Help with Anchoring Techniques

[metimbers]

I live in Maine and want to spend some time this summer exploring some of the public access islands in Casco Bay. However, dealing with tide is a bit new to me. I'm a little worried about pulling my 16 footer up to a beach and getting stuck there. My boat is too small to carry a punt and anchor too far out. Does anyone know of a technique for unloading at shore and then anchoring your boat out a ways for later retrieval? I think I see some of the fishermen doing this, but I'm not sure how.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[fishfearme]

Re: Help with Anchoring Techniques

I used to live in Alaska and we did a lot of exploring and had to resort to a unique method of anchoring called a "Gypsy Rig". I'll try to explain. It works very well, but you MUST pay attention to ;Tide, Wind, Currents, etc.<br /><br />After beaching boat, unloading, or what ever, tie off anchor line with approx 3 times the amount of line as depth of water that your boat will end up in, lets say 8 ft. So you would need 24 ft of anchor line for the anchor, and the rest (at least 75 ft)to secure to a tree or fixed object to shore. Neatly coil 24 ft of anchor line and place on bow of boat. Place the anchor on top of coil. The idea is to push the boat backwards out from shore as hard as you can, when it has gone out as far as it will travel, then pull on the line, and the anchor drops off the bow hopefully the boat is still traveling backwards and the anchor sets good. You should still have ahold of the other end of the anchor line and now tie it off to a tree or fixed object on shore. when you are done exploring, take the fixed end of the line and pull in the boat and anchor at the same time. This is a lot harder to explain than I thought. Also West marine or any marine supply store sells an anchor buddy that is like a big bungee cord. The idea here is put anchor buddy on your anchor, set the anchor, it shows tied to stern in the book, power in to shore and the anchor buddy stretches, unload boat, pay out bow line and anchor buddy retracts. I have used the gypsy rig many times, and it works good, and it doesnt cost anything assuming you already have at least 100 ft of anchor line. But I always say, "What ever floats your boat".<br /><br />Good luck

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help with Anchoring Techniques

Metimber<br />I do it all the time and it is very easy. To start with get a good anchor and lots of NYLON anchor line. The 3 strand twisted Nylon works beter than the braded.<br /><br />Here is way we do it. Find a good place to get off boat where do not have a lot of rocks. Get your anchor ready and go out about 100 to 150 feet. Put boat in reverse headed toward your spot until you have sternway. Now take motor out of gear and lower anchore. When anchore hits bottom put motor back in gear and back into your spot while putting out anchore line. When get near shore pull on your anchor line to set anchore. When get to shore find a good tree or something to tie to. Put a line around the tree but take both ends to the boat. Now with your anchor line pull boat out 10 to 15 feet and tie off. Now tie line around tree to stern cleats. To get off just pull on line around tree to pull boat to shore. Once off let go and strech in anchore line will pull boat out away from shore.<br /><br />When ready to leave pull on line around tree to pull boat in.<br /><br />Now this will work if 15 feet from shore is enough. The key is 3 strand twisted Nylon anchor line because it has sots of streach. If need more than 15 feet also very much the same but requires a few extra steps. Also if very strong currents near shore then a different way works better.

 

[skiffer]

Re: Help with Anchoring Techniques

The Gipsy method is good but risky. The problem with it is when you go to retrieve your anchor it could snag on a rock or digs itself in. Then you're going to have to go for a swim.<br /><br />A more complicated solution is to tie a short line to the anchor (3 times the max water depth) with an old lobster bouy on the end, sort of a temporary mooring. Then tie a pulley to the buoy and rig like a clothesline. Land on the beach, then reel the boat out into deeper water.<br /><br />The easiest solution is simply to land on the leeward side of the island, plant the anchor in the beach sand or tie to a tree, then let the boat float out.<br /><br />Whatever method is used, I would check the boat frequently.<br /><br />PS: Potato Island off Deer Isle is a great place to visit.

 

[fishfearme]

Re: Help with Anchoring Techniques

I agree with skiffer. I cannot remember the name of the rig he described with the "Clothes line " but i have seen it used on seine setnet sites in alaska. it is more of a permanent rig, but it worked the best. Also what skiffer says about keeping an eye on the boat is a real good piece of advice. Reminds me of an trip to Afognak Island in the Kodiak Island Group. I was on an expedition with a friend, exploring the remains of an old village that had been destroyed by an earthquake. We had used the Gypsy Rig method of anchoring and was not able to keep an eye on the boat. When we had anchored the boat the tide was going out, gentle breeze out of the north, looked like a nice day. 4 hours later, the tide coming in, wind shifted to south east, howling at about 35 kts, 5 ft breakers on the beach. When we returned to the boat, it was FULL of water and seaweed, and hard aground in the sand. So here we are 30 miles from the nearest anything. BUt we managed to bail, de-seaweed, and refloat the boat after about an hour of hard work. We had a hellofa time launching from the beach, every time we would push the bow into the breakers, before we could get the engine started it would flip us bow back on the sand. I decide I must wade into the water to hold the bow into the breakers. So here I am in my blizard suit, collddddddd, in water to my chest, breakers crashing on me, holding the bow line so we can take off. We finaly get the motor going, and my buddy is afraid it wont start again, so he guns it, so now i am skiing in Afognak bay in my blizard suit in very cold water. He finaly stops and pulls me in the boat. We made it without further incident. So the moral of this long winded mini novel, like skiffer said, keep an eye on the boat.

 

[C17LoadSmasher]

Re: Help with Anchoring Techniques

Keeping an eye on your boat is good advice indeed. Here in Charleston alot of people beach their boats on an island (Bird Key) between Folly and Kiawah Islands. The current is parallel to the inland side of the island and it's several feet deep right up to the water line. I've seen (and had it happen once to myself) people beach their boats, throw the anchor on the sand, stomp it in good and wander off, only to return to find the current has moved the boat parallel to the coastline and 'waddled' it up on to the sand. We left mine for 10 mins and it happened. Took 4 other people help me push it back into the water. One solution is drop an anchor as you coast into beach it, this one will keep your stern where you want it.

 

[fishfearme]

Re: Help with Anchoring Techniques

Loadsmasher, <br />Great name and also Good idea. We have a place here in N Fl like you descride. We call ours sandy beach. Its a beach. Its sandy. Anyway, Next time i'm there i'll give your idea a try.