What's the best anchor type for mud bottom lake?

[Pseudomind]

I don't remember the size anchor that came with the 380DA, but my 410DA came with a 33lb Delta plow. I'd guess that the 380DA came with the same...but you would know bettter. I replaced it with a 44lb Polished SS CQR plow. The windless handles the extra weight just fine and the CQR sits nicely in the anchor roller.

I personally didn't have a problem with the stock anchor holding either. In fact, it held so wel that it bent.


I talked about it here....

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4553&highlight=anchor

My rode is comprised of 150' chain and 200' nylon line. I never have a problem holding bottom. My anchor is 'both' shiney and pretty.....AND....it stays stuck-in-place till I'm done!

Clairvoyant now are we...:smt043I was just going to ask you about some of the specifics you just posted.

:thumbsup:

 

[Four Suns]

The picture of Dom's bent anchor is here:

http://clubsearay.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1900&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1190289876

There was a fortress anchor with a bent shank mounted on the dock with a label of "Isabel" on it down at the Beaufort town docks in North Carolina a few years ago.

Looking at a table for holding power of an anchor is pointless if you have a swinging boat problem especially if coupled with any wave action. The tables don't indicate the effect of the shank being worked back and forth sideways with enough force that, as Dom showed, can damage the shank.

So although some will argue to ugly up the boat and paint the anchor rode all up so it looks like an Indian head band, it demonstrates the owner doesn't understand the issue and doesn't have enough experience with it as it could lead to problems ranging from a bent shank to working the anchor out of the bottom of the sea bed.

Understanding and controlling the boat's motion is an important piece to anchoring just as selecting the proper anchor for the bottom is.

 

[Southpaw II]

OK....I'm a lake boater, and the only prob I deal with is wind, and the bottom is usually mud. Typically, I anchor in less than 25 feet of water. When I had the 290 DA, loaded, it was about a 12,000 load, had a 22 lb. delta plow, with no chain. I could get it set, but in the wind, I had to work at it, and usually back down to get a really firm hold. Dragging was normal.

Now with the 380 DA, I havd the 33 lb. delta plow, and about 15' of chain....just drop it and forget it....it's gonna stick. This boat is 18,300 dry, and probably 20,000 lbs. loaded.

Question? What's the deepest water in which anyone has anchored? Successfully. I would be interested in the responses from you big water guys.

 

[Nehalennia]

.....
Question? What's the deepest water in which anyone has anchored? Successfully. I would be interested in the responses from you big water guys.

For a day trip when I didn't trust the fact that I only had 1.5:1 scope it was 175ft. For an overnighter 50'.

There's places around here that I could have 1000' of rode and still not have the proper scope.

 

[osd9]

Local fisherman, my neighbor for one in his 33 contender, anchor overnight in 600' in the canyons off the Jersey coast. They usually try and tie off of a lobster pot, but then someone has to stay up through the night watching the radar for approaching vessels.....the lobter guys have big shotguns and they HATE when they find fisherman using their pots to tie off of.....

 

[dpmulvey]

Based on your water depth, you have a couple of options. Both of them involve chain. Go to either an all chain rode, or get at least 15' of it.

An anchor does nothing but hold the rode in place. The resistance of the rode against the forces in play at any given time is what holds the vessel in place. In theory, and all chain rode of proper size and enough scope will hold an aircraft carrier in place in a typhoon.

You also may want to place a snubber or bridle to help.

 

[Nehalennia]

BTW< I bought my shiny polished stainless one from Marine Part Depot for $199.00

I also got the anchor swivel there too. It still looks good and held all 4 boat's we had tied to us, including a 381 Meridian, when we discovered his hook was dragging. Glad we had two hooks out.

 

[earthmover17]

I've finally experienced the "Honey, why is that boat honking it's horn" while we were both in the cabin while anchored in a mud bottom lake in a nice secluded cove in 25 mph winds. :wow::wow::wow:

Went topside to find we had dragged anchor about 500 feet and got within 10 feet of the shore. Luckily we didn't snap off the stern drive or hit bottom. :smt101:smt101:smt013

We have the standard delta style anchor that Sea ray provides and it has worked fairly well in the mud bottom - that was until we experienced the 25 mph winds yesterday.

