anchors

starting to kit out my shetland now just want some advice on anchoors a already have a folding anchor as a spare, what style/size main anchor would be best also what length/diameter chain do i need and finally length/style/diameter rope. thanks

[sanctuary]

Anchor type is realy dependant on the type of ground your fishing But I find the old and trusted fishermans anchor works best over most ground. Best to fit some kind of trip in case it snags ( connect chain to far end of anchor (pointed end) then fasten chain to top eye by cable tie one that can be broken with a strong pull )
Chain should be 2/3rds Length of boat 1 inch + wide
Rope should be 3 times as long as the depth of water you will be anchoring in. It should be thick enough to fit comfortably in the hand when pulling hard especially when used in the winter you dont want sore hands.

[JuanPablo]

nice trip tip sanctuary - ive often wondered how boat anglers lose few anchors and with us buying a boat soon was concerned that we would lose a load over the reefs off gower!
what weight is the fishermans anchor that you use mate? just wondering how much strain a cable tie can take!?

[nimue4]

Aaah the joys of anchoring!
Spot on Sanctuary, tripping device is very important, I do mine like you say.
I also agree fishermans anchor about the best, and luckily the cheapest, folding grapnels don't count as anchors. Having said that any backup is better than nothing.
As to rope I will admit my anchor rope is just that horrible cheap blue 3/4 inch polypropylene stuff all chandlers sell.
Its a shame fishermans anchors don't have an eye at the base for tying on the rope. I've tied my rope to one of the flukes then cable tied it to the main shaft so it can't slip round to the end.
Trying to remember the size of mine...I guess about 6 kilos, doesn't seem much but always works. It's about 18 inches across the flukes.
Theres not much room for walking up front of a 535 and the bigger the waves the narrower it seems, as a result I always side anchor and use a 5 gallon drum and engine power to lift it. Get an alderney ring to attach the drum so you don't have to leave it attached, just clip it to the rope when you're ready to go.
One other essential Baz especially in winter, go to a camping store and buy a little butane single ring cooker, it'll fit on the locker just inside the cabin and a cuppa when it's cold is fantastic. You can get them at chandlers but for double the price.
Stay safe, Jules.
PS you have got a backup motor haven't you?

[A fluff chucker]

Hi Baz,
I'm looking for a boat as well. But as an ex 'yottie' just a couple of suggestions. Don't use the "blue polyprop" it has no stretch and therefore can snatch the boat around, making life uncomfortable and help to pull the anchor out. It also floats and can get caught around the prop.Use 3 strand nylon or the more expensive multiplait anchoring warps, they stretch and also sink.You need 5 times the maximum anchoring depth, just incase you get caught out in a blow. A fisherman anchor is good for rock, a Danforth is good for sand and mud with the pull from one direction - but sometimes don't reset well when the tide turns. A plough is good but not in rocks and is more difficult to stow on a small boat. Being able to pin the rope in the bow roller can also be useful to save it jumping out if it's a bit swelly.

(hope i've done this alright - first time posting!) Cheers to y'all.


A fluff chucker

[sanctuary]

5 times the depth is probably right for a yacht haveing a keel and mast that puts extra presure on the anchor in a blow. For a small fishing boat 3 times the depth is plenty as you need to have a spare anchor set up for emergency for when you lose your working anchor (which you will do) all this rope and the rest of your safty equipment you end up with no room to fish.

yeah i got a back op anchor, as for side anchoring i dont need to the previous owner has set up a system that alows you to anchor from the front with a set of guides down the side to alow the rope to be pulled from the front into the deck space not sure how well it works as not been out yet, i will let you know when i have used it and post some pics sorry about the poor terminoligy as i am a newbie to all this boating stuff.

[A fluff chucker]

I don't understand how the wind puts extra pressure on a keel?????
I agree don't cut down on your safety gear - the anchor is an essential part of your safety gear. If you insist on only carrying only 3 times the maximum depth take an extra weight 15lbs?? that you can slide down the anchor rope so if you are caught out in a serious blow with engines that don't start you can still safely anchor. Whether an anchor holds is all to with catenery! Any boat, according to safety guides and the RNLI suggest 3 times for all chain; 5 times for rope.

Cheers,
A fluff chucker.

[sanctuary]

Don't take my word for it look here they'r the experts http://www.powerboat-training.co.uk/...anchoring1.htm this being the relevant chapter:-
Our chain is going to be attached to the anchor warp, which begs the question how much rope? Yachting books may say 5 times the depth of water, but remember that figure is the sort of value for a cruising yacht bedding down for the night. Three times the depth may well be sufficient for our needs, and there is a pay off between chain and rope – the more chain you have the less rope you can get away with and visa versa.

When you think about it the mast is making the boat have more resistance to the wind which makes the boat tilt to one side, hence the need for a keel to help conter this, when the wind lessens the boat swings upright the keel pushes a lot of water away causing extra resistance to the anchor which is greater than would be the case in a boat with out a keel.

[nimue4]

Wow this is becoming technical.
The side anchoring in the powerboating link before this reply is how I do it. Baz if your weird way does it better take a photo of how it's set up and post it up for me to see.
Fraid I kind of agree with sanctuary, I've got 3 times the length of the deepest water I'll ever fish in and my crap rope has never caused problems with snatching as the chain takes the strain. If money is no object go for the best stuff, I'm just careful.
As powerboaters we may get caught out in bad weather but as I always head in fast at the 1st sign of trouble i have never needed to worry about very bad weather anchoring. I also use my cheap rope(inside a plastic tube) to moor my boat and it's just withstood 2 days of storm force 10 at Teignmouth and the mooring rope and chain is nothing like 3 times the depth of water at high tide so snatching wasn't a problem, wouldn't like to have been aboard tho!
Baz, I asked if you had a backup motor not anchor.....you need both!
Stay safe Jules.

Tommy, if you're following this thread what are your views, you anchor more than me, I tend to drift thru life!