About NOT power setting the anchor

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Sounds like a magic anchor - knows exactly how to set itself. I want one.....

I drive past a mooring field of derelict boats almost daily. Many have been there for many, many years and have 1000's of nights at anchor so I guess they too are experts at anchoring.

So let's set aside the topic of re-setting. What about setting the first time? Would that be good information to have, that you're anchor will set? I'm sure some will argue it for the sake of arguing, but let's face it: you're more likely to know if an anchor won't set if you power-set and it fails. If you wait until "Nature does it's thing" and nature is late or not up to the task, you're going to drag.

Attachment 229962



Peter

I have always thought mooring fields were where moorings are laid and then rented out..
Boats that anchor go to anchorages.. Different ball game.
If there's wind I never power set.. I approach my chosen spot with the main still up if under engine then as I turn into wind and release the main sheet, drop her into neutral and center the rudder.. walk forward and drop the hook, feed out chain as she falls off the wind till I feel there's sufficient for the first 'bite' then lock off the chain till its taut and the boat turns into the wind.. repeat process till required amount is out and lock off chain again.
Go back aft and stick the kettle on, tidy up while it boils then brew up and sit in the cockpit checking my bearings while I drink it.
If I'm happy I then drop the main and cover it after which I go forward and fit the bridle, pay out the required chain till its taut and a nice bight between bridle and roller.
Make everything fast then crack a tube or another coffee and a rum.
Job done.
Only time I power set if one can call it that is if there's no wind.. nothing worse than 25-30 meters of chain piled on top of an anchor..

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Same. Exactly. Identically. Same geography, same anchor, same technique.

How did ships anchor before the internal combustion engine??

Must have sculled it in to set? Lolol

They were extremely particular and had a lot of crew for anchor watch.

Sir Francis Drake on his Golden Hind managed to sail to what is now Drakes Bay 25 nms north of San Francisco Bay yet did not discover SF, a bay he would have sure preferred to careen his vessel than Drakes Bay.

Why did he bypass SF? An abundance of caution due to prevailing conditions meant that he was well offshore and never saw the entrance.

And yes, many ships dragged anchor and were lost. I have no doubt that given the remote circumstances that if Drake could power set his anchor, he would. He had little concern for the crew, but the ship? Different matter.

Peter

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I owned a 600 hp “ gentleman’s motor cruiser “ for a while , I could drag the anchor in idle !

Obviously a crap anchor.

[Simi 60]

We never power set
Did it once with our new to us 150lb Manson supreme and will never do it again
5 tonne bollard pull is pretty unforgiving even at 600rpm

Similar to others here, let wind and current do its thing
Anchored every night for 4+ years
Have seen 80+ knots, never moved.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Forget who it is but someones signature on this forum signs off with ....

Theres the right way, the wrong way and what some guy says he has gotten away with

Well out. Sort of like the old stories "If smoking is so bad for you, how did my grandma live to 93 while smoking a pack a day?"

Possible? Yes. Probable? Nope.

Separately, more scope is helpful unmasking poor anchoring practices. Good luck setting 10:1 scope in many places where water depths are 25' or more. Damn inconsiderate amongst other things.

[dfelsent]

Chotu. I use power to set. That does not make me think less of your setting technique.
It has worked for you. My technique works for me now that I don’t use the CQR in weed. Or anywhere.

The technique I would (maybe) criticize is the boat that set the anchor (too small) (rope no chain) and had two of his buddies raft to his port so he was the end of the raft. They were larger boats. With severe thunderstorm warnings. Excellent holding ground though. Beautiful mud.

When that squall came through the three boats managed to drop an anchor from the middle boat as the raft dragged sideways for a few hundred yards.

Oh did they have fun untangling the mess in the morning.

If I did that I would certainly be looking back and learning. What they did was a mistake but not stupid.

And I say (maybe) because I’ve done plenty of stupid things on boats.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

. Good luck setting 10:1 scope in many places where water depths are 25' or more. Damn inconsiderate amongst other things.

I have enough chain onboard to anchor 30:1 if I chose to and there would be nothing inconsiderate about it.

Not all of us are in areas or anchor at spots with hundreds of other boats.
Any more than 5 others and I'm off to find a more secluded spot.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

I have enough chain onboard to anchor 30:1 if I chose to and there would be nothing inconsiderate about it.

Not all of us are in areas or anchor at spots with hundreds of other boats.
Any more than 5 others and I'm off to find a more secluded spot.

Curious Simi. How do you find these remote anchorages where setting such scope is not disruptive, require no power set, yet remain in close enough proximity to civilization to be an active poster on this forum?

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Curious Simi. How do you find these remote anchorages where setting such scope is not disruptive, require no power set, yet remain in close enough proximity to civilization to be an active poster on this forum?

Its called satellite and in my area there are just so many coves that are atill within range of a cell tower. Its awesome to be in the pnw

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Its called satellite and in my area there are just so many coves that are atill within range of a cell tower. Its awesome to be in the pnw

Yes , very familiar with satellite. Not cheap for the type of bandwidth needed to be a prolific poster in forums like this and others. On a forum where people debate the economics of a Honda generator, I would think the expense of satellite would be rare.

Just curious. Not a big deal. Not my circus. Not my monkey.

Peter

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Curious Simi. How do you find these remote anchorages where setting such scope is not disruptive, require no power set, yet remain in close enough proximity to civilization to be an active poster on this forum?

Australia
Plenty of spots to go as long as you aren't a herd animal
Less than 1 mile away where the sheep go, there is about 100 boats
And, I can still clearly see the city skyscrapers in the distance

Oh, and I rarely use much more than 5:1, often less.
I have a decent anchor that actually works

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Its called satellite

Nope, cell tower is about 1 mile away to the south and another 5 miles to the north.
Pretty much works 15 miles out up the coast of a lot of the country.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Nope, cell tower is about 1 mile away to the south and another 5 miles to the north.
Pretty much works 15 miles out up the coast of a lot of the country.

Take a look at the puget sound in washington state im never more than 7 or so milea from a tower myself

[mvweebles]

The only reason I beat this dead horse whenever it pops up is I think it irresponsible to advocate to newbies that tossing an anchor over the side and laying an outrageous amount of scope is correct anchoring. It's not. It's worked for many people but I have never - never - seen a credible citation recommending anything other than at least a modest power set. Laying 10:1 scope is a luxury you cannot count on and should not depend on.

To the newbies who read threads like these. You can listen to anecdotal stories about how people eschew anchoring best practices from sources like BoatUS, Practical Sailor, Dashew, Nigel Calder, West Marine, and many, many others. Or you can read the research, study the testing, and trust your instinct that setting an anchor, at worst, is at least an insurance policy - an early warning sign that the bottom seabed may not be what you'd hoped for.

Hope is not a strategy. Hoping your anchor will set on its own without intervention or coercion is not a sound practice.

Good luck.

Peter

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Curious Simi. How do you find these remote anchorages where setting such scope is not disruptive, require no power set, yet remain in close enough proximity to civilization to be an active poster on this forum?

Uh... most of the Chesapeake Bay, for example. Lots of big coves, all with good cell coverage. And since they are shallow, 7:1 is usually only be 100 feet of rode. A good minimum rode length, IMO.



It is easy to post based on our personal experiences, without remembering that we have only experienced one slice of sailing.