Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

[agallant80]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

I boat on a man made lake. There is all kinds of things on the bottom. It has a reputation for not giving anchors back. Some times you just have to let one go. I have been using the lake for 4 years and have lost only one anchor. I don't want to lose another one seeing as I will be replacing the anchor and a bunch of chain if I have to let it do.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

slip rings are a good way to go in areas with a lot of snags; similar to the process of tying to the top.

you can also tie a smaller line to the top, tie a float to the top, and use that to pull it up. Also a good process to pull up a danforth as they can be a bear on some bottoms.

If you think you might come back or send a diver, put a float on the line.

I also keep a float attached to the bitter (other end) of the anchor line for two reasons: if someone heaves the anchor and all the line over before it's tied off, I can get it back. Or if I'm anchored and have to get under way immediately (fish on, man overboard) I just untie the anchor, throw the whole line over, go land the fish or crew member, and return. IN an emergency you don't haev time to motor up and pull the anchor. This is for anchoring in wind or current.

Never power up an anchor with the stern cleat. Down you go.

An old sailboat trick: get directly over the anchor. Send everyone to the bow, and tie it down as tight as you can. then send everyone to the stern. the boat acts like a lever and raises it.

I recently tangled with a hung anchor under a bridge (alone, night, cold winter, current running) and when I finally got a-loose, I had my anchor, two basket-ball size wads of seaweed, 4 feet of twisted rebar, an anchor (slip ring at that), some line, and a couple fishing rigs.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

An old sailboat trick: get directly over the anchor. Send everyone to the bow, and tie it down as tight as you can. then send everyone to the stern. the boat acts like a lever and raises it.

I recently tangled with a hung anchor under a bridge (alone, night, cold winter, current running) and when I finally got a-loose, I had my anchor, two basket-ball size wads of seaweed, 4 feet of twisted rebar, an anchor (slip ring at that), some line, and a couple fishing rigs.

Good trick, and good haul. Thanks for sharing both!

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

I have not been impressed with the performance of my 15 pound digger on my 24 foot pontoon. Their web site says "no chain required". Well it looks like it might be OK with 10 feet of chain this year. Without the chain, and with appropriate scope, it just didn't do the trick. In pontoon circles, the latest fad I have heard of, is called a box anchor. Supposed to work much better than a digger.

 

[Lurch77]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

I have read about the box anchors too. So far the digger works great for us, though. We have muddy/sandy bottoms around here, and it really does dig in hard. I gotta imagine you have rocky bottoms up there in the clouds?

 

[dmtalon]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

I was lucky enough that when I snagged a cable it was loose enough that I was able to pull it to the surface. I swear it was like a 1+" diameter stranded cable.... No idea what it could have been part of. We were pretty close to shore in about 15-20' of water. Until I saw the cable I wasn't sure if we'd just pulling the boat along or what.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

One time I pulled and pulled, felt like I was hauling up a dead body with my anchor. Eventually the anchor surfaced along with the underwater power cable running electricity to an entire island. That sent a quick jolt through my system

 

[Yankeyspeed]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

I was fishing with my uncle in NC and we had a heck of a time getting our anchor up. Turned out to be 2 tires tied together.

 

[TomB985]

Re: Had to cut loose the anchor...how does this happen?

Pretty impressive some of the things you guys have found. Sadly I'll never know which fish I caught.

On the bright side my new anchor showed up today. Upon closer inspection it's pretty obvious why it was only $22. I think it'll do just fine, but I won't be too upset if I lose this one!