swimming at sea - anchor or no anchor?

J

jattea

New Member
Sep 5, 2008
102
Buffalo, NY
Boat Info
2003 260 Sundancer
Engines
350 Mag / Bravo III
I'm a relative newbie - this is my first boating season.

I've asked several people and have gotten different answers. If I'm out at sea and we want to go for a swim, do you drop anchor or no?

People who have said "yes" say that you don't want your boat to float away from you. People who have said "no" have said you want your bodies and your boat to float in the same direction at the same rate. I.e., if you anchor your boat, current can carry you away from the boat.

What about in different situations: like, if someone stays onboard vs. if everyone goes for a swim? Or, in still water vs. water with a little bit of a current?

thanks...
 
As they say it depends.

Both of them are correct for their situations. We have done it both ways. You may even want to think about having an extra tow rope like you would pull a tube with that you can throw out. The ones that float work great on the river or in areas with a current.
 
I've seen people use the throw able cushion with the tow rope tied to the ski tow ring.
 
If we're within easy swimming distance from shore and shallow enough to anchor, then we anchor and everyone can leave the boat if they want. The rest of the time we don't anchor and there is always some one left on the boat. Don't forget about the wind, it can separate boat and swimmers pretty quickly.
 
Some areas have tides that can reach 4 knts or more, In my area we have many of these spots. This is very dangerous if you don't have an experiencd boater on board to operate the boat.
 
Wind and current at sea are often opposing.
"Drift diving"- where divers swim with the current (same as swimming) is often done, followed by the dive boat.
Anchoring is fine, as long as there is minimal to no current.

At sea- with no other boats around, you should never leave the boat unattended.

These divers almost perished here a couple of weeks ago, they were INCREDIBLY lucky that another dive boat "just happened" to come across them the next day. Literally a needle in a haystack:

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/5/11/471390.html
 
Our river does 2 kt. for most of the time. You need to anchor the boat. To swim, we put 2 round fenders on lines off each corner of the boat. An adult sits on the swim platform, and the kids know they have to stay within the confines of the round fenders. We also float a tube or two off the back. You pretty much have to be hanging on to something most of the time, but you get used to it. Beats sitting in the sun at 90 degrees.
 
A fender on the end of a dock line is always a good idea. It not only creates a safety line, but also marks off the area so that some intellectually challenged won't drive too close to you while you have swimmers in the water.

Henry
 
Henry Boyd said:
A fender on the end of a dock line is always a good idea. It not only creates a safety line, but also marks off the area so that some intellectually challenged won't drive too close to you while you have swimmers in the water.

Henry
Click to expand...

Most dock lines are nylon, which doesn't float; if you use a polypropylene ski tow rope it will float, and be easier for a swimmer to see and grab.
 
tmhudson2 said:
Most dock lines are nylon, which doesn't float; if you use a polypropylene ski tow rope it will float, and be easier for a swimmer to see and grab.
Click to expand...

That's why you hang the big honkin 8" fender on the end! In a current the drag on the fender is more than enough to keep the line at the surface.

Henry
 
Hmmmm, never thought about how ya'll swim in the salt with the currents and staying near the boat, or the ability to leave your boat unmanned.

Yesterday, we left our boat in a cove where everyone rafts up (wasnt crowded at all yesterday!). I threw out the anchor, got it locked down, then went off on Matt's boat to wakeboard. Our boat stayed there for 2 hours unmanned (but we did drive by the cove every once in a while).
 
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I would say no. What happens if the wind starts blowing your boat which will then move faster than you. You may be out of breath and not be able to make it back to the boat. Anchor it.
 
I like that idea of roping off a swim area with the bumpers!

Here's something you just gotta try - it's gonna sound weird and look even weirder, but it works: Put a Type III (ski) vest on upside-down like a diaper. When you get in the water, it holds you just about perfectly straight up and still - you don't have to wave your arms around to keep yourself upright. And, no, before anyone asks, I am NOT posting a picture for you all!!! :grin:
 

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Knowledge is generally gained by study, Experience is most often acquired by doing.

In my sailing days I had a brand new 22" sloop. We tied the tiller over so the sloop would round up to the wind and fall back to a heave to, in a rocking horse motion and slowly drift with the forces of wind and current. As we'd done all the time on a different boat, the Admiral and I jumped in to cool down on a hot summer day. We took floating seat cushions in with us. A few minutes passed and I saw the boat was drifting away from us more than I liked so I took off swimming for itleaving my cushion with the now swearing Admiral. I swam for 20 minutes to catch up with the boat, and was so exhaused by the time I reached it I barely was able to board the freaking ladder.:smt100

So by confession I've demonstated I have experience on this issue, you will get knowledge:

1. Never leave a boat untended and adrift.:smt009

2. Never go in the water without trailing a floating line of atleast 50 feet off the stern. I mean floating line not a dock line with a fender. You need the line on the surface to actually hav eit save your booty. Want a fender, tie a fender to your floating line.:thumbsup:

3. Never stay adrift if you can anchor.

4. If you can not out swim the current, go in tethered to the boat.:smt100

Never let the boat get away from you and never let yourself get away from the boat. Everyone goes home safe and sound.:thumbsup:
 
Some free divers on the west coast run a 100' tag line off the boat.
Something I should do since im always going solo.
No way would I ever leave my boat unattended not being anchored. A little breeze comes by. The boats gone.
 
I assumed the OP would not leave the boat unattended... not anchoring an expensive boat and leaving it unattended would be a dumb thing to do in my opinion (and no offense to others who see it differently). That said, we drift with a couple of floating lines and a couple of fenders attached. I watch that all swimmers are ok with their vest and stay near a line, or stay on a float. Best I'll do is get my feet wet off the transom..
 
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