Do you carry a spare Anchor?

J

just1time

Active Member
Jun 13, 2021
217
tOrOnTo, oN
Boat Info
2003 SeaRay 280 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Mercruiser Alpha Drives 4.3
I sold my Weekender which didn't have Winlass and am in the process of getting a 2003 280DA. Excited for the Winlass feature but also worried since it an automated feature which is prone to failure at some point.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone carry a spare anchor? Ever worried Winlass might fail while out on the water?

Also, how does one generally anchor down in a desired position with Winlass?
Traditionally you throw an anchor and yank till it catches. Do you deploy the Winlass anchor and just move boat till it catches? I assume that might cause you to be out of a desired position. How do you do it?
 
Yes I carry a spare anchor. Proper anchoring must factor in several things including wind direction, wind speed, water depth, type of substrate your anchoring in and perhaps most importantly the right anchor size and type! Assuming your anchor is sized properly and you're anchoring in a sandy bottom, I will give you an abridged version to answer your question:
1. Know the depth you are anchoring in.
2. Deploy your anchor at a location where there is plenty of room to swing.
3. Face directly into the wind.
4. With boat in neutral, deploy anchor chain and rode length based on 5 (some say 3x some say 7x) the depth of the water you're in.
5. Slowly back boat until you feel your anchor "bite" arresting the backing moment of your boat.
6. Secure your rode on the bow cleat to take the tension off your anchor windlass.
7. Take careful note of 2 land based fixed points to insure your not dragging your anchor.
8. Remember that anchor swing is normal. Your boat is now secured at the bow and you are subject to the wind blowing your boat in an arc.
 
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You shouldn't be any more or less likely to lose an anchor with or without a windlass. If it fails (not moving) you can still manually recover the anchor. If it fails (freefall) you should have a link somewhere connecting the rode to the boat.

I also carry a spare anchor but it's not because of the windlass :)
 
Be aware your question is sorta like "Define the universe in 25 words or less, then give 3 examples." :)

There's some science, some art, and some religion involved with anchors and anchoring... so you might want to do some reading in Chapman's, and then check out anchors/anchoring threads on sites like cruiserforum.com and trawlerforum.com. Also check anchor manufacturer sites for instructions.

Lots of info there about choice of anchors (ideally for your intended local conditions), rodes, and then how to deploy and set.

Short version: Drop your anchor, gradually pay out rode, gradually feel for it to start setting, pay out more rode 'til you achieve desired scope, tie the sucker off on something other than your windlass, gradually put more -- then less, then more, then less, then more, etc. -- pulling force on it 'til the anchor really won't let you move against it any more. Adjust scope as necessary.

Ref your question about spares: Yes. Usually two or three, with at least one spare rode.

-Chris
 
We did not carry and extra anchor. Windlasses are pretty trouble free in my experience. There is some minimal PM required but it is related primarily to operation is salt water environments.
The only thing I would add to the above is to secure the rode to the rode cleat before backing down to set the anchor. Pressure on the windlass will damage it although they are pretty stout devices. You can also set an alarm to alert you to dragging if conditions warrant.
 
If you plan to anchor overnight, carry a spare anchor and rode. Also study your windlass manual.
We dragged during a squal and lost ours retreiving it.
Now have a fortress anchor which will be our backup once I decide on a lemarr vs a seaqare.
 
To the first question Yes my main Anchor is a 22lb. Delta and my backup is a 14 pounder. Lake Erie isn't the deepest so I go for a swim and check if the anchor is set. When your Anchoring close to the Islands on Erie the bottom is solid rock.
 
I carry a 2nd anchor, but it's not a spare. It is used for a stern anchor in the right situation. Always have the bow into the wind when setting. The coast guard dictates a 7 to 1 rode length, but I find that to be impractical, I use ~3-1 during the day and if overnight ~4-1, but I am all chain, those lengths are in mostly less then 20' of water with a 2' tide and hold the boat with a chain lock. When retrieved the boat is in/out of gear and use the windlass to retrieve the anchor.
 
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The process of anchoring is exactly the same whether using a windlass or dropping manually (an anchor should never be thrown as it can foul). As noted above, head into the wind, slightly past your desired spot. Drop the anchor, then let the wind push you back (or use reverse) to your desired scope for the conditions. When you're in the approximate area you want to be, stop paying out rode and see if the anhcor holds. If not, let more rode out or retrieve and repeat.

In light conditions, you can use the windlass to hold the rode. In anything but light conditions, tie off to a cleat.

Yes, I always carry a spare - regradless of whether or not the boat has a windlass. The windlass is not a determining factor about carrying a spare.
 
I've had three boats with windlass's and they have yet to fail. As said above, tie off to the cleat and don't put the weight/stress of the boat on the windlass itself once the anchor is down (prior to setting it). If the windlass were to lock up or fail, you can loosen it and drop the anchor manually (you should have a windlass crank handle, similar to this)

upload_2021-11-24_10-1-35.png


I do carry a stern anchor, but it is small in comparison to the main anchor - just a small, lightweight fortress we use on beach days.
 
No extra anchor on my new to me boat. I have no plans to get another. My boating doesn't require anchoring so my bow anchor is plenty for an emergency. I don't raft off other boats and after living in Florida most of my adult life, I can't stand the cold great lakes water.....even Lake St Clair is too cold for this guy.
 
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My stern anchor can double as a spare if I lose my bow anchor.
 
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