So what do you guys suggest? I have a bruce style 2nd anchor but that doesn't seem to do any better. I do have a 6' chain I haven't used yet... :huh: :smt100

P.S. I forgot to mention that we got hit by monster 1 foot waves while in the cabin from I suspect a 48 Sundancer that went by the cove. The swim platform was smacking the water and the bow lifted a good foot or two which probably popped the anchor out of the mud. I was too busy trying to get the 12VDC outlet in the cabin to make a consistent connection to the power supply for my laptop to realize what was going on topside.

Damn Sundancers.

 

[earthmover17]

I need to put together a bridle for my anchor rode. I've a 560 sedan bridge and I'm trying to determine lengths and thickness for it. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I've been meaning to do this for ever as I have spent many sleepless nights from the wham of the rode slamming against windlass.
Thanks Jack

 

[fc3]

Local fisherman, my neighbor for one in his 33 contender, anchor overnight in 600' in the canyons off the Jersey coast. They usually try and tie off of a lobster pot, but then someone has to stay up through the night watching the radar for approaching vessels.....the lobter guys have big shotguns and they HATE when they find fisherman using their pots to tie off of.....

Doesn't he set a guard zone?

 

[osd9]

If the fishermen have lines out and a few guys are sleeping, it takes time to unhook from the pot, get the lines in, start the motors and go. Sometimes they just cut the lines and go. The lobsterman know when someone is on their pots...they've got radar and the waypoint on their screen....so they up the trottles when they see two bleeps on the waypoint. The Fishermen only see a boat coming on their screen....they don't know if it's friend or foe. They don't want to high tail out of there if it's just another fisherman looking for a pot to tie into too...

 

[wingless]

So although some will argue to ugly up the boat and paint the anchor rode all up so it looks like an Indian head band, it demonstrates the owner doesn't understand the issue and doesn't have enough experience with it as it could lead to problems ranging from a bent shank to working the anchor out of the bottom of the sea bed.

Understanding and controlling the boat's motion is an important piece to anchoring just as selecting the proper anchor for the bottom is.

Maybe the next tomb will supplant Chapman Piloting for a boating reference, of maybe a coloring book is next.

The 63rd Edition defines marking the rode for scope, with plastic tags for braid and paint for chain, every 20’, just like mine.

So, without the rode marked, how is the deployed anchor inspected to ensure the scope is correct?

The issue isn’t getting “EXACTLY at 7.568432:1” or “the proper scope is 6.9838561847536 to 1 and not 7 to 1”, but KNOWING that the scope is okay. That’s all us mere mortals require.

After setting anchor, prior to crashing for the night, or leaving the vessel unattended, I like to double and triple check that I’m as secure as possible. I don’t want unexpected anchor problems. The Boating Force doesn’t work for everyone and more tangible information is required.

So please continue to shoot from the hip while others provide information with substantiated references. Internet usage requires determination of good from bad. This B.S. is as entertaining as a painted high school victory rock.

 

[Nehalennia]

.........of maybe a coloring book is next.

Coloring book with anchors are cools

................ This B.S. is as entertaining as a painted high school victory rock.

You tell him......
GOOO!!!!! KIWIs

 

[berth control]

Okay, I'm not trying to "get into it" here, but I don't see the problem with painting the rode; it actually seems like a really good idea.

So although some will argue to ugly up the boat and paint the anchor rode all up so it looks like an Indian head band, it demonstrates the owner doesn't understand the issue and doesn't have enough experience with it as it could lead to problems ranging from a bent shank to working the anchor out of the bottom of the sea bed.

About it uglying up the boat, I don't really get it. The painted rode would be in the locker or under water pretty much all the time, so why not get rid of those ugly green and red lights on the bow too?

How is a painting my rode going to lead to bending my anchor shank or it working out of the sea bed?

 

[Tail Chaser 661]

I did not read all the replies.
Hopefully I'M not repeating exactly what other members have said.

Rule of thumb and research Ive done.
Use chain the length of the boat. Minimum
Max hold for anchor is 7.1 scope

Fluke anchors claim too be best for mud.

