Learning Experience

[J. Howard]

So yesterday was a beautiful day in Chicago and I took my fiancee and her younger sister out on Lake Michigan for some swimming and tubing. We got out a couple of miles due east of Navy Pier and put the anchor down. There were 2+ foot waves rolling in with the 10-15kt east wind, but we enjoyed a bit of swimming. A big group of sailboats started heading in from further out, so I decided it was time to find a new spot. We were in 30 feet of water so I had the danforth anchor down with 80-100 feet of line out. Trying to pull the anchor line in (essentially pulling the boat against the wind and waves) was proving to be quite difficult, so I decided to motor the boat out a bit and gain some slack in the line. I hadn't gone far when the boat seemed to stall on me. I tried to start it again, and it clicked but wouldn't turn over. At first I thought that we'd run the battery dead while swimming and leaving the radio on, so I switched to the other one. Again I tried to start the motor and was met with the same results. Also the blower was still running fine so it definitely wasn't the battery. At this point I was starting to get pretty worried that there was something wrong with the boat and that I'd have to call for a tow and was getting pretty frustrated. Then I realized that the bow was no longer pointed east, where it should be if the anchor was on the bow cleat in an east wind; rather the bow was now pointing due west, facing the opposite direction than one would expect. I looked at the anchor line and saw it running to the stern and under the boat, and it dawned on me what had happened: the line was wrapped several times around the dual inline prop. So I got back in the water and started trying to unwind it. Of course this was not an easy feat as the line was absolutely taut from the prop to the anchor on the lake floor, and the boat was rocking like made with the waves, which seemed to be getting bigger on me. I kept trying to hold my breath, go under and pull some slack in the line, and try to get it unwound from the prop(s). I succeeded in getting it off of the rear prop, but the next one was even more difficult. Time for a new plan: I sat on the swim platform while the two girls sat behind me and we just pulled as hard as we could for what seemed like forever until we finally got the boat moved to such a point where the angle of the line allowed the anchor to release from its grip on the bottom. Once we had the anchor in the boat, I was able to jump back in and with plenty of slack in the line, unwind it from the prop the rest of the way.

I'm a new boater this season and this was initially extremely scary, but once we had the situation under control, I was glad that we were able to solve the problem and we definitely learned a few things to keep in mind for future outings.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Learning Experience

Always something to learn on the water.

At least you didn't hurt the boat and it was warm enough to jump in and fix the problem.

 

[J. Howard]

Re: Learning Experience

Yeah, I was a little concerned that it could have damaged the prop unit, but it seemed to run well for the rest of the afternoon. Is there anything else that I should be on the lookout for that this situation could have caused?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Learning Experience

One more reason to be sure you have a knife sharp enough and heavy enough to sever your anchor rope quickly in an emergency. You were fortunate that the weather didn't come up faster, and that you were able to free the taut rope from your props.

I can easily see a situation where time would be critical. A sharp knife would give you the slack needed to get that rope off your prop right now.

 

[J. Howard]

Re: Learning Experience

Yeah, I had the knife but I was too stubborn to use it. ;-) I agree, though, and had it come down to that, severing the rope and losing the anchor is a small price to pay for getting out of there safely.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Learning Experience

Yeah, I was a little concerned that it could have damaged the prop unit, but it seemed to run well for the rest of the afternoon. Is there anything else that I should be on the lookout for that this situation could have caused?

Recently read a SAR report where a guy drowned doing the same thing.
Went under the boat to untangle the line and never came up.

Many yrs ago , my freinds brother went missing in Buzzards Bay (cape cod), they found him tangled in the anchor rope,
police theory being ...he threw the anchor over while the boat was still moving and it took him with it.
Methinks they've seen that one before.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Learning Experience

Yeah, I had the knife but I was too stubborn to use it. ;-) I agree, though, and had it come down to that, severing the rope and losing the anchor is a small price to pay for getting out of there safely.

No need to lose the anchor. You probably have a fender (float) on that size boat. Cut the line (if safe to) and tie the fender on. Untangle your prop and then go back to retrieve the anchor/fender. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[rlk]

Re: Learning Experience

J, I'm confused. The rope was wrapped around the prop, so it seems to me the engine would have started in neutral, then when you put it in gear it would stall. What am I missing?

Bob

 

[J. Howard]

Re: Learning Experience

That's a good question, rlk. I don't know. The engine definitely was not starting in neutral.

fishmen111, great point. Thanks!

 

[salty87]

Re: Learning Experience

not fun trapped to the bottom. that situation can go bad...cut the rope, no longer anchored, hoping you can free the rope and also hoping she'll start once you do. 2' rollers can get much bigger quick too.

fishmen's idea has me confused though, its late here. if there was any slack to tie a fender, wouldn't there be slack to free the prop? i've tied a fender off before but only on an anchor i couldn't get to budge.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Learning Experience

not fun trapped to the bottom. that situation can go bad...cut the rope, no longer anchored, hoping you can free the rope and also hoping she'll start once you do. 2' rollers can get much bigger quick too.

fishmen's idea has me confused though, its late here. if there was any slack to tie a fender, wouldn't there be slack to free the prop? i've tied a fender off before but only on an anchor i couldn't get to budge.

I don't know how Fishmen would do it, but generally you'll have a bit of line on your fender. I'd just tie it to the anchor line with the extra fender line, then cut the anchor line... That's just me though.

 

[mike64]

Re: Learning Experience

No need to lose the anchor. You probably have a fender (float) on that size boat. Cut the line (if safe to) and tie the fender on. Untangle your prop and then go back to retrieve the anchor/fender. Glad it worked out for you.

Good tip!