Trouble anchoring

[shonzy]

Morning,

21' Orkney, 7.5kg CQR (immitation), 25' 8mm chain and 9mm Brand new braided anchor rope.

This happen's very randomly, some time's it hold's in the most extreme conditions and some times it doesn't like on Sunday, 3.8m tide, tide just starting to pick up. Had trouble on Uptopia, the Pullar and on Boulder. I've been in 100+ water with the tide screaming through and i've been ok. I always let more than enough rope out and when i start to drift i let out even more and drive up tide a few feet just to allow the anchor to settle again.

I do trip the anchor with 4 medium size cable ties and have 3 or 4 links slack to allow the head to swivel. 8 times out of 10 when i've retreived the anchor is had tripped. I have just put that down the me ie, speed i've done it at and the angle.
Is it possible that the anchor has tripped even before i've attempted to to retreive it???

Arron

[michael1923]

I personally don't see anything wrong with your set up.

I have a 20ft wilson with 20ft of chain and a bruce 7.5kg, so similar sort of setup i do have thicker braid but that wouldn't effect it.
The only thing i do different is the trip, instead of using three cable ties, i use 1 but wrap it around usually twice, sometimes three times, however i do pull it reallt tight. and leave no slack.
I could be wrong but that is what i think your problem is, i think the ties are breaking early from the movement. Try tightening them and give it a go.

I was once suggested to use mono instead of cable ties as you will then know the breaking strain used, but i've never had a problem.

I've just re-read your question and may not of got it right.

[backdraft]

arron i think that it could be your 3or 4 links which you are leaving spare are causing you the trouble.i keep the chain tight and use one large cable tie, what is happing with you is as the flow picks up and putting a strain on the ties causing them to break if you keep it all tight you will have no probs getting it out as it will break as you steam uptide (as the angle changes ). hope this makes sence to you.

[michael1923]

Yeah thats what i mean't.

[The Codfather of Sole]

Jun 16, 2008 17:12:36 GMT backdraft said:

arron i think that it could be your 3or 4 links which you are leaving spare are causing you the trouble.i keep the chain tight and use one large cable tie, what is happing with you is as the flow picks up and putting a strain on the ties causing them to break if you keep it all tight you will have no probs getting it out as it will break as you steam uptide (as the angle changes ). hope this makes sence to you.

I agree - this is probably your problem, under normal anchoring conditions, there should be little or no load at all on the trip; having the 3 or 4 links loose will do this. I pull the chain up the spine and use 3 medium cableties on a 10lb Bruce / Warrior 165

Dale

[shonzy]

Cheers all, I'll give it ago, hopefully the w-end and let you know how i do
Thanx again
Arron

[snowy]

25' of chain is not a lot either. Ideally you want two and a half times the boat length in chain so you could double what you are using. That will settle the anchor a lot better.

[michael1923]

I have 20 ft of cahin on a 20ft boat, and that is bl**dy heavy pulling in.

There's no way i'm going to make it 50ft.

Saying that so far i've had no probs, other than in really strong tides.
However good tip and i'll bear that in mind if it trips more often as i go out more in the larger tides.

[Crusader]

I have 35' of chain on my 26' Versatility, with a 7.5kg Bruce holds well in most tides, but you gotta have enough rope out, rule of thumb is 3 X depth of water, sometimes even more in really strong tides/wind. I use the Alderney method of retreival, and generally get the float down to the anchor, which makes getting everything inboard so much easier, but this method does come with its hazzards, i lifted anchor yesterday in a hurry, as there were another 40 or so yachts bearing down on us, we had just had 40 or so go past, closest approx 4-5'!!!! all on some big corporate race day, but as i rushed, lost sight of the rope for a second and it went under the boat, fortunately not completely wrapped around the prop, although there is now damage to the rope (which is brand new). A salutaory lesson, I was ready to dive in with a lifeline attached, as the approaching fleet came ever closer!! Not funny.

Moral of this is I guess, be very careful and never lose sight of the rope/float

Dave

[michael1923]

I've done that method in shallow water, the idea being if really needed i'll give it a go. But i prefer the good old fashioned brute force method. Seems a lot safer

[Salar]

Jun 16, 2008 17:12:36 GMT backdraft said:

arron i think that it could be your 3or 4 links which you are leaving spare are causing you the trouble.i keep the chain tight and use one large cable tie, what is happing with you is as the flow picks up and putting a strain on the ties causing them to break if you keep it all tight you will have no probs getting it out as it will break as you steam uptide (as the angle changes ). hope this makes sence to you.

This method will only allow the anchor to break out if it is fixed in position and you can change the direction of pull. It won't work if the anchor is hooked under a cable or pot rope and can still turn, you will lose your anchor. I would still leave the links loose. I have been looking at anchor designs and the plough style has been shown to sometimes lie on its side and not dig in. I'm not sure what the solution to that is!