Questions on rear anchor ropes

[Dave S]

I need some advice on a few issues I am trying to solve with my rear anchor rope. When I anchor the first thing I typically do is postion the front of the boat exactly where I want to drop the front anchor and then walk up to the bow and drop my plow anchor (I don't have a windlass). Then I back the boat down far enough to be able to deploy the rear anchor at the set point I have chosen for the rear anchor. (All this time the front anchor rope is automically deploying thru the Hawse Chute. ) Then I walk back up to the bow and begin reeling in the bow line until I have deployed enough of the rear rope for the rear anchor to achieve a proper scope or angle. It's this latter deployment of the rear rope that is a problem to me because the rope I am currently using has to be uncoiled by hand (my wife ususally has to do that) because it is always way to stiff to let it uncoil by itself. Besdides it's just flat worn out and undersized since it's from our old boat. So I intend to replace the rope.

My questions are this............is there any way I can safely let a rear rope deploy ( uncoil) on it own as I am reeling in the front rope? Is there some way I can coil the rope and place it in the Lazarette so it would deploy without getting tangled up? Is there any kind of gizmo made for the rope that might aid with deployment? Lastly, when I buy a new rope does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy from a quality standpoint?

Thanks.

 

[Hampton]

I prepare my rear anchor lines before setting the front anchor. I take out the rear anchor, set it down, and take huge loops of line into one hand in an orderly manner. Then, I tie that line off at the desired length.

Then, I position the boat for the front anchor just like you. As I back down, it's a little different for us. I back down to about 4 feet of water, and either jump off the back with an anchor or hand it off to a friend on the beach.

Either way, the rear line needs to uncoil rapidly without any tangles.

Once the rear anchor is set, I take up slack off the front line and I'm done (or ready to set the second stern anchor.)

 

[Converse48]

Is there any kind of gizmo made for the rope that might aid with deployment?

Yes... a dinghy with an outboard motor! We drop and set the front hook and then use the dinghy to deploy the stern anchor as far as it will go... drop it, and then go back to the boat to take up the slack.

Absent a dinghy though, I like your approach!

 

[H2ONUT]

Dave, I do it the same way as you, however I use the spare tow rope I have for the water toys, uncoils really easy and I've never had it tangle or knot up on me.

 

[Paul]

Get an arborist's rope bag. You just stuff the line in it like into your front rope locker. Tie one of the bag staps to something and the rope should just deploy out as you move forward. Will not work that well with a stiff rope though. Works best with double braid.

 

[Presentation]

Normally the stern anchor is smaller and easier to carry then the big bow plow anchor. The typical reason for a stern anchor is to stop the boat from swinging on a single hook.

Step #1 – Place your stern anchor on your bow with the anchor line fastened to your stern cleat. This will requite you to throw your line from the bow to the stern of the boat, go to the stern of the boat then fasten the line.

Step #2 – Deploy the bow anchor as you describe.

Step #3 – Drift or power back to the location where you plan to deploy the stern anchor.

Step #4 – Deploy your stern your anchor.

Step #5 – From the bow make your adjustments.

Step #6 (optional) you may need to make one final line adjustment from the stern the first few times until you get it right.

 

[All That Jazz]

Ropes? On a boat? There are no ropes on a boat, what are ya'll takin' about?