Re: anchoring without engine -- OarClub

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 16:06:06 09/24/09 Thu
Author: Ari
Subject: Re: anchoring without engine
In reply to: ninky 's message, "anchoring without engine" on 00:25:44 09/23/09 Wed

Hey Ninky,

Sounds like you're well on your way!

Man, one could write and read books just about this topic. In fact, good books to read would be Jay's Seasteading, Cuncliffe's Hand Reef and Steer, and maybe Classic Boat Seamamship Under Sail (can't remember the author)

But, if I had to distill it down to a couple pointers, I would say:

1. know your bottom

- here in the SF bay we get a lot of thick goopy clayish mud which is really nice and sticky for anchoring. you really gotta fuck things up to drag

- if you're anchoring in rock or grass/kelp, everything else below is more critical

- different anchors will do better holding for different bottoms, yada yada yada. but also, you gotta sail with what you got and Danforth's are decent all round anchors especially for sand or mud

2. know your depth

- very important when you anchor so you know how much rode to let out. most people say 7:1 scope -- and don't forget to add the freeboard from the water to the anchor roller

- even more important when you de-anchor as you will need to know more or less the exact moment you transition from anchored to sailing (whether or not your sails are up, windage on your hull will start your boat moving once the hook leaves the bottom

- for bonus points: look at a chart and a tide book. imagine the circumference of the circle you'll swing through as current and maybe winds change, and verify you will have enough depth so you don't go bump in the night

3. know your wind & current

- no one ever seems to talk about this, but when de-anchoring: whether you have wind and current together or opposed will often determine whether you tack up to the anchor in zig-zags or jibe down to the anchor in spirals

- also, depending on your underbody (full keel vs. fin keel) your boat will tend to lie more or less to the wind vs. current

- for e.g. full keel like Macha will often line up fore-and-aft with the current and be beam on to the wind!

- a fin keeler in same circumstance would probably windvane bow to the wind

4. be a good neighbor

- leave room : it made me crazy once when we were the only boat at an anchorage, another boat drove up and anchored right next to us. why not leave a little room to swing?

- see wind and current above: look how other boats are anchored and try and follow suit so you don't swing around like a kook, i.e. if every, one's anchored bow only: do that, if everyone's anchored bow and stern: do that

5. don't freak out

- your boat is small and light and probably doesn't draw much.

- it's all good! you can do this... :-)

- Ari

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: anchoring without engine -- ninky, 07:17:09 09/25/09 Fri
- Re: anchoring without engine -- Ari, 12:56:05 09/25/09 Fri
  - Re: anchoring without engine -- Kyle, 03:51:43 11/16/09 Mon