Anchor questions

[JSGOLD]

We have a 16' Starcraft aluminum boat, deep v design and use it a lot on a 270 acre man made lake about 35 miles from us. It has a mud bottom and a lot of standing timber, as well as underwater logs. We have had some issues with wind moving us around, even though I use one and even two river type anchors. This weekend we were sitting with both out and we had gusts of 20-25 mph. All of a sudden we were 50ft away and still moving. They normally will catch the bottom and hold some but other times they simply slide or tear out and slide. Any better anchors out there for these things? Both anchors are rated for boats larger than mine, so I am puzzled. The boat sits a bit higher and catches wind so maybe it is something I just have to put up with.

 

[MRS]

Re: Anchor questions

Are you useing chain on your anchor line? If not add aleast 4ft.

 

[dan t.]

Re: Anchor questions

Actualy the chain should equal the length of the boat. For an anchor I would recomend a Danforth type with a sliding shank so that if it jams it can be pulled out backwards.

 

[QC]

Re: Anchor questions

Scope? 5:1 minimum. 7:1 better. That plus chain and you should hold.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Anchor questions

Unsure what you mean by scope....But I am still fairly new to boats. Here is some additional information. No, I do not have chains. I wondered about that last night after reading some older posts. The water we fish in is normally 5-8 feet, sometimes 12 -15 feet at this lake. The rope on the heavy anchor is about 15 feet long, the smaller one is only 8 feet. Use it only when windy as a rule. We like to pick a spot and park, rather than troll and fish constantly. I use the large anchor at the rear of the boat, small one sits beside me in the nose.

 

[QC]

Re: Anchor questions

OK, all is clear now . . . you'll get it in a minute.

Scope is ratio of depth to length of "roDe". Rode is total length of the rope (or line) plus any chain. So if you are anchoring in 10 ft of water, you need 50 ft. of rode to be at a 5:1 scope. 70 ft. of rode for a 7:1 scope.

The reason you're anchor isn't working is that it must drag along the bottom to set properly. Chain helps drag it horizontally as does a higher scope. You got neither. Your boat's motion on the surface is pulling the anchor up. Recognize that weight has very little to do with how an anchor works and this might help your understanding of the process. It needs to pull along the bottom, and should dig itself deeper as it does. Clear as mud?

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Anchor questions

I'll add to QC's post with this image



and further state that it's a good practice to drop anchor with the wind blowing at your bow and allow the wind to set your anchor. Also chain is NOT optional, it's what weights your anchor flat against the bottom so it'll seat properly.

 

[sasto]

Re: Anchor questions

Follow these replys to your thread, JSGold. These guys hit the nail on the head, and to the point.

 

[QC]

Re: Anchor questions

Perfect graphic halfmoa!!!

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Anchor questions

It took me a while to figure out why on earth you'd let out that much rhode until I saw it in a picture and then it clicked.

Also the chain comment was because when I got my Starcraft SS it came with a 15lb danforth with no chain that Gramps said wouldn't hold the boat worth a crap. No chain=no digging into the bottom=no holding power. I added 6 feet of heavy chain and I'm fairly certain I could anchor a houseboat with it now!

 

[QC]

Re: Anchor questions

Yes. Many argue that chain can be eliminated with higher scope. That makes sense to me, but I often anchor where 2:1 scope is required. Narrow and deep coves with no way to swing that far around. Chain helps me with this. Doesn't solve it, but definitely helps.

This pic explains why:

 

[ricohman]

Re: Anchor questions

Yes. Many argue that chain can be eliminated with higher scope. That makes sense to me, but I often anchor where 2:1 scope is required. Narrow and deep coves with no way to swing that far around. Chain helps me with this. Doesn't solve it, but definitely helps.

This pic explains why:

I was feeling enlightened until I read your post. With a 2:1 ratio does this mean your rope is nearly vertical? And then how does chain help if its not dragging along the bottom?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Anchor questions

I agree with the great consolidated wisdom here except the "chain the length of the boat" rule, especially for a 16'. Heavier chain, rather than longer.

