anchoring distance

[rutherford]

So I hate to admit it but every time we anchor around other boats we miss judge the distance. What to us looks like no room between us and the next boat is more than enough to fit another 50 ft boat. once we are in the dinghy we take a short ride to look from far and alway realize there is way more room than we thought while on board.

Any idea how to fix this problem?

Thanks

[Bash]

Originally Posted by rutherford

Any idea how to fix this problem?

Experience. The more time you spend on the hook, the better you become at making all the judgment calls necessary to share an anchorage safely with other cruisers.

[motion30]

The goal for me to be far away as I can but not leave to much distance to allow another boat to squeeze in

[Cotemar]

rutherford,

Whats wrong with 50 feet. If there is room, that's perfect.

The problem is when two more boats come in and anchor in that 50 foot whole.

The easiest method is to pull up to within 20 feet of the stern of an anchored boat.
Ask how much scope they have out. If they say 80 feet you put out 80 feet.

[Cheechako]

when anchoring I figure the other boat has 5 x depth in scope. Then I estimate how far away to be based on if both boats swing toward each other when the wind dies (or reverses!) in the middle of the night. It will look like a lot of room from the dingy...but not when the fire drill starts happening!

[rutherford]

Thanks for the answers. The problem for me is that I leave too much space or leave the anchorage since I think it is too crawded because I can judge correctly. In an empty or big bays you want to be as far anyways.

I thought I should buy these range finders so I can tell how far I am from the next boat.

So my next question is how close can you get and still be safe?

[Unicorn Dreams]

At least rutherford worries about it, better than some people.

I personally never anchor even with another boat, always try to be a little ahead or behind the neighbors boat.

I woory more about how far away I can get, unless it's a friend and only then will I worry about how close....

[barnakiel]

By anchoring more perhaps.

Experience.

b.

[Cotemar]

rutherford,

The "Mariners Rule" states that who ever anchors first has all the benefit of that anchor circle. Your coming in to anchor after would mean you either have to ask the first captain what his scope is, so you know the circle he is swinging. If you do not as him then you have to assume that he is using 5 to 1 or 7 to 1 per your depth at that location.

The key here is to all swing the same circle. If someone puts out a lot more than the others, he will scope you all (Take you all out).

The 50 feet from boat to boat that you started this thread with was a good number. You can get down to 20 feet in very calm conditions, but be prepared to up and leave to another location if a wind shift does not work out.

At 20 feet its best to have your fenders out to make a soft touch painless.

All this comes with time on the hook.

I have been in the Box(half mooring field half anchorage) in Cuttyhunk Massachusetts with 10 feet boat to boat and felt comfortable, because we new the weather for a few days was 5 knots and prevailing SW. They call it Cuttyhunk close in that harbor. It all worked out nice and everyone enjoyed themselves. Those were perfect conditions that do not happen often.

Mark

[Unicorn Dreams]

Another factor to think about is that all boats set and swing differently. Mono's, cats, tri's and powerboats will all behave differently. This is to make anchoring more fun.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

Another factor to think about is that all boats set and swing differently. Mono's, cats, tri's and powerboats will all behave differently. This is to make anchoring more fun.

And a long keel will be more affected by the current than wind than a fin or bilge keeler.... great fun...

[John A]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

Another factor to think about is that all boats set and swing differently. Mono's, cats, tri's and powerboats will all behave differently. This is to make anchoring more fun.

Very true!
There's no such thing as being anchored to far from someone. The wind comes up, the tide changes, the anchor drags, or the neighbor drags out a genset to run their AC. If in doubt anchor further away.
When someone comes over to me and asks it they're to close, I always reply,"if you gotta ask, you are".

[Bash]

Originally Posted by rutherford

I thought I should buy these range finders so I can tell how far I am from the next boat.

Do you have a radar? It will tell you exactly how far away the other boats are. Put your cursor on the target, and read the distance to the cursor.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

Another factor to think about is that all boats set and swing differently. Mono's, cats, tri's and powerboats will all behave differently. This is to make anchoring more fun.

This is especially true in very light or calm wind. Then chances are your neighbor may be swinging in 180 deg opposite direction to you.

[svHyLyte]

I would no more anchor within 20 feet of another yacht than I would park my RV on my neighbor's lawn and there is certainly no need for it most times. We try to anchor as far from other yachts as possible but if there is limited space I will try to ask the yachts already in the anchorage how much scope they have out before choosing a spot. I usually hear 3 to 5 times high water but once in awhile we'll encounter someone who's got 10x and the only thing holding him in place is the weight of his chain on the bottom. If there is any question about clearances, we will maintain an anchor watch with a guard zone around the boat on our radar.

FWIW...