Anchoring techniques

[CaptK]

On the Yahoo group, questions about anchoring, and how to stop the boat from "hunting" (ie; swinging/sailing back and forth) at anchor came up.  Below is what I have found effective to minimize or stop the boat from doing this. I'm wondering if any of ya'll do anything different, something I haven't thought of, or another technique that I haven't used? I have spent almost-sleepless nights at anchor, but this was due mostly to other boats in the vicinity, and a whole lot of swinging. When anchored on my own, I usually sleep the night through, waking maybe once at the change of the tide just long enough to make sure we are still OK. Since purchasing a Bulwagga anchor a couple of years ago, I've never woken up in the morning to find that the anchor had been dragging while I slept (I had fluke-style anchors drag before that).

Anyway, here is my usual method...

First, I'll lash the tiller to one side, usually with a simple bungee. In most winds, that is enough. It'll make the boat sail off to one side and stay there. Sometimes though, the tide or other factors will make her keep sailing around, and it calls for more drastic measures. Usually, though, I will wait a while to correct the swinging, figuring that it is helping to set the anchor better (the bottom here tends to be sand and/or mud).

In calmer conditions (ie; normal weather), I drop the usual hook off of the bow. If she starts hunting, and putting the tiller to one side doesn't stop it, I wait until we are to one side of the swing, and drop a second hook off the stern, with a pile of chain (my usual 30 ft, all in one spot). Once it is on the bottom, snubbing up that rode to a stern cleat will stop her from swinging, and be easy to pick up when getting back underway. The "dropping everything in a pile" technique has some name that it is called, but since CRS is affecting my memory, and I don't recall what it is. It does work surprising well, considering that the hook is not actually set like normal. I've also done this a couple of times on a friends Columbia 7.6, using a 3# heavier anchor, but less than half that amount of chain, and it worked well, also. It's worth a try when the wind isn't too strong. However...

During one of the hurricanes last year - I forget the name, it went in up at Wilmington, and wasn't a terribly large storm - we anchored out. Winds were 30-35, sustained, from an unusual direction for that creek (across the tidal flow), so I set out a Bahamian mooring - drop your primary anchor, let it get set, and then, keeping the first rode taut, ease up to one side of the first anchor, and put out a second anchor. Slack off the rodes enough so that both anchors taken up equal tension. When I did this that night, it was like the boat was attached to something underwater, mechanically - it didn't move a bit. The wind that night was so strong that we swung not even a foot that I could tell, during both the ebb and flow of the tide.

I recall waking at 3 AM or thereabouts, and going forward to check the set. Nothing had changed, the rodes were tight as guitar strings it seemed. I had about 50 feet of rode out, 30 of it chain, in 12-15' depth. The hooks were in the middle of the creek, and the boat was on the edge, in effect 10 feet "uphill" of the anchors. I think that was a contributing factor to the steadiness which was apparent in the set. The anchors themselves were probably 80-100' apart. It remains in my memory as one of the most worry-free sets I've ever made.

At times I have had a 3rd anchor out and ready to use off of the stern, when 2 were already off the bow. However, the 3 anchor set has never quite been warranted, so I wonder if the mere threat of that many anchors appeases Murphy sufficiently that it generally isn't needed.

[Bruce Woods]

I have been wanting to try anchoring from the stern in the summer, to get the air INTO the Sun Cat. Somebody over on tsbb catboat forum said they did this, just cleating off the quarter-cleat. He said it didn't hunt as much, and you don't have to worry about the burmuda thing...

Anyone here ever try that?

[CaptK]

Bruce -

I've anchored stern-to the wind several times. I do my usual anchor routine, then pull the boat forward enough to get the rode to an aft cleat, cleat her off, and let her swing around.

I've also used my second anchor setup (which I keep in a cockpit locker), and let it out as I coasted to a stop, heading downwind. I didn't stay on it overnight, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't, assuming you set it well.

[Bruce Woods]

Kurt,

Thanks for the comments on how to do the stern-to...

With regular anchor, I am going to try something next time, esp if not perfect conditions:

a. put anchor and rode out as usual; cleat at bow.
b. pull out extra rode and run outside shroud to stern cleat...
c. When time to go, take anchor off of bow cleat, and then pull anchor in from the cockpit.

Why? because in bad conditions, the Sun Cat has no room to sit to brace yourself. I had a bad experience where I could not ride the hobby horse and couldn't get line in (line may have fouled). So that time I had to cut line, because singlehanding, I couldn't even motor up or sail up to anchor....This way, I can quickly get line back to where I have some purchase to haul.

[JimB]

Hi Bruce,
 The only problem I've had with anchoring from the stern is the slapping noise from the small wave action against that flat stern on the SunCat.  Could be more of a concern in stronger wind.
Happy Sails to You,
Jim B.

[Bruce Woods]

I know Butch who has a Marshall says he does it. He told me that I don't have to actually balance the stern to the anchor. In light of your comment, I wonder if just anchoring from a quarter would help that noise factor?

As you say, higher winds would be more of a problem. Oh, and higher winds might get into the cabin via the hatch, so I wouldn't need to anchor stern to!

[Craig Weis]

On my C-P 19...I have a Danforth with it's shank drilled and Q/D pinned through the stainless steel thingy that the forestay attaches to.

The shank of the Danforth rests on the bow roller with the whole anchor cantalevered out front over the Bow Sprit.

I have about 12 foot of plastic coated/dipped chain that lays on the foward deck in a stiff, non-sliding, loose loop of about 180 deg.

My 150 foot three strand line is clevised on to the steel lined loop in the anchor end of the three strand line.

All this line is coiled [kind of] in the anchor line locker in front of the V-birth. And comes on deck through the rope pipe. I just pay-out what I need and cleat it off at the bow through the chock [with leather chaffing].

The boat end of this line I snaked between the V-Birth matteress' and tied to the mast compression post. I will not loose my anchor and line over the side.

I use this for over night anchoring. And somtimes my 'lunch' anchor also.


For a quick lunch stop or an extra stern and/or bow anchor.

I use a smaller Danforth unit that is also dipped in plasitsol blue [see skip's pics below] and stored under the cockpit seat. It's cheap, dirty, and works fine. Actually a lady gave it to me. Was her ex-husband's.

Usually this anchor is cleated off the stern. One side or the other. No chain but 100 foot of sta-set [?] whatever line that is knotted through the anchor ring with an anchor bend knot with the whipped bitter end also whipped to the line. The knot will not come untied.

This works good, if your going to hang around the boat and stay alert. Or take a cat nap.  skip.

[Damsel19]

Com- pacs do hunt a bit on the hook.  I have spent many years sleeping at anchor ( Not on Damsel)  Two hooks off the bow thirty to sixty degrees apart settles the boat right down and reduces swinging room.  

Another trick is to rigg a line with a rolling hitch to the rode and make it off aft.  Then you can adjust the angle at which the she lies too.  It is sort of a bridle off one side.  By playing with the length of the rode and hauler you can twist her right around.  This is very helpful in an anchorage where a swell is coming in and causing the boat to role.  You can set the swell right on the bow.  It will also keep the wind on one bow so the boat does not sail.  BEWARE, lieing beam too or partially so will in crease windage.  Make sure the hook is well set.