Anchor strength ??

mnm99

mnm99

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2015
2,447
Long Island
Boat Info
2004 340 SeaRay Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Merc
With a 3/4 line anchored and boats tied up, how many would you do? I'm wondering because we sometimes have like 8 boats tied up. Last time we went out we had 3 anchors and the winds changed 180*, it was a mess. I'm thinking 2 anchors and one stern anchor to stop the spin.
 
It is not so much the anchor line thickness (you may have 5/8 BTW), but the anchor style and amount of chain that limits you.

On the south shore, I hold really well with a "plow" style anchor and 30' chain. For day trips where we are outside, aware and not too windy I would raft 2 other boats on my anchor (33 & 40'). Overnight, is a different situation and the rule is to have all big boats drop.

8 boats on one anchor is asking for trouble. I've seen way too many situations go wrong and it usually starts with this setup.....just saying. A lot depends on how big the boats are too. If they are all similar sizes, every other to every 3rd is needed.

Twisting lines happens.....wind direction changes and all. You can toss a stern anchor out, just make sure you are outside any other boat anchor radius. Normally we dont, unless we're close to shore. If you are in a crowded cove, having that one raftup that does not swing with the wind is a problem. Dont be "that guy" LOL

Bring a dinghy, and reset anchors by hand if the wind is circling.
 
I've had 9 boats all rafted of my plow anchor in Hemlock cove with a few rear anchors to keep us from swinging. 27lb plow and 12 feet of 3/8 stainless chain. Hauling that up afterwards wasn't fun. I wouldn't make a practice of it though. I had 5 boats on two weekends ago when the squall came through, mine, a 37 Cobia and 3 runabouts. Held like a champ.
 
One other factor is the bottom you are setting in. Loose sand, mud, rocky will all have different holding power.
 
I typically hold a 50' house boat and some times up to 10 other 30'+ cruisers... 130' of chain in 40' of water, mud bottom lake, and a line to the bank to keep from spinning.
 
I think chain is key for the mucky bottoms around here, along with letting out enough.
I had a Danforth High Tensile with chain and rope on my old boat and it stuck like glue.
This boat has an all chain rode with a plow anchor and it holds really well too.
The only problem is cleaning the smelly muck out of the chain links and off the anchor.
 
JVM225 said:
I think chain is key for the mucky bottoms around here, along with letting out enough.
I had a Danforth High Tensile with chain and rope on my old boat and it stuck like glue.
This boat has an all chain rode with a plow anchor and it holds really well too.
The only problem is cleaning the smelly muck out of the chain links and off the anchor.
Click to expand...
The worst I've seen is Connetquot River. Takes me 20 minutes to wash as I'm pulling up the anchor......nasty stuff!
 
PMC said:
The worst I've seen is Connetquot River. Takes me 20 minutes to wash as I'm pulling up the anchor......nasty stuff!
Click to expand...

I have 125' chain (and 100' backing nylon just in case it's extra deap) with a 35lb Mantus on my 340DA, plenty of holding power. What you mentioned about cleaning is really a PINTA. The boat doesn't have a wash down tap on the bow, so I either have to run a hose from the spigot in the trunk, or my usual method, which is my canvas bucket on a line that I or the Admiral keep dipping and pouring. Wish I had a raw water washdown, hate to use our precious small fresh water reserves to spray mud off the ground tackle.
 
IMG_4230.JPG
JVM225 said:
I think chain is key for the mucky bottoms around here, along with letting out enough.
I had a Danforth High Tensile with chain and rope on my old boat and it stuck like glue.
This boat has an all chain rode with a plow anchor and it holds really well too.
The only problem is cleaning the smelly muck out of the chain links and off the anchor.
Click to expand...
A wash down helps a lot. Hose it off as you pull it up.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 72374
A wash down helps a lot. Hose it off as you pull it up.
Click to expand...

This muck is way more than a wash down hose can handle. Not enough volume or water pressure.
The best method is to keep going up and down with the chain that was curled up on the bottom a few feet at a time and then do the same with the anchor.
Much easier to do in this crowded anchorage if there is no wind, but that is rarely the case.
 
be_prepared said:
I have 125' chain (and 100' backing nylon just in case it's extra deap) with a 35lb Mantus on my 340DA, plenty of holding power. What you mentioned about cleaning is really a PINTA. The boat doesn't have a wash down tap on the bow, so I either have to run a hose from the spigot in the trunk, or my usual method, which is my canvas bucket on a line that I or the Admiral keep dipping and pouring. Wish I had a raw water washdown, hate to use our precious small fresh water reserves to spray mud off the ground tackle.
Click to expand...

Zack’s Bay is horrible.
See my last post about going up and down with the chain/anchor as you retrieve it. I use the foot controls up at the bow to do it. That works better than the washdown hose in the locker. That washdown lacks the volume and water pressure to get it clean.
On windy days when taking the time to clean it completely while retrieving will result in getting blown in to another boat I just do the best I can and let it all out again back at my dock so I can use the garden hose to clean the chain, anchor and and the locker.
 
You can also clean the anchor and chain/rode off at the dock .....just lower the anchor at your slip and use a shore water hose and spray nozzle to clean them as you retrieve the anchor slowly with the deck foot switches...saves time when you need to get back to the dock quickly...be sure to also rinse out the anchor locker...

cliff
 
CliffA said:
You can also clean the anchor and chain/rode off at the dock .....just lower the anchor at your slip and use a shore water hose and spray nozzle to clean them as you retrieve the anchor slowly with the deck foot switches...saves time when you need to get back to the dock quickly...be sure to also rinse out the anchor locker...

cliff
Click to expand...

That’s what we do if we absolutely have to but we try to avoid it because the much makes a real mess and stinks really bad.
 
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