Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

[88skiboat]

I like to get some thoughts on anchoring an inboard ski boat with direct drive off shore or near a beach. Obviously your not beaching these boats so would most anchor bow out in no less then 3' of water from the beach with a bow and stern anchor? How long are the anchor lines run from your boat? Just looking for some ideas on this.

Thanks

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

When anchoring up near a beach in the 20' CC, we would always back in. Drop the anchor off the bow 20-30 feet out (give or take depending on conditions) and back down slowly until you're in waist deep water.

Toss a stern anchor out to the beach, shut down the engine, and pull/have someone pull you in by hand to shallow water.

Bury the stern anchor in the sand and tie off the bow line. You should be good by then.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

7/1 scope (ratio)
7 feet line per every foot of depth
3 feet water = 21 feet line.

If I was anchoring your boat I would drop the main front anchor-while drifting in shallow and drop a smaller 2nd anchor off the stern or if it is close enough/have enough rope -tie up to a tree/rock or drive a metal spike on the beach.

when you go to leave pull back line in 1st then pull the boat to deeper water
before you fire it up so you do not draw up sand in to your cooling system.

if its a good sandy bottom you can bail out and float/pull the boat to where you want it.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

88skiboat, Where do you anchor? Salt or fresh (as in tide swing vs. no tide swing)? You need to be concious of that as well as your draft.

26aftcab454- you have the scope thing partly right. First, 7:1 is not automatic. I use as little as 3:1 or 4:1 in the calm and as much as 7:1 when it isn't. Some of that depends on the suitability of your anchor and whether or not you have chain in your rode, which increases holding power,

Second, when calculating rode length (scope) you want to use the depth of the water PLUS the height of your bow cleat above the surface of the water.

If you're in 5 feet of water, and your bow cleat sits 3 feet above the surface, a scope of 7:1 requires 56' of anchor rode. (5+3) x 7.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

7/1 works for me- there is a label on my windless that says
" 56ft line Minimum required " 4 1/2ft draft- 3 1/2ft eye

wind where i boat is fairly unpredictable and I dont want to be the guy/gal thats blown loose with a 3/1 rode and floating towards other boats.

 

[88skiboat]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

Thanks for all the advice. It will always be in fresh water, commonly used boating river so decent chop on weekends. The wierd part (and I don't know if this is original to this boat) but there are no kleets on the stern. So i was thinking of anchoring off the stern from the tow ring.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

Thanks for all the advice. It will always be in fresh water, commonly used boating river so decent chop on weekends. The wierd part (and I don't know if this is original to this boat) but there are no kleets on the stern. So i was thinking of anchoring off the stern from the tow ring.

No cleats on the stern? Interesting. I would strongly suggest adding a pair, and a pair midships as well. You should have the ability to secure bow and stern, place fenders, spring lines, etc. in varying situations. My .02

Have fun with the boat!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

7/1 works for me- there is a label on my windless that says
" 56ft line Minimum required " 4 1/2ft draft- 3 1/2ft eye

wind where i boat is fairly unpredictable and I dont want to be the guy/gal thats blown loose with a 3/1 rode and floating towards other boats.

No argument from me. Erring on the side of caution is a good thing, unless you're in close quarters and your scope is significantly longer or shorter than those anchored around you.

I was also pointing out that your scope calculation for the OP was incorrect, as confirmed by the label on your winch. 21' of rode in 3' of water will give him a scope of only 3:1 or 4:1.

Enjoy your boat!

 

[cr2k]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

Have you heard of or tried the stretch anchor lines? Kinda like a giant bungee cord. I use it on the anchor I drop off the beach then you can motor in unload attach a bow line and it will pull the boat back out to less shallow water. Great for over nite or in rocky beaches. When you want to reboard just pull it in with the bow line climb aboard and it pulls you back out to deeper water where you can start and go. I attach a float to mine and leave it there all day long.

 

[rbh]

Re: Anchoring an Inboard Ski Boat

Have you heard of or tried the stretch anchor lines? Kinda like a giant bungee cord. I use it on the anchor I drop off the beach then you can motor in unload attach a bow line and it will pull the boat back out to less shallow water. Great for over nite or in rocky beaches. When you want to reboard just pull it in with the bow line climb aboard and it pulls you back out to deeper water where you can start and go. I attach a float to mine and leave it there all day long.

Lots of guys use them here, sort of the new and improved anchor rode and chain due to it's strechyness, one thing I was told is the bigger your boat, the more bungees you may want, and the elastivity does wear out little by little.