Northeast - Anchor fail 3 times in one day......

I generally don't have an issue with this, but with the off-shore breeze this weekend (and the outgoing tide), I had trouble anchoring 3 times, in 3 different spots. So 5-6 knot tide & 10-15 knot breeze....

It's frustrating when you're at a sandbar, in tight......I dropped it, then backed down, only to have it break loose (after shutting down), almost hitting another boat in the process.

I thought I had enough line out, but it's tough to feed out too much when you're in tight......tail anchor just made things worse, when I had to fire it back up and take evasive maneuvers ....seemed like wind into the beam was causing havoc.....

I realize that maybe I need more chain, so I may add a section (prolly 8 feet on there now) of chain. It's a 25' CC with a Danforth (appropriate size). I'm second guessing the Danforth at this point as well......

Just wondering if others had issues this weekend, with the off-shore breeze and all.

I generally don't have an issue with this, but with the off-shore breeze this weekend (and the outgoing tide), I had trouble anchoring 3 times, in 3 different spots. So 5-6 knot tide & 10-15 knot breeze....

It's frustrating when you're at a sandbar, in tight......I dropped it, then backed down, only to have it break loose (after shutting down), almost hitting another boat in the process.

I thought I had enough line out, but it's tough to feed out too much when you're in tight......tail anchor just made things worse, when I had to fire it back up and take evasive maneuvers ....seemed like wind into the beam was causing havoc.....

I realize that maybe I need more chain, so I may add a section (prolly 8 feet on there now) of chain. It's a 25' CC with a Danforth (appropriate size). I'm second guessing the Danforth at this point as well......

Just wondering if others had issues this weekend, with the off-shore breeze and all.I would have at least 16-20 ft of chain on that set-up if you want a quick set for fishing.

I generally don't have an issue with this, but with the off-shore breeze this weekend (and the outgoing tide), I had trouble anchoring 3 times, in 3 different spots. So 5-6 knot tide & 10-15 knot breeze....

It's frustrating when you're at a sandbar, in tight......I dropped it, then backed down, only to have it break loose (after shutting down), almost hitting another boat in the process.

I thought I had enough line out, but it's tough to feed out too much when you're in tight......tail anchor just made things worse, when I had to fire it back up and take evasive maneuvers ....seemed like wind into the beam was causing havoc.....

I realize that maybe I need more chain, so I may add a section (prolly 8 feet on there now) of chain. It's a 25' CC with a Danforth (appropriate size). I'm second guessing the Danforth at this point as well......

Just wondering if others had issues this weekend, with the off-shore breeze and all.


Chain, chain, chain. I have 30' of heavy chain on my 35'er with delta anchor. never have any issues. can be a pain pulling it up but have sat thru 50 mph squalls without issue.

I've got 30' on my 27'. It grabs instantly and holds. Add more chain.

Thanks for the input guys.

I'll add a length, then access the anchor afterwards.

PK

yep... 25-30ft of chain, big anchor. Have been in 50 - 60 kts of wind in 200ft of water and did not budge. Was not happy it was deadly rough but we did not drag. Also let more scope out on rough days that will help.
Good luck

as already stated, it's all about the chain.......

So 5-6 knot tide & 10-15 knot breeze....

Might not be the best time to be 'in tight' ... ;)

Curmudgeon,

Agreed. Guess I got "lured" in by others that were holding well........

BTW, by tight, I mean everyone was on their own anchor (25-30 ft apart), not rafted up.

PK

When you look at anchors, I'd consider a Delta as someone else mentioned. I did a ton of research when I bought my boat (28 foot express) and the Delta seemed to me the best choice, at least 5 years ago. I've only had it fail to set once and that was when there was a TON of eel grass.

jtc,

Thanks for the tip.

Was it the plow style in general that you chose or Delta plow as "best"?

Thanks again,

PK

If you consider a different anchor try the Lewmar claw anchors, they are inexpensive and an be setup to be retrievable. I have run danforth and delta and find the claw style anchors to be the best for me. I run with 20' of chain on a 30' boat with no problems.

One other thing that could be an issue...

A few years ago we went through the same thing. Never had an issue with dragging the anchor until one day in a secluded cove on a windy day. The anchor just wouldnt hold. After a frustrating day, we pulled anchor and headed home. At the dock, realized the anchor was sitting funny on the pulpit. The anchor shaft had been bent at a slight angle from the previous time when we had a bit of a tough time breaking her free.

It seems that the angle on the shaft was causing the anchor to pull real easy. New anchor and all the problems gone.

Adding chain and a heavier anchor can never hurt though.

What is the bottom? I find that the Delta is much better in sand than the Danforth in depths less than 30'.

25-30 ft of chain is COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

Get a danforth high tensile, 8-10 ft of chain is MORE than enough. Adjusting the scope is really whats needed and getting a good set.

Anchoring a 100ft PB in the canyons a 90lb danforth with 15 ft of chain in 15fters holders. there is no need for any private vessel to need 30ft of chain to anchor. All that the 30ft of chain is doing is adding weight holding you on the bottom. You may as well just throw over 100lbs of sinkers attached to some rope and it would be accomplishing the same thing.

a good 30 or 45lb high tensile danforth with 8 to 10 feet of chain will work fine.

what beach where you at?

I agree 100% on the chain. Double the length and see what happens

Yeah sand.

It was Sandy Point (Ipswich), both inshore ala Plum Island Sound & out on the Sand Bar (across from Crane's), Steep Hill (Cranes inside the Ipswich river).

