Sand bar anchoring advice needed....

skunkman

skunkman

Active Member
May 27, 2014
452
Longboat Key
Boat Info
2014 330 DA sold
Current boat 2021 Formula 350CBR
Engines
Triple 350 Mercury Verado
If I had to pick one thing I have difficulty with it is anchoring. I thought with my new boat's windlass anchor things would be easier. I tried to anchor at a crowded sand bar last week and basically gave up. I dropped my bow anchor (15 ft of water, sand bottom) and backed towards the sand bar. It never seemed to set so I never got to my stern anchor. Any words of wisdom. I looked with envy at all of the other boats sitting perfectly still while I drifted with the current. I'm certain I provided many with some laughs.
 
Ohhhhhh. That may explain my problem. I have not been letting out nearly that much rode!!!!
I look forward to trying it again Saturday.
 
Do most people just estimate how much rode is out?
 
We anchor at a sandbar every weekend. Just estimate the amount but give yourself plenty of line. Remember that the line goes out slowly with the windlass so be prepared to drop it way out and slowly back into position. Have the rear anchor out and ready to be dropped/thrown. If your too close to the sandbar when you just start letting your line out you will be at the sand bar before it hits bottom.
 
Does your anchor have a length of chain between the anchor and rode? This will help pull the anchor down and help it grab the bottom. +1 on as much scope as you can reasonably let out. The anchor will set better if you have at least 7:1 out.
 
I only have about 3' of chain because the windlass doen't accept chain, but I don't have any problem getting a good bite in the Chesapeake Bay muck and even sand if I come across any. I have a 25# Danforth.
 
I have 30 ft of chain. I think I will put some markers on my rope to start with
 
You should ~ 1 foot of chain for every foot of boat. Having that make a HUGE difference, it's night and day. I had a 270 with little chain, always drifted; my 290 has 25 ft if chain between anchor and rope; it will stay put in a hurricane. 7:1 on depth and you are all set
 
You probably need more chain. However, I would suggest that you NEVER start backing into a crowded sandbar until you positively know that the bow anchor is set. I also do this 2-3 weekends every month at an extremely crowed sand bar that has a ripping flow on the outgoing tide. I have seen many people get the surprise of their life when they end up sideways on the sand, hopefully without the collision. The depth is 12-20 feet off my bow and I have 130' of chain usually 100' of it is out, most well below the surface as it is laying on the bottom. It is positive control of the bow with the windless and I really don't care if it gets ran over. ( I have had my rode cut twice). I put 2 stern anchors out on the sandbar so that I do not move regardless of the tide in/out, as do all the rest that "boat camp" there. +add markers.
 
Sometimes to measure length of rope pay out, I leave the anchor clipped with the safety cable while I manually pull rope through the windlass. I walk to the windshield which gives me about 30' of rope. Keep pulling rope to windshield until I get the right scope.
 
my DOG HOUSE said:
You probably need more chain. However, I would suggest that you NEVER start backing into a crowded sandbar until you positively know that the bow anchor is set. I also do this 2-3 weekends every month at an extremely crowed sand bar that has a ripping flow on the outgoing tide. I have seen many people get the surprise of their life when they end up sideways on the sand, hopefully without the collision. The depth is 12-20 feet off my bow and I have 130' of chain usually 100' of it is out, most well below the surface as it is laying on the bottom. It is positive control of the bow with the windless and I really don't care if it gets ran over. ( I have had my rode cut twice). I put 2 stern anchors out on the sandbar so that I do not move regardless of the tide in/out, as do all the rest that "boat camp" there. +add markers.
Click to expand...

I learned a lot from this guy on how to back in and anchor to the sand, especially in that 5 knot cross current last weekend at Ponce inlet. Hopefully, that was you my DOG HOUSE: we had a great time! Anyhow, we had over 80 feet of chain scope out and delta anchor set at 8 feet deep. The land anchor is a Fortress and it was set about 50 feet inland. Set the bow anchor up current and backed down on it, set it, then feeding out and holding tension while port in reverse,starboard in forward ( current coming towards starboard side) and rudders crabbed to port side. The anchor kept the nose from swinging around and props/ rudders kept the aft crabbing against the current. Came in perfectly and controlled; handed the aft anchor to him and he set it in the sand.
 
Last edited:
What weight anchor do you have as well, and what type?

Totally agree with the comments above.

You can never have too much chain, only too little. I have no rope on my rode, all chain. I estimate how much is out, like Scott, with me it is just experience from dropping it. 90% of the time when I retrieve the anchor! I usually think why did I drop that much out?! But I know I am secure.

I look at the boats already anchored to see which way they are sitting, then position the boat in the same direction, have the boat so it is either sitting still, or slightly drifting rear wards, NO forward movement.

Then drop the anchor, I look for the chain going slack or the change in noise from the winch, so I know it is on the bottom, drop another few seconds of chain, then select reverse to set the anchor, when I know it has bit, I then drop more rode, out to 5-1 or 7-1.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
I agree with the more chain the better. I constantly had problems trying to set the anchor in the sandy bottom near the beach areas. This spring I went with 150' of chain. I painted markings at 25' lengths to help measure how much was out. The chain makes a huge difference in being able to set the anchor and stay put in my little 260DA. I also think the added weight at the bow helps smooth out the ride.
 
Ok-I am confused now. Are all of you commenting on anchoring with larger boats? When I purchased my digger anchor it specified to not use any chain and it seemed to set better.
 
Ok Im now in a 97 330DA, so it's a lump, full chain rode.

However in both of my previous trailer boats 15' and 18', I always ran chain and rope on the Anchor. The avarage rule of thumb here from memory was around 1 - 1 1/2 times the lenght of the boat. The chain sits on the bottom and gives you far greater holding power.
 
I like the more chain than less idea also, but the windlass I have won't take chain, so I am stuck with the short chain length at least until the windlass craps out. I don't want to sink a boat buck and a half into a new windlass just yet. Also I haven't had any problem dragging as long as I use a good amount of scope, 5:1 or higher
 
I have the original Benson Industries windlass. I could change it but am waiting until I have to. No sense in shelling out a couple grand yet.
 
Simply put, this type of anchoring is a bit more difficult than just dropping in a cove to have lunch. You're trying to set the anchor at the same time as trying to back into a sandbar without running aground, or hitting a nearby boat, or running over a swimmer. Everything has to happen at once and has to be perfect. Usually its windy because why shouldn't it be while everyone is watching. Really, the only way to get better at this is practice. Assess the current, wind, and position of other boats and their anchors. Angle of their front and rear anchor as well as scope will tell you a lot. More scope holds better but it also can be a hazard in a packed anchorage area. Tons of scope is great until some idiot crosses your rode and cuts it with his prop. Watch others who are good at this and then try to replicate their actions. You'll get the hang of it.

Sent from my RM-927_nam_vzw_100 using Tapatalk
 
Skunkman

I share your pain! Curious, I'm one key south of you, Lido, where do you find 15 feet of water just off of a sand bar in the Sarasota area? Another way to do that is to get as close as you can without beaching and scratching your gel coat, wade ashore, plant a sand anchor, then secure with a stern anchor. Might be less drama.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,247
Messages
1,429,249
Members
61,127
Latest member
Ants84245srv
Back
Top