Bad thing about them.....
You need to drag them to get them to set.
If it does break loose it may not reset itself.

West Coast saltwater. Most everyone loves the Bruce anchor.
It sets easy, I have not heard of them pulling loose.
If it would pull loose. It will rest itself fast.

I used the fluke for 4 years.
Bought a Bruce last season.

Also, use a anchor alarm on a marine handheld GPS or Chart plotter if you have one.

 

[Four Suns]

Okay, I'm not trying to "get into it" here, but I don't see the problem with painting the rode; it actually seems like a really good idea.



About it uglying up the boat, I don't really get it. The painted rode would be in the locker or under water pretty much all the time, so why not get rid of those ugly green and red lights on the bow too?

How is a painting my rode going to lead to bending my anchor shank or it working out of the sea bed?

The point I was making has to do with the original poster's question (Dan/dsteele1) where his anchor broke free and his boat was swinging on the anchor. Some came back and just said "You need a bigger and different anchor" and I tried to put an explanation up on how to actually solve the problem because I've experienced this problem.

Although Chapman's 63rd edition has a detailed section on anchors, as well as ignition protection, it does not discuss or cover well a boat swinging at anchor other than setting two anchors. The boat sailing up wind and going back and forth like a pendulum on the anchor is only discussed briefly (one sentence) in Chapman and is therefor, in my opinion, incomplete. Swinging on the anchor due to the boat sailing back and forth introduces significant side loads on the shank that can work the anchor free or even damage the anchor and/or bend the shank. Another thing it can do is make the occupants of the boat get motion sickness. Chapman does need another chapter/section on controlling boat motion while at anchor.... so in fact another book written that supplements chapman based on real world experience is probably a good idea.

My comment on uglying up the boat is that one "proposed" solution on trying to solve the breaking free from swinging is to put an oversized anchor on the boat. It doesn't look right and demonstrates the person doesn't understand the original question. To make an analogy, it would be like a penguin reading a book on how to fly and jumping off a tall building and discovering he is wingless.

I'm half tempted to go delete my explanation and posts because I'm tired of the constant idiocy of a few in their responses.

 

[osd9]

........My comment on uglying up the boat is that one "proposed" solution on trying to solve the breaking free from swinging is to put an oversized anchor on the boat. It doesn't look right and demonstrates the person doesn't understand the original question. To make an analogy, it would be like a penguin reading a book on how to fly and jumping off a tall building and discovering he is wingless.

I'm half tempted to go delete my explanation and posts because I'm tired of the constant idiocy of a few in their responses.

I wake up because the snow plows decide to come down my cul de sac at 2AM going back and forth....beep..beep...beep....and now I can't get back to sleep. So, I naturally pull out the laptop and the first thread I read has me rolling laughing. Now the admiral wakes up and the dog thinks it's time to go outside and Pee.....damn, I need to start taking some night-night pills.....

hmmmmm....can penguins actually read?????:smt043

 

[Four Suns]

Go back to bed.

 

[wingless]

My comment on uglying up the boat is that one "proposed" solution on trying to solve the breaking free from swinging is to put an oversized anchor on the boat. It doesn't look right and demonstrates the person doesn't understand the original question.

My proposed solutions were to replace the plow w/ a Fortress and to mark the rode so the scope may be determined instead of guessed, following the recommendations in Chapman Piloting.

What misunderstanding? Who didn't read the OP?

The experts at Fortress recommend the smaller FX-16 for my 38’ and increasing one or two sizes for storm conditions. The FX-37 has more than double the holding power, not squared. My usage agrees with their information and my experience supports their recommendations. Use the smaller anchor unless greater holding power is required.

I'm half tempted to go delete my explanation and posts because I'm tired of the constant idiocy of a few in their responses.

It is reasonable to conclude that it would be tiring to delete your responses when the content is idiocy.

So, without the rode marked, how is the deployed anchor inspected to ensure the scope is correct?

Any non-idiotic response possible?

 

[Four Suns]

So please continue to shoot from the hip while others provide information with substantiated references. Internet usage requires determination of good from bad. This B.S. is as entertaining as a painted high school victory rock.

Wow...