The 5:1 to 7:1 is good advice for overnight or strong conditions, but you can often do OK with less, and it's more considerate if conditions are crowded. The "lunch hook" option. I often do fine with a small mushroom about 2:1 scope holding a high-floatnig 21' boat--but i wouldn't call it "proper anchoring!"

And the tin boat in 25 mph squall is hard to hold, even doing it right. BTDT.

It's all about experience and trying it out, but you have to start at the correct end (chain, right size anchor, 7:1) and then work your shortcuts for fair weather from there.

And don't stern-anchor!

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Anchor questions

Thanks for all of the replies so far! I will add chain and see if I can get it to stay with only one anchor. Looks like I will be adding some rope too....The only issue I will have is that at this one lake, in certian places there isn't much room (a lot of timber) and I have to drop and stay in that limited area. Perhaps the chain itself will help enough even with a shorter drop...or we can tie off more. Anyway, plenty more to learn! The reason we started stern anchoring was that the wind seemed to always push us into a position where the rear of the boat was into the wind. Again, my lack of knowledge.....Eventually I will get it right!

 

[QC]

Re: Anchor questions

I was feeling enlightened until I read your post. With a 2:1 ratio does this mean your rope is nearly vertical? And then how does chain help if its not dragging along the bottom?

2:1 technically would be 45 degree angle, and chain always lessens the vertical pull. I don't want 2:1, just have to sometimes. More chain is better.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Anchor questions

Thanks for all of the replies so far! I will add chain and see if I can get it to stay with only one anchor. Looks like I will be adding some rope too....The only issue I will have is that at this one lake, in certian places there isn't much room (a lot of timber) and I have to drop and stay in that limited area. Perhaps the chain itself will help enough even with a shorter drop...or we can tie off more. Anyway, plenty more to learn! The reason we started stern anchoring was that the wind seemed to always push us into a position where the rear of the boat was into the wind. Again, my lack of knowledge.....Eventually I will get it right!

If you are anchoring among a lot of debris, consider a wreck anchor. No great loss if you have to cut them off, and often you can bend them to get them up. (but also have the correct danforth)

The wind and current will always push your boat downwind/downstream. That's why you anchor from the bow, so it will point into the wind and deal with the waves. Stern anchoring, especially that boat, is very dangerous--a couple of waves over the transom (motor well) and you are swamped.

 

[Deeppowder]

Re: Anchor questions

Just wondering but are you anchoring at the same spots, or are you moving around. I’m asking because I don’t leave the boat tied to the dock at camp overnight. I anchor it out about 50ft from the dock and it stays in the water for the summer at the same spot. We use two 5 gallon pails filled with cement and the boat doesn’t move.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Anchor questions

Just wondering but are you anchoring at the same spots, or are you moving around. I’m asking because I don’t leave the boat tied to the dock at camp overnight. I anchor it out about 50ft from the dock and it stays in the water for the summer at the same spot. We use two 5 gallon pails filled with cement and the boat doesn’t move.

We just haul the boat to whatever lake we want to fish at, mostly one close by. We generally fish in 6-8 spots over a 6-9 hour period, anchoring or tying off to a tree. We tried something similar in the beginning for a second anchor but was too small. I think we have enough information now to do better. Thanks again to all of you!

 

[MRS]

Re: Anchor questions

One thing I noticed on your photo of your boat there is you have the bimini top up. On my boat 19ft. heavy and acts like a wind sail if the wind kicks up and the bimini is up will almost always pull the anchor off the bottom if the wind starts to blow will put top down and anchor will usually hold. I went to harbour frieght and bought the tow chain 5/16 20ft. and cut into three so I have spare chain hooked up to my spare anchor ready to go if and when needed. I use 7ft. lenght but as shallow the water is that you anchor in might not need that much lenght that sucker is heavy with 15# anchor and 7ft. of 5/16 chain on it....

 

[sasto]

Re: Anchor questions

. Stern anchoring, especially that boat, is very dangerous--a couple of waves over the transom (motor well) and you are swamped.

Unfortunately, we lost a couple anglers recently. They went offshore in a borrowed boat without much expierence. They stern anchored and a rogue wave came in. The Heavens have two more anglers.