Even Modern anchors can Act Up

[Off Trail]

Mantus M1, set no problem and backed down. Thin scattered grass and sandy mud.

Light and variable winds at anchor for the past two days, with the boat wandering. Swimming around the boat to stay cool and saw this. Sorry our underwater camera gave out this year so I sketched it. Hopefully you can get the idea. Next good yank would definitely unset this.

[StuM]

But think how easy it's going to be to weigh anchor

[Caleb_Grey]

So you did a poor job setting the anchor, even if it did break out it would have reset in 3-5' so whats the problem with modern anchors again?

[Danm1]

Curious if you backed down on it to set? Also, did you circle the anchor afterwards due to wind or tide?

[Off Trail]

Originally Posted by Caleb_Grey

So you did a poor job setting the anchor, even if it did break out it would have reset in 3-5' so whats the problem with modern anchors again?

Thanks for your kind reply.

Yes, we backed down. If the anchor was not completely embedded, that is due to the limits of the our engine power and condition of the bottom. Or maybe our anchor is too big ? [emoji6]

Winds have been very light since, so no additional force has occurred.

Nothing wrong with modern anchors; just sharing an experience.

[Off Trail]

Originally Posted by StuM

But think how easy it's going to be to weigh anchor

A new "quick departure " set. Love it!

[Off Trail]

Originally Posted by Danm1

Curious if you backed down on it to set? Also, did you circle the anchor afterwards due to wind or tide?

I think that is exactly what happened. The boat dragged the chain all the way around the set anchor without ever pulling it. Normally, there would be enough force to "shuffle " the anchor around, but that hasn't been the case here.

[fxykty]

That is one of dangers of any type of anchor if you are not able to set it such that the entire anchor is buried, save perhaps a bit of the top of the shaft. Chain entanglement can happen around any protruding portion of the anchor, whether it’s the hoop or the back of a fluke (if set at an angle or very shallow).

More power in reverse? Or even turn your boat around and use forward gear.

Even new generation anchors, some more than others, require 5:1 scope for setting. You can shorten the scope after the set if the anchorage is tight.

Nicely done drawings BTW.

[double u]

Originally Posted by Off Trail

Thanks for your kind reply.

Yes, we backed down. If the anchor was not completely embedded, that is due to the limits of the our engine power and condition of the bottom. Or maybe our anchor is too big ? [emoji6]

Winds have been very light since, so no additional force has occurred.

Nothing wrong with modern anchors; just sharing an experience.

with firm bottom & weak engine: back down with momentum: 1,5 to 2kn in reverse will certainly do it, NEVER leave chain on windlass for that & watch cleats.

[markpj23]

not sure how ANY anchor would behave when fouled like that. Not specific to "modern anchors" IMHO... They're all going to reset, some easier than others.

[thomm225]

So I still haven't backed down when anchoring.

I let the wind and/or tide set the anchor. (a 20 lb CQR)

My boat nearly always circles the anchor a few times due to wind and tide but the anchor holds.

So I'm guessing it's the bottom difference.

I have a Mantus M1 25 lb'er but have yet to use it.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by thomm225

So I still haven't backed down when anchoring.

I let the wind and/or tide set the anchor. (a 20 lb CQR)

My boat nearly always circles the anchor a few times due to wind and tide but the anchor holds.

So I'm guessing it's the bottom difference.

I have a Mantus M1 25 lb'er but have yet to use it.

Same here. It’s been decades since I have backed down on an anchor. I use the natural forces available and momentum to set the anchor.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by thomm225

So I still haven't backed down when anchoring.

I let the wind and/or tide set the anchor. (a 20 lb CQR)

My boat nearly always circles the anchor a few times due to wind and tide but the anchor holds.

So I'm guessing it's the bottom difference.

I have a Mantus M1 25 lb'er but have yet to use it.

Softer bottoms will take less force to set deep, so less risk of chain wrap. And if you're setting in a decent bit of wind that'll help dig it in at well.

I always back down on mine though. Does 2 things. Digs it in to reduce the risk of chain wrap if the winds are light and shifty. And it confirms that I dropped it on a bottom where the anchor is capable of setting well (rather than having to wait to be totally sure).

[thinwater]

Some funny comments. No, you didn't do anything wrong, other than anchor over a very firm bottom, which is what there was.


Yes, there are times when a smaller anchor can be more secure, but few would downsize for that reason. Would this have quickly reset on a very firm grassy bottom? Probably, depending on whether a chunk of sod was jammed around the shank/roll bar and how hard the bottom is. I've had Mantus anchors pop out in that circumstance (testing--the boat was set up to yaw a LOT and I would not blame the anchor) and not reset because the boat was drifting too fast. I doubt (I'm sure) any anchor would have reset on that bottom at that drift rate.


There are bottoms were re-set is dubious, or where there is not room to risk it. Set two anchors (similar to a Bahamian moor, but with more slack).

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Off Trail

Or maybe our anchor is too big ? [emoji6]

Y'know I've posited this before in various anchor discussions, and still think it's valid. I think there is a point when an anchor is too big to be "set" sufficiently with the means available. Not necessarily saying your anchor is too big, but speaking generically.

I think your anchor is set fine. If the winds had come up, it would have dug in more. There's no need in my mind to deeply set an anchor in normal conditions - and the argument against doing so, is that it disturbs the seabed flora and fauna that much more when you do.

Do you have a mixed rode or was that all chain; what was the scope? I'm thinking you just hit the "Goldilocks" conditions of wind and current to wrap the chain without upsetting the anchor - it would be interesting to see what would have happened if the wind piped up afterwards?

Thanks for posting - it's an interesting topic.