Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale “>In a previous article we talked about the five categories of anchors and how to select the best one for your needs. Today we will review how to successfully use that anchor.
Logic would have it that dropping and setting an anchor is simply nothing more than lowering the anchor, setting out some line and kick back and start having fun. Not so fast!
To work properly, anchors must develop enough resistance in the sea bed to endure the environmental forces on the trawler-the wind and the tides. An anchor’s capacity to develop resistance is completely dependent on its capability to penetrate the sea bed. We will assume that you have aboard your yacht, the best anchor for your intended sea bed conditions . We will also assume you have enough rode, chain, rope or a combination, to play out the anchor.
As you near your chosen anchorage, always allow plenty of swing room. The tides, currents and winds will always swing the boat so be sure to allow plenty of room to avoid hitting other boats that may be anchored nearby. Be sure to estimate how far you’ll be from your anchor when it is set.
When you have chosen the best place to anchor, place the bow into the wind and or current and slowly bring her to a stop. Look at other anchored boats to get a feel of the tides if necessary.
On our trawler, the Patricia Ann, we have all chain rode. We have marked the rode every 25 feet with red string. The initial 25 feet is marked with 1 string, the second with 2 and so forth. This makes deploying the anchor with accuracy.
When you are in position, begin letting out the anchor rode. Your trawler will begin drifting somewhat with the current. When you have played out enough rode to place your anchor on the bottom, bump the engines into reverse to begin laying the rode out. We rather not have the anchor on the bottom with the rode piled on top of it to perhaps tangle. Do not keep the trawler in reverse; you just want to begin laying the rode out. When you have adequate rode out halt the trawler’s reverse speed.
Some boating “experts” insist that it takes a scope of 7:1 rode to safely hold a yacht. That would equate to 7 foot of rode for every 1 foot of water depth. For example, to properly anchor in 10 feet of water, would require 70 feet of anchor rode. But we routinely anchor the Patricia Ann in 15 foot waters with a 35 lb. CQR anchor and 5/16 inch chain rode. We usually deploy 50 feet of rode and have never had a dragging anchor even in some 25-30 mph winds. I suspect that the more chain you use, the greater the holding power as the rode is pulling more horizontal to the sea floor and the chain further offers supplemental weight.
Now you have an appropriate amount of rode deployed, how do you set and secure it. We have an electric chain windlass aboard our trawler. Our windlass has no locking feature so chain will continue to be deployed if the yacht pulls it. Your windlass may be different but you must make certain that you can secure the rode so no more will be deployed.
I made up a bridle, consisting of a 5/8 inch dock line that we use to stop additional chain deployment and give some elasticity to it. A stainless shackle is attached to the line. The shackle is connected to the chain rode as it is lowered; the other end is tied to the king post. Be sure to use chafing gear where the bridle meets the anchor roller.
If you are using chain with a nylon rode, you’ll not need to use a bridle. If you are using a metal cable, you can use a cable or wire puller to fasten a bridle to it.
Once the bridle is secured, the trawler is backed-down until the anchor is set. You will know when it sets as the anchor rode will rise out of the water and the boat will stop.
Finally, the rode is lowered a bit more allowing the bridle to hold the boat.
Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.
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