Heavy tide swing, bridle coming backwards between the hulls.

[Franziska]

Yes, we always use a crane for recovery, especially when it settled in deep mud. ROFL.

I meant motorcycle tire obviously. A car tire takes to much space onboard Lady Rover.

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

Must be difficult retrieving the motorcycle!

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Yes, we always use a crane for recovery, especially when it settled in deep mud. ROFL.

I meant motorcycle tire obviously. A car tire takes to much space onboard Lady Rover.

Tyres are great things to have aboard. They make much better fenders than shop brought ones if you are tied to the sea wall in a storm - I have dents to prove it :P
Though you don't need to carry them with you, you can just visit the local scrap heap or garage.

[Franziska]

Absolutely, as well as having the biggest fenders you can get for a reasonable price.

We always get funny looks for our oversized black industrial fenders. But in a blow against a wall we get really envious looks :-)

That's one of the very few situations in life were bigger is really better.

Never regretting getting them.

Originally Posted by Captn_Black

Tyres are great things to have aboard. They make much better fenders than shop brought ones if you are tied to the sea wall in a storm - I have dents to prove it [emoji14]
Though you don't need to carry them with you, you can just visit the local scrap heap or garage.

[Nahbrown]

Thanks to all for the advice! We did move to a different anchorage in the St Augustine area by Vilano Beach however the current is still ripping here as well.

I turned the rudders a 1/4 turn and locked them in and thus far our boat has swung perfectly with the bridle out front.


I expect to be dealing with tidal swings for the next 3 weeks as we explore northern Florida and southern Georgia on our way to Brunswick so I really appreciate the tip!

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by SVHarmonie

Sometimes the best fix for this is to leave the rudders set a bit off center. That way the boat twists as the tide swings and turns so it doesn't straddle the bridle.

It doesn't ALWAYS work, but is has helped me a couple times when achored on a cat in a reversing current.

It can help sometimes also if the legs of the bridle aren't exactly the same length. Even a little bit of difference can force the boat to turn when the bridle is backward.

Thanks!

[mark0978]

You can move the bridle outboard onto the cleats as well. Also super simple.

[lenseman]

Originally Posted by Nahbrown

I keep having this happen. We set the anchor and as soon as the tide switches the bridle goes backward between the hulls putting a lot if pressure on the bow spirit cables. There are other cats in inlet with us and I see them experiencing the same.

You wind in your sprayhood ot cockpit cover is driving against the tide. Nothing else will cause it.

[Franziska]

It can also be the superstructure itself.

Besides drag devices a riding sail could help too.
This small sail moves the center of effort of superstructure and hulls to a new location and changes its balance with underwater centre of lateral resistance.

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by Franziska

It can also be the superstructure itself.

Besides drag devices a riding sail could help too.
This small sail moves the center of effort of superstructure and hulls to a new location and changes its balance with underwater centre of lateral resistance.

Yea, a cat is 80% windage. A whole range of different problems to a monohull. Not saying worse, just different.

[Mr B]

I found it very strange and unsettling at first last week on the hook,
I actually thought I was dragging very fast, But no, I was locked into the same spot on the hook,
I had not a breath of wind all week, The surface was like glass,
But the tide was running in or out at about 6 to 8 knots,
My rudders were in line along with the drive leg being down, 3 feet,
My centre boards were fully down, Five feet under the boat,

My anchor chain was straight down in 35 feet of water,

But my Cat was swinging around the vertical anchor chain very quickly, A good 180 degrees,
With five Peices of my boat dragging in the water,
My boat should have been in line with the current and not moving,
But it does swing chronically,
But I am a 4.5 ton cork, I sit on top of the water, Not in it,

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by Nahbrown

I keep having this happen. We set the anchor and as soon as the tide switches the bridle goes backward between the hulls putting a lot if pressure on the bow spirit cables. There are other cats in inlet with us and I see them experiencing the same.

IMO, the best solution given that the wind and seas are not strong enough to overcome the current is to not use a bridle but a single line off the secondary anchor roller to the chain. Then turn your rudders so the boat swings around the chain. I've been trapped by my bridle several times and this is all we could come up with.