Archor Drag Alarms - Survey

[Wanderlust]

I have a Vesper system as well, but prefer Anchor Alert running on Android.

Once the chain is out, I enter the length deployed, adding a bit to account for helm position being further back. Then here's the good part ....

While applying power in reverse to set the anchor, I point the phone to it. The app uses the phone's compass and GPS to calculate the anchor position. When I'm satisfied the anchor is set, I press OK on the app and can now rest easy. There is an independent field to enter the acceptable movement outside the circle before alarming. The display shows where the boat has drifted within the swing circle.

On the downside, I almost abandoned this app because it woke me occasionally with false alarms due to losing GPS signal in the cabin. Since swapping phones (to inexpensive Sony Xperia M), it has not failed once in several months' of use.

Battery usage is a bit heavy, consuming about 60% of a full battery overnight. So I plan to install a USB charger downstairs and keep it plugged in all night.

A couple of features I have not used are an exclusion zone, and automated alert to another phone so if you are ashore and the anchor drags it will call you.

[nigel1]

I'll give another vote for the Vesper Marine AIS.

[sestina]

Anchor alarm on the boat's Furuno GPS. Simples.

That and either a 35lb CQR or a 15Kg Bruce at the end of all chain rode.

[Bruce K]

Have a look at boathooked.com

[rooiedirk]

Old fashioned, but I use a weight on a long thin line, attached to a pot or something else making noise.
If the anchor drags the line is getting tight, dragging the pot.
Simple and never false alarms
Oh and no electicity needed.

[monte]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

I don't doubt that it works. If its running on a laptop it is probably pulling 30 to 50 watts and must be on all night. Watchmate - 10 watts or less. It's stand alone/dedicated so nothing else need to be running.

No it runs on iPhone in charger next to the my berth. iPhone is in sleep mode and it comes out of sleep if it's activated so minimum power required.

[noelex 77]

Furuno GP-32.

The anchor alarm is always on when I am at anchor.

It consumes a bit less than 0.2A (about 2w). It provides a graphical display of our position relative to the anchor. The unit lives next to the bed. It doubles as backup GPS for the main chartplotters. (The GPS unit feeding the chartplotters can be switched at the flick of switch)

It is no substitute for good ground tackle, but with such a small cost (financial and power) why not have the little man in the black box keeping a constant check of your position

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by T.Emigh

I have been cruising Mexico for the pass 4 years. I haven't been using any kind of anchor drag alarm. I my opinion there is nothing on the market that works.
My question to everyone is do you use an anchor drag alarm? If so which one?
If there was a anchor drag alarm setup that really worked would you use one?

I find your post puzzling. GPS based anchor drag alarms work and they work very well unless you anchor under a bridge that blocks the satellite signals.

I use the anchor drag alarm feature on my Garmin 5208 (with an external buzzer added) and it works as it's supposed to. I haven't actually dragged anchor but occasionally I will set the distance too short for the scope and it will wake me. The track on the plotter shows the movement of the boat at anchor.

I'm assuming you have a chart plotter or GPS so try setting the alarm and report back if it doesn't seem to work for you.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by rooiedirk

Old fashioned, but I use a weight on a long thin line, attached to a pot or something else making noise.
If the anchor drags the line is getting tight, dragging the pot.
Simple and never false alarms
Oh and no electicity needed.

I've heard of this before but I always thought it was a joke.

[Imprezza72]

A good article and app are on activecaptian.com just out today...DragQueen (available for
free in the Apple app store and Google Play).

[CaptTom]

After installing a bunch of Android apps, I find I use SailSafe the most. Obviously everyone has their own preferences. I just wanted to add my favorite to the list for anyone trying out different apps.

[Paul L]

Another vote for the Vesper alarm with an external alarm buzzer. We use it all the time. Super low battery usage. It stays on for weeks at a time when we are at anchor. Easy user interface.

[svJasmine]

drag queen on iphone. You don't need a signal, it uses the on-phone GPS. We used it throughout the bahamas and never had that phone on a bahamas SIMM.

Will work with an IPAD with 3G (don't need an account, but only the 3G versions have the gps).

the only thing about it is, you need to hit the button up front as you are lowering the anchor. You can't wait till you are settled. this is because the alarm works if set AT THE ANCHOR. that way you can swing.

it is very loud, but you just need to keep the phone plugged in to keep it charged. Using the GPS is power hungry.

And it was really inexpensive.

[shelled]

We use our Garmin 546s. We set it when we drop the hook then add

scope plus boat length. We don't always use it. Sometimes I forget its even

there until the next day when it goes off while we're leaving. Never ever

lost sat coverage.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Imprezza72

A good article and app are on activecaptian.com just out today...DragQueen (available for
free in the Apple app store and Google Play).

Maybe my experience must have been special then. I loaded it on my phone, set the alarm to 50' in my livingroom, then when outside and walked down the street and it never alarmed.

So I deleted the program as I would never trust it after that.