I have never anchored out anywhere overnight due to the simple fact that I am chicken **** to actually fall asleep. I'm petrified that I'll wake up with my arse wrapped around someone 50' away from me. Do you people actually.. "sleep" through the night without waking up with nightmares of drifting into something or someone? I just can't deal with that. Is this silly.. or for real?
Site down .. I have a stupid question.
- Thread starter Katie
- Start date
Katie, been there too. Once anchored in Garbage Cove only to wake up to a group of 6 boats that swung around and we suddenly were part of their raft up! Were they surprised when they woke up and I was sitting there having my coffee right next to them. They never heard a thing until they woke in the morning. Like Walt said.........plenty of rode and plenty of space and you should be fine.
I dont think that feeling ever goes away..... No matter how times u do it ... Comes with the territory.
As Barbra said alot scope ... Only problem with that is people will drop right next to u never thinking about the swing... or how much scope u have out ... When we back to the beach... its bumper boats getting out as people are all over or anchors... CLUELESS....
As Barbra said alot scope ... Only problem with that is people will drop right next to u never thinking about the swing... or how much scope u have out ... When we back to the beach... its bumper boats getting out as people are all over or anchors... CLUELESS....
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If I was to do this, I think I would set a rear anchor on the beach and a bow anchor.
The nice thing about rear anchors is you can run them out onto the beach and dig them in deep to the sand.
Worse case scenario would be bow breaks loose and you beach on sand.
Personally, I have never slept on anchor for the same reason. Anchor alarms don't work because you usually swing and they tend to go off too soon or too late depending on how you set them.
The nice thing about rear anchors is you can run them out onto the beach and dig them in deep to the sand.
Worse case scenario would be bow breaks loose and you beach on sand.
Personally, I have never slept on anchor for the same reason. Anchor alarms don't work because you usually swing and they tend to go off too soon or too late depending on how you set them.
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We anchor out almost every weekend, and sleep like babies.
Just make sure you have the correct anchor for your area, make sure it is set properly, and you have plenty of scope.
Nothing you can do about knuckleheads near you, nothing wrong with waking a couple times during the night to check your anchor.
If you anchor bow and stern, be aware of cross currents, they put a lot of extra load on your ground tackle.
Just make sure you have the correct anchor for your area, make sure it is set properly, and you have plenty of scope.
Nothing you can do about knuckleheads near you, nothing wrong with waking a couple times during the night to check your anchor.
If you anchor bow and stern, be aware of cross currents, they put a lot of extra load on your ground tackle.
I use the anchor alarm on my handheld and put it right next to the bed when I go to sleep. I sometimes have to play around with it to get the right setting so it doesn't go off just from swinging on the anchor, but it does give a little extra piece of mind. I'll sometimes wake up during the night and take a look around to make sure all is well, but normally these days I sleep pretty well.
((Katie, don't give up the thought..............it's beautiful sleeping out there. If you want to try it one time, let us know and maybe we can hook up with you at Garbage Cove, might give you more confidence having someone around that you know. And you really can't drift too far away there either if the anchor broke (which I doubt it would). C'mon..........don't be chicken. With all the other things you've done in your life you certainly can handle this!
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In addition to what Hogan says about cross currents: make sure with a bow & stern set up that you have good chafe protection on your forward anchor. That will protect you with cross currents.
We sleep on anchor all the time. I believe it really comes down to how well you practice anchoring. Understanding how to set your anchor is the key. In Zach's Bay this past weekend, I watched so many inept attempts at anchoring. From throwing the anchor as far as it would go, to one guy with an all chain rode who stoped letting out rode about 2 feet after his anchor hit bottom. I couldn't believe it. He cam forward and surveyed his job - no scope whatsoever. Then left it like that. Needless to say, it wasn't long before several closer boats were shouting at him that he was drifting.
The easiest way to judge how much rode you are letting out to insure proper scope is to get those vinyl rode markers (about $4). They slide right into the strands and mark your rode at 30, 60, 90 (green), 120, 150, 180 (red), 210, 240, 270 (yellow). At Zach's Bay for example, if I'm in 20' of water I add 4' for the water to pulpit distance. When I am over the spot I want to drop I let out 25' of rode, momentarily shift into reverse as I play out more rode (slowly is the key here). Even if it's crowded I try to get as close to possible as a 7 to 1 scope, just to set the anchor. Once I have a 7 to 1, I will again give a reverse thrust for a moment, and let the boat settle. Then I will draw up to about a 5 to 1 scope. It usually clears out well enough for me to go back to a 7 to 1 overnight.
You will get a lot of good anchoring advice from this board. Good luck. If you see me in Zach's Bay, say hello and we can have some cold ones while we discuss the different anchoring tactics.
We sleep on anchor all the time. I believe it really comes down to how well you practice anchoring. Understanding how to set your anchor is the key. In Zach's Bay this past weekend, I watched so many inept attempts at anchoring. From throwing the anchor as far as it would go, to one guy with an all chain rode who stoped letting out rode about 2 feet after his anchor hit bottom. I couldn't believe it. He cam forward and surveyed his job - no scope whatsoever. Then left it like that. Needless to say, it wasn't long before several closer boats were shouting at him that he was drifting.
The easiest way to judge how much rode you are letting out to insure proper scope is to get those vinyl rode markers (about $4). They slide right into the strands and mark your rode at 30, 60, 90 (green), 120, 150, 180 (red), 210, 240, 270 (yellow). At Zach's Bay for example, if I'm in 20' of water I add 4' for the water to pulpit distance. When I am over the spot I want to drop I let out 25' of rode, momentarily shift into reverse as I play out more rode (slowly is the key here). Even if it's crowded I try to get as close to possible as a 7 to 1 scope, just to set the anchor. Once I have a 7 to 1, I will again give a reverse thrust for a moment, and let the boat settle. Then I will draw up to about a 5 to 1 scope. It usually clears out well enough for me to go back to a 7 to 1 overnight.
You will get a lot of good anchoring advice from this board. Good luck. If you see me in Zach's Bay, say hello and we can have some cold ones while we discuss the different anchoring tactics.
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Born... that was excellent advice. I too have questioned the way I anchor and have always heard the 7 to 1 rule. After reading your advice, and reading what most said about which anchor they prefer on another thread in here, it is clear that anchoring is a challenge on the south shore.
I want to get better at this and would love to learn more. Any other advice from experienced anchor types who want to share? I sure would appreciate it.
I want to get better at this and would love to learn more. Any other advice from experienced anchor types who want to share? I sure would appreciate it.