anchoring techniques and tips

KnightWolf

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2010
Messages
216
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

My saltwater brother-in-law showed me a good trick, when he's fishing on the rock jetty's or any rocky area where you could hang and lose a good anchor, he uses a concrete block and some cheap polypropylene rope, when it's time to go just cuts rope, leaves block...cheaper than buying new anchors all the time! I also know that wherever there's a strong current always good to have
4 or 5 feet of chain between the anchor and the rope...so current action don't cut the rope....we learned this one the hard way!


So hes the guy leaving all the rope to get hung on! I try to leave as little impact as possible on the water. Not trying to sound harsh but that is a terrible idea.
 

partskenn

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
249
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

I have 8 foot of chain on mine, makes a tremendous difference in how well it holds. Also took a permanent marker and marked the line every 10 feet so that I knew how much line I had out.
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

I marked my line with cable ties every 25 feet--stick them through the braid--so I know what's up at night, too
 

Simnut

Cadet
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
10
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

Well, some help that I can give back to the forum...hopefully.

The whole idea, and this comes from my experience with my 26' Campion (5 tons) and ocean/salt water anchoring, is that the chain...in most cases, does most of the "holding" while under anchor. This is why it's important to have the right sized chain and proper length for the boat you have. I used 30' 3/8 chain plus 5/8 braided line and a Danforth anchor and felt quite "secure" in the feeling of being...well...secure! :D

The reason you put out 4 to 5 lengths/depth for anchoring is that this allows the chain to lay on the bottom...and the weight of the chain will suffice in most condition to holding the boat. It also acts as a bit of a shock absorber, by lifting and resettling on the bottom. During this time, the anchor holds the chain in place. Proper anchor choice for the proper bottom becomes really important when you are in a blow..or a very strong tide/current. Then the anchor holding "fast" is very important. Again though, with the proper chain size/length and "rode" ....the shock absorbing abilities come into play again.

Now that I have a 14' Lund and the conditions are a little less intense...weight of the anchor will/should be sufficient. I will use a bit of chain though....the shock absorbing thing will be nice.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

not a single mention of the proper term yet? scope! search on google for anchor scope, tons of good sites with more than enough info.
 

robert graham

Admiral
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
6,908
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

If it's fouled and won't come up fine, but why wouldn't your BIL at least try to retreive the concrete block? Also I would recommend looping the line through the eye on the block and secure both ends on the boat. This way if you can't retreive the block you can untie one end and pull the line through the eye and recover all your line. Leaving hunks of poly floating at or near the surface are a hazard for other boats and wild life.
I believe he would always try and retrieve the block first before cutting the rope. The jettys where he fished were made of big boulders of granite and anchors get jammed in cracks easily. He told me about this concrete block trick, but he died a couple of years ago, so I can't check with him on the details. I don't ever get near or anchor around jettys myself.
 

LippCJ7

Vice Admiral
Joined
Sep 20, 2010
Messages
5,431
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

Typically I throw the anchor out 50'-70' or so upwind from where I want to be and drift until I am at the desired location then tie off, Lakes here are typically 20' deep or less, I have a 15# Danforth with 20' of chain/200' rope and it never moves far, most my friends tie up to me its been so dependable
 

robert graham

Admiral
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
6,908
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

So hes the guy leaving all the rope to get hung on! I try to leave as little impact as possible on the water. Not trying to sound harsh but that is a terrible idea.

I'm sure he tried to pull up the block first, it's just something he shared with me, but he died a couple of years ago, so any ropes at jettys probably not his. The point is, if the jettys are granite boulders, then the anchors get stuck in between them and better to lose a concrete block than an expensive anchor! Use your anchors all you want at the jettys....
 

LippCJ7

Vice Admiral
Joined
Sep 20, 2010
Messages
5,431
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

That sounds like an Incredible Hulk quote . . . lol :D ;)

I am a legend in my own mind!!:D

To be completely honest the only time I have ever been able to get any decent air time out of anything was when I caught my step son smoking it up in my basement, he was airborne for 11'8" out the front door, it was my personal best............:D

Wife told me to remember to open the screen door next time though

I needed a new one anyway.........
 

Chris-R

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 31, 2010
Messages
183
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

In shallow water, I simply use a "rod" anchor. It needs no chain and works great on sand/mud bottoms. Here's a web site of one such anchor: http://www.cajunanchor.com/
 

Silver Eagle

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
852
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

Since I now have a pontoon boat I'll spot a place that I want to anchor at then I'll have my wife hook up a C clip to a pre knotted loop I then when I'm ready I'll have her toss off the anchor .When she does that I cut off the engine ,When the anchor graps the bottom the boat will swing on the anchor and then I'll set the rear anchor and were in place.Where we go there are always a lot of boats around us.I always have the bow facing out ward.
 

Fed

Commander
Joined
Apr 1, 2010
Messages
2,457
Re: anchoring techniques and tips

I think a good tip is to never turn off your engine until after the anchor is hooked up & likewise never pull your anchor up until after your engine is started & warmed up.
 
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