How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

[mxcobra]

Taking the boat and family to0 John Martin Res. for a few days.
Their is no dock to tie too. whats the best way to anchor doun boat

 

[markheck1]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

I really like the Anchor Buddy with a Shore Spike

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

Lots of variables to take into account including the bottom, how protected you are, etc.

When we used to do that I would drop an anchor and set it for the bow. Then run a stern line to a shore anchor. We were in a protected cove that saw very little wave action and generally was very calm from the winds.

I actually would run the anchor line all the way to a shore anchor. Then I had floating bow and stern hooks so it was easier to get on and off as we would go out and come in multiple times per day for a period of a week.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

I just beach it and tie to a tree if available... otherwise a stake or anchor dug into the bank

 

[Lurch77]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

Let if float, and see where you end up by morning. It adds excitement to the vacation.



OK, don't do that. What others have said is great. If you have a good anchor, that's what I would do. Otherwise tie to a tree, rocks, or other items on the shore. Or do both. Will you be sleeping on the boat? There are some great "anchor watch" apps for smart phones that use GPS. You set anchor, then activate the anchor watch app. If your anchor or mooring breaks free, the phone will vibrate/ring as a warning if you drift more than a preset distance from your anchor point.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

i would do the previously mentioned method of using and anchor from the bow and a line to shore from the stern, keeping as close to shore as depth and conditions allow. if you are going to come and go from this spot often, i suggest tying your bow anchor off on a short line to a buoy of some sort, allowing for quick hookup. And then of course a loop tied on you shore line to the proper length. The few minutes it takes setting this up will save a lot of time later when you want to play.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

no way to advise you.
depends on:
tide
current
wind speed and direction
and you have to account for a change in wind speed and direction (I had to retie 3 boats once when the wind instantly changed 180* and blew 50 mph)
access to re-tie (are staying aboard? within sight?)
other boat traffic
thieves
wave/wake.
bottom
amount of drifting sea grass than can pull your rig.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

with my experience here in Colorado I have had the best luck anchoring bow out and then tie a shore spike/screw to the stern, problem is that with the winds in Colorado swirling like they usually do, I don't want my boat on shore in any way shape or form so this system has always served me well, I keep my stern in waist deep water is how I measure the distance.

As always watch the weather closely...

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

Lots of good advise but I'm going with "It Depends"...... way too many variables to give an accurate solution for me. I've anchored miles off shore in a fishing boat with shipping concerns, in swift rivers with drift boats and calm lakes similar to a bathtub problem. Every situation, every bottom every weather condition requires a different solution. You have lots to pick from here but unless I know more details, I don't want to give you bad advise. Staying aboard is surely the safest way to 'not loose your boat' but you may be surprised where you wake up!

 

[mxcobra]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

with my experience here in Colorado I have had the best luck anchoring bow out and then tie a shore spike/screw to the stern, problem is that with the winds in Colorado swirling like they usually do, I don't want my boat on shore in any way shape or form so this system has always served me well, I keep my stern in waist deep water is how I measure the distance.

As always watch the weather closely...

I'm thinking this is the best way to go. we once swamped a boat at spinny going bow at shore. the waves came crashing in and filled the boat in a matter of seconds. If I anchor like you said that should not be a problem just gotta make sure my lake anchor is in the mud real good so she don't decide to back up into shore.....

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

I'm thinking this is the best way to go. we once swamped a boat at spinny going bow at shore. the waves came crashing in and filled the boat in a matter of seconds. If I anchor like you said that should not be a problem just gotta make sure my lake anchor is in the mud real good so she don't decide to back up into shore.....

Sometimes I may even add another anchor off the bow at Big Mac but for me I don't like leaving my boat on the water at Big Mac overnight unless I am positive about the weather, storms can move in pretty fast and can be horrible too, its just to much to risk when its so simple to pull the boat out of the water on the sand, but that isn't an option at John Martin, so like I say keep an eye on the weather!

During the day I have no issues with the Bow in since I can keep an eye on things, and trust me if you think swamping a boat at Spinney was bad come up to Big Mac, we had one storm a couple years ago that almost swamped a pontoon LOL, swamped at least four other boats on our side of the lake, Bad deal.

 

[ricohman]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

You guys have me nervous. I was planning on anchoring in about 16 feet of water when I do my overnight this summer. I have a 22ft Starcraft Islander which I would like to spend at least 1 night on. I was going to set my GPS Humminbird for the drift alarm and hope for good weather.
It would be great to wake up at the crack of dawn and go fishing.

 

[rbh]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

You guys have me nervous. I was planning on anchoring in about 16 feet of water when I do my overnight this summer. I have a 22ft Starcraft Islander which I would like to spend at least 1 night on. I was going to set my GPS Humminbird for the drift alarm and hope for good weather.
It would be great to wake up at the crack of dawn and go fishing.

Honestly, we have gone through some bronco billy, bull riding storms in our 270 sundancer anchored 15-20 feet off the beach!

I would tell anyone that my secret to staying in one place through a heavy storm/surf is "Set the Anchor Good", usually I drop the bow anchor over the drop off point, back up and pull till the anchor sets good, repeat the pulling till your 100% sure it's in, back up to where you want to be anchored and take some line and tie off to a tree or rock (something thats not going to move)
Re adjust/inspect the bow line every so often to see if the anchor slipped (take up the slack)

 

[Artwerke]

Re: How do you guys tie off your boats for overnight, when their is no dock?

mxcobra, I've been to Martin Dies. You need a really big anchor to keep those mosquitoes from dragging your boat off. Really, that's a pretty soft bottom lake, you should be able to beach it high enough, & tie off to one of those trees to keep it from going anywhere, barring a really nasty storm.