Sand Bar Experts

[Soulshine]

What is about raft ups and shallow anchorages that creates so many experts?

Friday night I approached the local sandbar which was pretty full but I spotted a gap about 50’ wide in the front row. Backed in perfectly dropped a perfect scope and was approached by two guys who I assumed were there to lend a hand.

I jumped in to plant the stern anchor when a westerly cross wind came out of nowhere. Now I could use a hand holding steady while I placed my anchor.

Nope. These two proceeded to tell me that I was in the wrong place, had too much line out front and other things while standing there holding beers.

One said “What are you doing here? You have 100 yards of rope out there.” I carry 200’, it’s marked and I had 75’ out.

I turned to them and told them that I could have used a hand, didn’t need a lecture and was content with my scope and position.

One of them told me that the 4’ of water I was in was too deep. I mentioned that he was a foot shorter than me. They waded away telling everyone they passed that I “Just wouldn’t listen”.

He owns a Fountain. Need I say more??

 

[Quint4]

Our society is getting ruder by the minute. Have you noticed the comments on peoples boat ads?

 

[Soulshine]

I have noticed and that’s why my fuse was a bit short.

I’ve been here all weekend and listened to the same guy tell literally everyone that came in what to do, where to do it and how he’d have done it differently.

It got rough here for extended periods and is now and I saw dozens of boat loose their positions, run aground and whatnot. I’m still planted like a tick on a dog here, but what do I know?

 

[Strecker25]

I have noticed and that’s why my fuse was a bit short.

I’ve been here all weekend and listened to the same guy tell literally everyone that came in what to do, where to do it and how he’d have done it differently.

It got rough here for extended periods and is now and I saw dozens of boat loose their positions, run aground and whatnot. I’m still planted like a tick on a dog here, but what do I know?

lol it was the same thing up here today. Most people seem to stay away from us because I let so much scope out and swing big circles on the anchor.

 

[bobeast]

This is how groups of people work. I'll never understand why people cruise towards the crowd of people, rather than away.

 

[Soulshine]

This is how groups of people work. I'll never understand why people cruise towards the crowd of people, rather than away.

I usually avoid this place (still here) on the weekends but my wife and I met and got married here.

The annual waterfront festival that attracts these nuts is our anniversary so we never miss it.

 

[El Capitan]

In Miami that’s how folks welcome you. Of course it won’t be in English but hey, I’m not judging.

This is why I don’t carry.

 

[OllieC]

That guy should try anchoring on a river . I’d love to hear his comments on scope.

We were anchored on the St Croix about 3 years ago. Those that weren’t on the island (Kini) were spaced out and had adequate scope at the bow anchor. Then a group of 20 somethings show up in a pontoon and anchor 20’ off my bow. They both bow and stern anchor.

Sure enough we have a Summer squall roll through with 30mph gusts making everyone swing. Everyone swings but these drunk clowns in the pontoon next to me. So the idiot jumps on a raft and places himself between my boat and his. I didn’t freak out, but I asked them to keep my boat off of theirs. Of course I was involved and had to get soaked in the storm because of these ding-dongs. After the storm, they left.

I try to use the golden rule on the water because we all make mistakes, but as others mentioned in previous threads, it would be nice if more people took a basic boating class.

 

[Soulshine]

I pulled out of there this morning and had trouble popping my anchor loose…an indicator of a good set.

A guy in front of us couldn’t retrieve his rear anchor at all and was just going to leave it there rope and all. I would have motored right over it on my way out.

My wife paddled over in a kayak, took his line and passed it up to me on the pulpit where I secured it to a cleat.

We hauled them both at the same time. His was nearer to me than mine and when his line came taught it stopped me dead and flipped me around. It was early, dead still and nobody was around or I might not have attempted this but after a realignment and bump of the throttles, up came a very nice Fortress.

I may not knock myself out finding out who he was.

All in all a nice weekend with plenty of wind blown, sketchy exits to watch from afar. We watched a dozen guys with man buns try to get an old 35’ Trojan off of a muddy bar in knee deep water. I’d say he put enough sand through his pumps to build his own beach.

It’s good to be home after hitting a local Mexican joint in town. I have a serious case of the wobbles and a snooze in my near future.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I guess i am lucky. In all the years i have only encountered the best of the best people boating.
The two strangers that spent half a day looking for my zodiac and retrieving it that blew away in a night storm.
The couple that let my kids sleep on their air condition boat on a miserable hot night anchored out when they were getting sick from the heat.
I could go on and on.

 

[OllieC]

A guy in front of us couldn’t retrieve his rear anchor at all and was just going to leave it there rope and all. I would have motored right over it on my way out.

My wife paddled over in a kayak, took his line and passed it up to me on the pulpit where I secured it to a cleat.

We hauled them both at the same time. His was nearer to me than mine and when his line came taught it stopped me dead and flipped me around. It was early, dead still and nobody was around or I might not have attempted this but after a realignment and bump of the throttles, up came a very nice Fortress.

I may not knock myself out finding out who he was.

He didn’t put a marker on it or anything? If so, I’d say it’s yours. The clown could have caused serious damage to someone’s boat, like yours.

 

[Soulshine]

No marker as we took it from him but if I wasn’t there he’d had just dropped it in the water and left.

I was thinking of tying his rope to my steel Danforth and telling him that this is what came up.

 

[mobocracy]

Anchoring anywhere there are other people anchored is always hilarious, provided that when their anchors let go they don't drift into you.

Every single weekend I see multiple boats drop a danforth off their bow while holding their chainless anchor rode. When they think it hit bottom, they tie it off with no extra scope at all. I make bets with myself as to whether they will drift in a half hour or less.

(Problem is I bet myself a margarita and on busy days I have to stop collecting my winnings or I will pass out).

I've seen the same people repeat this 3-4 times before leaving the anchorage ("too hard to anchor here" I guess). The last time it was a group of folks on a cantoon who clearly didn't know what they were doing. When they got within about 20 feet of another boat and were drifting fast, the captain fired up his outboard with swimmers hanging onto the pontoons and started to move away.

 

[Soulshine]

Very true regarding the lack of chain. A month ago or so I saw a huge and ugly Carver Mariner come in. He had a pair of toy anchors complete with spools of yellow poly rope. He’d clearly been to Walmart.

We went over to help out and eventually lent him real anchors and rodes. He’s become a friend and is better equipped now.

I love the anchors that come up after a failed hookup with a 3’ weed ball on them. I guess if you keep dropping them in more weeds the grip gets better.

Over the weekend I saw a guy jump off the front of a pontoon that was still coasting at about 5 mph. He got knocked flat, went under the boat and came out the back.

Even when I was green I was never this green.