All sand, but combo of the breeze current causing (personal) havoc.

No way to let out more scope, with boats in tight.

I realize the "which anchor?" argument is like "which oil" argument.........

Some say you need a length of chain equal to 1/2 the length of your boat and that's the minimum. I hear you regarding being in tight. I like to let out at least 5X scope when doing the sandbar thing but it's super difficult sometimes so if we're in shallow water, we use a Sand Shark anchor. It works fantastic. Here's a link to their site: http://sandsharkanchor.com/

25 ft of chain, 8lb Danforth Deepset II, and it holds my 23 Regulator like a rock, and in some nasty crap too.

I just switched to a 14 pound Lewmar Delta with 12' of 1/4" chain on my 21' center console. I was very pleased with its quick set and holding power in Boston Harbor this morning while setting up to watch the Constitution.

If you consider a different anchor try the Lewmar claw anchors, they are inexpensive and an be setup to be retrievable. I have run danforth and delta and find the claw style anchors to be the best for me. I run with 20' of chain on a 30' boat with no problems.

I agree on the claw type anchor, especially where the op boats. I use a 32 lb. Supermax claw on my 39 ft express with 12 ft of 3/8" chain and 5/8" rode. This thing will hold the Tintanic "if the Titanic were still floating". Held like crazy in Boston Harbor yesterday with crazy boat wake in 10-15 knot winds. Passengers were nervous but I wasn't.

25-30 ft of chain is COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

Get a danforth high tensile, 8-10 ft of chain is MORE than enough. Adjusting the scope is really whats needed and getting a good set.

Anchoring a 100ft PB in the canyons a 90lb danforth with 15 ft of chain in 15fters holders. there is no need for any private vessel to need 30ft of chain to anchor. All that the 30ft of chain is doing is adding weight holding you on the bottom. You may as well just throw over 100lbs of sinkers attached to some rope and it would be accomplishing the same thing.

a good 30 or 45lb high tensile danforth with 8 to 10 feet of chain will work fine.

How could you possibly say that 8-10 ft is MORE than enough?? So 6-8 ft of chain would suffice???

:nono:

How could you possibly say that 8-10 ft is MORE than enough?? So 6-8 ft of chain would suffice???

:nono:Doesnt matter what kind of anchor you use,if the chain doesnt give the lie/angle to bite ,its useless..........

Doesnt matter what kind of anchor you use,if the chain doesnt give the lie/angle to bite ,its useless..........

Chain has nothing to do with it. Nothing. Get the correct angle.

Chain can help you get the correct angle. The small length of chain is for abrasion, nothing else.

We use 80ft of chain and a rocna anchor. Love the new anchor, and will never look back.

We had good service with our high tensile danforth, and bad experiences with a standard danforth. There is a difference.

We spend about 50 nights on the hook a season, more if time permits.

25-30 ft of chain is COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

Get a danforth high tensile, 8-10 ft of chain is MORE than enough. Adjusting the scope is really whats needed and getting a good set.

Anchoring a 100ft PB in the canyons a 90lb danforth with 15 ft of chain in 15fters holders. there is no need for any private vessel to need 30ft of chain to anchor. All that the 30ft of chain is doing is adding weight holding you on the bottom. You may as well just throw over 100lbs of sinkers attached to some rope and it would be accomplishing the same thing.

a good 30 or 45lb high tensile danforth with 8 to 10 feet of chain will work fine.

With all due respect, 99% of live-a-boards and those who regularly cruise for months and anchor up every night would disagree 100% with your assertion that 8-10 foot of chain is MORE than enough on a 35' boat. That is just bad advice...period. In most OK conditions with someone who knows how to set an anchor, yes it would probably suffice.

Chain has nothing to do with it. Nothing. Get the correct angle.

Chain can help you get the correct angle. The small length of chain is for abrasion, nothing else.

We use 80ft of chain and a rocna anchor. Love the new anchor, and will never look back.

We had good service with our high tensile danforth, and bad experiences with a standard danforth. There is a difference.

We spend about 50 nights on the hook a season, more if time permits.


So, chain has nothing to do with it yet you choose to use 80' of chain? Surely you don't consider 80' just for abrasion purposes........heck 4-6' ought to be good to cover that theory.

The length of chain has everything to do with safe anchoring. The purists reading Chapman's will argue that scope is the answer. There is one big problem with scope in the real world, you are very unlikely to be able to deploy the proper scope in any anchorage that is commonly frequented by boaters. Try and deploy Chapman length scope in any popular harbor and see how that works out when the direction you are laying changes due to tide or wind. I have seen it many times and one thing I know for sure is that any type of anchor isn't worth a crap when your rode is wrapped around several others. You are correct in that a long length of chain changes the angle of force on the anchor, it is basically a scope cheater.

Chain is king, anchor choices are a distant second. Even smallish 1/4" chain weighs .60 lbs/ft, move up to 3/8' and it's 1.33 lbs/ft. That is exactly why bigger yachts carry all chain for anchoring. Smaller boats obviously can't carry all chain but any boat can carry 30' or so of the proper chain and those that do find anchoring a pleasure.

I hate to disagree with the guy above, but that's just bad advice. Chain is king. Most diagrams I've ever seen say the more chain you have the less rode you need, so obviously no correlation there. For instance, i believe the general formula is if you need 500 ft of rope, you can anchor in the same spot just effectively with 100 ft of all chain.....something to that effect.