Anchoring Questions

[dubnvento]

Hope I'm in the right place. I have a 1965 Larson 14ft Closed bow fishing boat that I anchor when fishing. My question is, because I have a closed bow it is extremely difficult to anchor. I end up throwing the chain and anchor over the side and then try and back down from it to give it some slack. Because I have 10 ft of chain it makes it hard to throw it out over the boat. Can someone help with how this should work. I was thinking about getting a clapsable anchor but it looks like they are for PWC or possible removing the chain and see if that works better because it would be lighter. What is the chain used for? Much thanks.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Anchoring Questions

10' of chain is a lot, you could easily run half that much. The chain makes the line lie on the bottom so the pull is more parallel to the bottom vs. angled up and pulling out the anchor. If you're anchoring in calm water, you could get away with no chain, too. Most boats under 20' don't use any chain (at least around here). It can depend on the conditions your anchoring in. I use 6'.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Anchoring Questions

Click on this. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=209646

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchoring Questions

Chain is used for 2 things.

1 If you anchor in rocks or something that might cut your anchor line as the boat drifts back and forth. For me this is not a reason because I do not anchor in rocks.

2 In calm weather and slow currents chain will allow you to anchor with a shorter scope. The chain will hold the anchor road down on the bottom and a light pull will allow the anchor to dig in. As the wind and current pickup and your have more load on the anchor line even the chain will point at the tie point on your boat. The means the anchor shank points at the bow also and the anchor may drag. At this point you will still need to to let out line to reach a normal scope so the anchor will dig in and hold.

So in the worst conditions with normal scope chain only help protect the line from being cut.

In light winds and current like in a lake the chain can mean your do not have to let out very much line to hold bottom.

I have two anchors one with chain and one without. I use the one without most of the time. I usually use a short scope 3 to 1 or 5 to 1 unless staying over night or something like that where I want to make sure it holds durning the night.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Anchoring Questions

on my 23 footer i only have 4 feet of chain, and have never had a problem. i also have a 14 foot closed bow, i have mounted a cleat in the center of the bow that i can reach, with out climbing. i also have two anchor guides for the line to go thru. i deploy the anchor over the side, and with a boat pole ( has a hook on it) i slip the rope into the guides. then tie of on the cleat. when retrieving, i motor forward, slip the rope out of the guide,with the dock pole, and retrieve over the side. guide circled in blue, cleat in red, clik to enlarge.