Not much action around here lately, I hope it is because you have all been busy using your boats instead of talking about them.
LJ been busy when weather allowed which was most of the time as we have had a good summer here so far. We have even managed a few days out and about ourselves and had some great fishing as well. We had a few friends out Saturday for a BBQ at a remote beach and yesterday we were out fishing and sightseeing.
Anyway, I am thinking of replacing my old rusty and worn CQR type anchor with a M claw or Bruce type anchor. The current CQR is about 45lb I think. I was just wondering what everyone else is using, size, pattern etc. I currently have 40M of 8MM galv chain which is also rusty at the end and will replace this as well. The bitter end is fastened into the chain locker and there is no means of attatching a longer warp. Is this feasible? how is it usually done etc. I also carry a spare anchor, an old Bruce type on a shorter lenght of 10MM chain with a longer warp. In addition we have 300M of 10MM warp under the cabin sole which in theory would allow us to anchor anywhere around here should an emergency arrise (it was on the boat when we got her!
Normal anchoring is in less than 5M water onto sand but I am thinking about anchoring for fishing in depths of up to 100M. Should I be using different anchors? We have an anchor winch on the bow which does rope or chain and I also have an anchor yanker system but have never used it yet. I wouldn't object to a third anchor which I would only take with me when fishing.
Sorry for the waffle but I kept thinking of things as I went along, anyway I hope everyone else is having a good season so far. I have already planned for winter refurb and the start of next year. We have decided to change yards this year and go somewhere where we cah rent an inside workshop for a week next Feb so we can be sure of ge tting the painting etc done on time. It will be a bit more expensive but should geive us piece of mind to be ready for the season.
Never fix the bitter end of the anchor chain to the chain locker or something else, connect 10 mtr. of rope at the end of the chain and fix the other end of the rope to the chain locker.
In an emergency you can simply cut the rope with a knife.
I don't know how manny big ships are passing your fishing spots, but around our fishing spots are passing ca. 45 ocean going vessels per 24 hours and beside the fair lanes a lot of commercial fishing boats are active. ( who now and then catch the anchor of a sport fisch boat with there nets, sinking the boat)
A few years ago we where anchor fishing (end of the anchor chain fixed to the chain locker) beside starboard side of a fair lane at 25 mtr. water, when an ocean going vessel on portside got rudder problems, he suddenly started crossing the one mile wide fair lane, missed a LPG tanker on 50 mtr. and came straight to us. Lucky some tugboats where close by, who pushed the vessel to safe water where it dropped his anchor for repairs. Only then we relized we never would have had time enough to haul the anchor.
I agree about the bitter end. It actually specifies in the coding that there should be a rope between the end and the fastening for cutting in an emergency. When I replace the whole lot it is something I will attend to. In the mean time what anchor and system do you use?
Our anchor is a Danforth with a weight of only 14 kg on 50 mtr 10 mm chain hauled by a ( very slow) electric anchor winch. As you can see on attachment our fishing area (eastern part North Sea - Westerschelde) is ahallow on most places, so no need for a longer chain. I hate anchoring ropes, specially the floating ones. At turning of the tide they have a habit to hook behind rudder or prop.
Only problem with the chain is that it is stored in the most forward place in the bow, even beyond the waterline, and I think the 120 kg chain + 14 kg anchor + anchor winch makes her go a bit slow over the hump.
Wow you aren't kidding that is shallow! In our area we are operating mostly over 10m and in one bit 115m. I was thinking along the lines of a 20kg m claw or bruce anchor with 40m or 50m of 8mm chain and a rope strop on the bitter end in case of emergencies.. Our Anchor is on the deck but I agree about the chain being a heck of a weight to carry about and so far forr'd too. I think we have too much weight in the wheelhouse anyway as we always seem down at the head when at anchor and empty but level when loaded with passengers. Will probably get a lighter anchor on a longer warp and shsorter chain and keep it just for fishing.
On the first 'Sorcerer' (the 333) I used a 10kg Bruce anchor with about 30 metres of chain attached to 14mm rope. It worked fine in the 70 metres we generally fish in the English channel. We used an anchor retrieval system to steam the anchor out, with a trip set to the shank of the anchor in case it got caught allowing the anchor to come out (hopefully) backwards.
On Sorcerer 11 (the 40 footer) we have a 15kg Bruce type with slightly more chain and 16mm rope attached the same way. We also have a secondary 16kg Delta anchor, chain and rope, 'just in case' and as specified by the COP.
I had a capstan fitted because although steaming the anchor out and rope retrieval is simple, the chain hanging through the ring on the buoy is bloody heavy as 'we' get older. The capstan makes this simple too!!
Cheers.
Dave
-- Edited by fingers crossed on Monday 13th of July 2015 08:03:10 PM
