anchor and rode

beerman

beerman

Member
Feb 16, 2007
443
Wis. Dells, Wisconsin
Boat Info
2006 340 Sundancer
Engines
8.1 LTR VDrives
60 degrees today, waiting for the ice and snow to leave, so I started to make a list for the new boat. Our previous boat was a 18' Regal. As far as dock lines, anchors and rodes were concerned everything was pretty light weight. We could get by with 3/8 for everything and a small 7lb anchor. All our boating was on a small lake or short portion of the Wisconsin River. I was just wondering what diameter dock lines and rode i should be considering for the 240 da, how many and what lengths and what style&weight anchor for sand to muddy bottoms. We plan on spending many nights on the hook.
 
The standard anchor on the 240DA works well if you use chain and rode with it. Connected to my stock anchor, i have 24 feet of chain so when the anchor hits the bottom, the heavy chain makes sure it digs in and holds the boat quite well. Using the 7 foot of rode for every foot of depth rule will pretty much make sure you stay where you anchored.

Mike
 
I have a 240DA also and boat on Lake Winnebago. 3/8†three strand is what I use for my slip dock lines and anchor. I also attach a 6’ chain to a danforth type anchor. I leave one set of lines tied in my slip.

I also have a set of transient lines. I use ½†braided. The reason I go bigger and away from 3 strand line for transient line is its easy to throw and easy to loop / return to storage.

How you anchor is as important as what you use to anchor.

If you are going to hit the local swim spots like Stretchs on Winnebago unless you are an early bird, when you arrive there will likely already be hundreds of other boats. I recommend you come in as slow as you can and once the depth gauge reads about three feet cut the engine, trim up the lower unit on your boat as far as you can then jump in the water and walk the boat in the rest of the way. With kids and boat anchor lines in the water this is the safest method on those busy sunny warm summer weekends. If it’s not busy you don’t need to do this.

Most boaters anchor with the bow pointed out away from shore with one anchor off the bow and a second anchor off the stern so the boat does not swing in circles bumping into other boats.

Also, if your anchor is in a shallow area please tie a bumper, life preserver or other floating object to the anchor so people do not stub their feet on your anchor as they walk past.

Have you decided where you are going to slip your boat for this summer?
 
Doug:

Your anchoring instructions for Winnebago are exactly what we do on Sebago where I boat. There is very large area off the State Park that's quite shallow and it's not unusual for there to be a couple of hundred boats there on a weekend afternoon. Walking it in and putting a buoy over your anchor is a common courtesy that sadly, too many people ignore.

For that sort of anchoring scenario, I have one further suggestion for a stern anchor, especially in sand. A bunch of us use what we call "beach sticks" instead of regular stern anchors. A beach stick is simply 3 or 4 feet of stainless steel rod with a loop bent in one end, and the other end slightly sharpened. Tie off a length of line to the loop, and just push it into the sand. We keep the rode in a small plastic bucket or wastebasket (punch a couple of holes for drainage) in the stern locker. Simple to store, simple to use and not much of a threat to wayward toes.

Bill
 
sebagoman007 said:
.....Walking it in and putting a buoy over your anchor is a common courtesy that sadly, too many people ignore.....
Click to expand...

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the idea!

About the floating object above the anchor, I’m keeping it PG rated. Soon eneought he will experience this himself and see some of the more, ummm, creative floating markers that are used. :thumbsup:
 
Presentation said:
About the floating object above the anchor, I’m keeping it PG rated. Soon eneought he will experience this himself and see some of the more, ummm, creative floating markers that are used. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
OK now I'm curious. If you wont post, can you PM me the creative markers people use? Thanks, Brian
 
Thanks for the info guys. Thats what I love about CSR. Tons of info. The last owners of our boat took everything with them including the shorepower line. We were able to negotiate some into the price but the rest we are on our own. Doug- we believe we are going to trailer the first year, although we were looking at some of the in-out storage at some of the Winnebago marinas. That way we could leave it there for a few weekends. What weight dansforth do you use and what do you use for the second anchor?
 
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