Stern anchoring

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folieadeux

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I am almost afraid to post this question because I have probably overlooked some possibility that is stupid, but I promised The Admiral I would investigate.

For some reason, The Admiral has been bothered the last few nights while trying to sleep on the boat with the slapping/clapping sound of the water beating against the hull. The noise on the bow at night is causing her to not sleep and there is nothing worse than a GRUMPY ADMIRAL.

We always drop the hook in quite spots protected from the wind and boat traffic. Since the tides run so strong in our area, the current from the tides makes a lot of noise on the bow. I am thinking about securing the anchor to the starboard cleat on the stern so that the noise would be on the stern and the bow berth would be quieter. The underwater diesel genny exhaust is on the port side and we have installed extra digital CO alarms in both staterooms. Besides the concern of the genny exhaust, any other problems with the stern anchor. I got 200' of rode & 30' of chain so it would be easy to walk the extra rode to the stern cleat.
 
If its in a quiet, calm place it shouldnt be an issue. I would just make sure if there are others around you that it wont cause a problem with them swinging off of a single hook and you not following suite.

Also if you get a blow and you loose one of your hooks, (probably the stern with not much chain if any) that you do not swing into someone else.
 
quote:
Originally posted by van lafermine

If its in a quiet, calm place it shouldnt be an issue. I would just make sure if there are others around you that it wont cause a problem with them swinging off of a single hook and you not following suite.

Also if you get a blow and you loose one of your hooks, (probably the stern with not much chain if any) that you do not swing into someone else.

Click to expand...


Van, I was only planning to use the stern hook and not the bow so the boat would swing off the stern into the current.
 
Can't anchoring from the stern be a risky prposition?
 
Dont do it... With the strong currents you have in your area, i doubt your anchor will hold stern to the current.

Also depending on your exhaust setup you could get water forced up the exhaust.
 
V berths are always noisy at anchor. Have you tried to deaden the sound below the berth?? Maybe some pieces of carpet against the hull as a test.
 
Drink more alcohol!

I have always been told stern anchoring is dangerous. Remember the guys in Florida who died? Granted in calm conditions its not a issue.
 
Try it during the day and see how you ride. I'd also attach a buoy the the anchor line so if you have to leave in a hurry you could just cast off and retrieve the line later. Based on the angle to the current your stern should be at I don't really see that there is much likelihood of you filling up you engines with water. If that was a real issue boats dock at marinas with a strong tidal current running fore and aft would be having the same problem.

But I would also look into adding sound deadening to the forward cabin hull sides.
 
I have anchored and then thrown a loop over a bow cleat prior to anchor cleat. It has changed the angle enough to reduce slap, and have also used a snubber, which seemed to help divide any water flow approaching bow.
Ambien CR is the medication you want to ask for,,,but only one take it incase of any problems with boat !!
 
I've experienced the same problem as your Admiral. I did get used to it after a few weekends on the boat. Then I would wake up when the current slowed and it became quiet!!!!

I frequently anchored out with both a bow and a stern anchor out. Very common in the CA Delta. It is called a "Delta Tie Up". This prevents the boat from swinging with the tides. Of course this won't work in all anchorages and is best for anchoring in long, narrow areas, not in a wide "bay".

My stern anchor had a float on the bitter end and I tied it off to a cleat with a large SS backing plate which I had installed for that purpose. Occasionally my bow anchor would drag due to grass and the stern anchor would save my A$$! This made for a better night's sleep.

The other option is to tie up to a dock instead of anchoring out. It may prevent a grumpy Admiral, but the Cap't might be pretty grouchy!!! Good luck and let us know your final solution.
 
I read somewhere about a guy who rigged something using a swimming noodle hung off the bow to disrupt the slap.
 
Sounds like a possible invention here.
I imagine you could make something out of starboard or something, sort of like a V shape like the bow, slide it down over the rope, lock it in place, attached other 2 ends to foward cleats with short ropes, so it has no side movement. Though cleats may be too high. Perhaps 2 of thos big round fenders, so it doesn't hit boat and it stays afloat.
So now it can't go up or down or side to side.
This should disrupt the incoming waves.

I will accept 30% of all patent royalties. Thank you!

If that fails, go back to my first idea, drink more, pass out, you won't hear a thing! Works for me!
 
I think the noise is the surface ripples hitting the sides, which is above the water lines.
When it's calm like glass, there is no noise.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

I think the noise is the surface ripples hitting the sides, which is above the water lines.
When it's calm like glass, there is no noise.

Click to expand...


Dave- you are correct, the noise comes from the surface ripples hitting the sides. I like your idea of some type of device but the last thing I need is another "thingie" on my boat. I just built a davit system last week so now I have my dinghy hanging on the back...........huh.......maybe I could tie the dinghy to the bow and it would break the ripples.

Except for some guy dying in FL I really have not heard of a reason to not try the stern cleat to secure the rode.
 
Changing the forward angle as mentioned above should solve the problem. It can also be done by attaching a line to midships cleat and the anchor line near the water.
 
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