relate to Steves other vids.

Thin, The Northhill has always been the go to anchor within our PNW fishing fleet. They work fantastic in many difficult hard bottoms, ok in the soft. Clumsy onboard. Always liked that they come apart and can repaired with some more U channel, smart design. There was a cast aluminum knock off that never gained popularity. Before it’s time perhaps.
Chris

[nhschneider]

While sailing in the Abacos, we found that our 30-kilo Bruce couldn’t penetrate the grass. With a mask and snorkel on, I would watch as my wife would back the boat down and the anchor just skipped along the bottom. I even dove down an dug a depression, hoping to give the Bruce something to bite into but that didn’t work either. We wound up tandem anchoring with a 20-kilo Bruce shackled to the 30-kilo Bruce with 50’ of 3/8” chain. Neither anchor would set but it was enough weight that we didn’t drag despite sitting through some significant winds.

If there had been a chandlery in the area I probably would have bought a better anchor for the conditions.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[GordMay]

1. Avoid anchoring in grass or weeds if at all possible.
Grass or weed bottoms do not provide a good holding ground, as they often prevent the anchor from penetrating into the bottom, and so provides very questionable holding for most anchors.
2. Lighter anchors, like a Danforth, will skid along the top of the weeds and grass and never set.
3. A plow, CQR, or Bruce style anchor has a better chance of digging into a grass or weed bottom, given it’s shape and additional weight. Nevertheless, see point 1.
Full disclosure: I haven't anchored in about 20 years.

[groundtackle]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KxENmpztet4

Gord, so happy to see your interest and daily welcomes. Thanks.
Thin, what size Northill are you using right now and some observations that you may like to share?
Chris

[Kokanee]

Our local area mainly has a weed over limestone bottom. I try to avoid disturbing the weed, but sometimes there is no choice.
Most anchors don't work very well on the weedy limestone, but a local company has developed an anchor that penetrates the weed and will bite on limestone ledges. It's a stockless type anchor but has limited surface area so not much use in soft mud.

Tough to get one anchor that does everything but this works over here.

[groundtackle]

Kokanee, we cannot see the bottom up here from over 15’. Maybe in the winter when things don’t grow. Summer forget it. You simply cannot drop an anchor clear of weed.
We all understand it’s weedy down there but pretty sure it was invented up here.
I’m looking at that anchor, Thanks.
Chris

[Simi 60]

Anchor in grass regularly with our Manson supreme and have never had an issue.
Lower it with the windlass and simply let the weight of the boat do the set
Never dragged, never had the hoop clog up with anything.

[groundtackle]

Simi, you are big and worthy of discussion.
Chris

[wtmf]

get a bigger/heavier anchor. also limit what is in the wind on deck.

[captstu]

I shackled an Fx-37 to the front on my 50 kg Bruce with 2 meters of chain in grass, high wind, or other bad conditions.

I dove it several times to see the Fortress dug into the Bruce trail, once the full 2 meters deep.

The windless recovers the Bruce and I reach over to recover the swinging random Fortress.

43’ catamaran

[groundtackle]

Originally Posted by wtmf

get a bigger/heavier anchor. also limit what is in the wind on deck.

Wtmf, I personally don’t buy into your statement about bigger.
Not attempting to start another anchor war but consider technology. Better is better and things have changed.
Anchors can be lighter, more efficient, chains stronger, windlasses and all the related components that match.
To others;
Bruce or a copy is the absolute worst anchor in weed. I’ve personally experienced it’s bad habits in exactly those conditions. If they drag and pick up more weed along the way then it’s the beach. That was a bad night.
Chris