safe anchoring over night

[ImpulseIII]

I'm not the one asking about anchoring advice. Just trying to ensure you get good information. Choice is yours to make.

 

[Turtlesboat]

I'm surprised no one suggested a second stern anchor?
What are the pros and cons?

they are rare to use around here. I've only seen them used to beach anchor. If you are out in an anchorage, check to see what most if not all of the others are doing. if they are swinging, you should too. If you are the only one not swinging, I'll... I mean they'll throw rocks at you and call you names.

 

[comsnark]

I thought the topic was "safe" anchoring over night....Just dump a lot of chain overboard, you'll be fine.....who needs an anchor??Great advice.:smt021 Jeez

No. . .you and Todd are parsing my post incorrectly. I am not advocating just throwing chain overboard.

I am saying that if you don't have proper scope on the anchor, the anchor will not work properly and although it might work, it would work no better than throwing chain overboard. I apologize if I was not sufficiently clear. I can see how it could be misread.

 

[MAKC]

This past weekend was a great example of how proper scope can really make a difference. We were anchored in 6ft at MLW with a 7 foot tide swing. We had a 5 boat raft up and had 2 anchors out with a 10-1 scope. About 100 yards away, there was a 6t boat raft up with 2 anchors out with a 3-1 scope. I made a comment at the winds picked up that they should let more scope out. I was summarily dismissed on my recommendation. At 3am, with the winds blowing 20 and gusts to 30, i hear a thud on the boat next to me. Sure enough, they dragged both anchors. Not only did they have to get re-anchored at 3am, they also had to try and keep themselves off the beach that the wind was pushing them rapidly towards. Give yourself some peace of mind and go for a 7-1 scope at least. It might be overkill at times, but i was able to fall right back to sleep once we got them off our raft up knowing i was still going to be right where we left ourselves with 2 properly scoped anchors.

 

[fwebster]

Anyone who is advocating minimum or some theoretically "correct" scope must not subscribe to Murphy's Law of Boating. 3AM is not the most opportune time to try resetting and anchor should a front pass early and the wind increases and you feel your wheels bumping on the beach with every ripple on the water.

Just put out the chain or line..........its a whole lot easier to just take it up in the morning than going thru the Chineese firedrill mentioned above.

 

[jrirvine1]

Although an all-chain rode will go vertical during calm conditions, wind gusts, sailing on the anchor and wave action can pull the chain tight as a drum and rip it out of the ground if you don't have the proper scope out (7-to-1 at a minimum). I've done it (dragged the anchor)...

Yep, this happened to me at Aquapaloza this year. I volunteered to be the anchor boat due to having all chain rode, but didn’t have enough scope out to hold a raft-up of 4 boats. It was a windy day which tightened the chain and began dragging the plow anchor and flotilla into an adjacent raft-up. I started the mighty Cummins, pulled anchor and drove the raft forward, my wingman dropped his chain and rope anchor with plenty of scope that then grabbed – which was very embarrassing!

 

[JohnEGraham]

This was my post from yesterday. What could happen when the wind changes 180Degrees:
Hey, anyone back from Babylon NY Beach blast last night? Great show and fireworks but the winds turned hard 20 mph + I guess this was the Blast part of the show. The wind was now from the north last night ( 3 AM ugh. ) and caused a group of three other boats to loose there anchors and wipe out our rear ancor and sending us in to the weeds.
Two of the three boats could not get there engines going. one dead battery & one Mechnical problems. Once the second boat got a Jump and get out of way ( looked like the LIE. Pile up ) We where able to get pulled out of the weeds. Lucky for my Dingy I was able to bring my line out to the very helpful boater ( yes a searay owner ) We where two boats together. The ends my 1st full year on the boat, Lucky no damage to us.
when does the Relaxing time start. :smt009
Thanks to the searay sundancer
John G

 

[douglee25]

To follow up on some other good advice here, another option is to purchase an additional hand held GPS and set the anchor alarm and put the unit by your pillow when you sleep. This way should the unit go off, you're more likely to hear it having it beep right near your head.

Doug