is a beach spike necessary?

[stackz]

just curious.

if you were camping overnight on an island, which would you trust more to keep the boat from floating off in the middle of the night?

this:

or this:

or this:

 

[wifisher]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

None of the above. Tie it to a tree.

Otherwise, anchor if no tree around.

 

[444]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

I beach my boat and tie it to a big tree with a long rope. But then my boat only weighs around 1500lbs so it's easy to push off after.

 

[stackz]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

no trees on the little island I'm heading to. well at least not within 500' of the beach and I dont have THAT much anchor line lol

so you would just anchor it a little off shore?? you wouldnt bring the anchor up past the tide line and bury it in the sand so the boat has a fixed spot? the tide going out and beaching the boat doesnt bother me.

 

[wifisher]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

I would bring the anchor past the tide line and bury it. Just remember that beach sand is pretty easy to move. Bury it deep enough that it can hold. It will hold better than either of the stakes that you showed, and it is one less piece of gear that you need to pack.

 

[stackz]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

ok cool. I plan to take a shovel with me as we are going to dig a fire pit anyway. so a 3' hole and then stick the anchor spikes in the bottom of the hole before covering to give it better traction and I should be good?

 

[ryanr623]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

What type of sand?

I would dig a couple feet down on the beach, drop the anchor in and cover it up. Make sure to pack the sand well. If its dry sugar sand this will not work.

 

[blifsey]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

After tying off to a beach spike, run the line up to tent and tie to your ankle. If the boat drifts away you will know it when you wake up wet

I have no experience camping where there are no trees to tie to, sorry.

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

That will work graet.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

I would anchor it bow out and then tie the stern to the beach spike. This way the boats bow faces any wave action that it may encounter and with it being spiked tot he beach, it will not float off if the anchor gives. I use this technique all the time.

 

[Beefer]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

I would anchor it bow out and then tie the stern to the beach spike. This way the boats bow faces any wave action that it may encounter and with it being spiked tot he beach, it will not float off if the anchor gives. I use this technique all the time.

x2. I would use either 2 anchors, or an anchor and spike. Just be sure you know the tides for when you're there.

 

[emoney]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

+1 on the "two anchors". Is it not a situation where you can beach your boat? I'm so paranoid I'd use both anchors AND tie it off to the tent stake (not my foot though). And, it sounds like you need so more line on that boat, lol. Doesn't have to be "anchor"line, just something that will pull the stake out from the tent so you wake up before your boat decides to go to China.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

how about you put the anchor at the bow of the boat facing the bow of the boat away from the beach. than on the stern put the beach anchor in. so than you have two things to rely on instead of one.

 

[88wellcraft]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

HeHe....reminds me...last summer we were boat camping.....i like to go bow out with an anchor and then stern tie to something solid on shore.....works great.....just make sure the wife ties the stern well.....i woke up about 2 am and checked on the boat....stern line came loose and the boat swung out about 30 yards....had to swim to get it. luckily the anchor held and we were on a lake.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

I would anchor it bow out and then tie the stern to the beach spike. This way the boats bow faces any wave action that it may encounter and with it being spiked tot he beach, it will not float off if the anchor gives. I use this technique all the time.

how about you put the anchor at the bow of the boat facing the bow of the boat away from the beach. than on the stern put the beach anchor in. so than you have two things to rely on instead of one.

HeHe....reminds me...last summer we were boat camping.....i like to go bow out with an anchor and then stern tie to something solid on shore.....works great.....just make sure the wife ties the stern well.....i woke up about 2 am and checked on the boat....stern line came loose and the boat swung out about 30 yards....had to swim to get it. luckily the anchor held and we were on a lake.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

Anchor bow out and stern in, unless there is no chance of serious waves, and then you may anchor bow in. Anchors are superior to any kind of beach spike, since the will grab again if they slip. A spike will never grab again.

 

[2ndtry]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

Looks like this one is pretty much covered, set your primary anchor to the bow, bury your secondary anchor in the sand and attach to the stern. I've done this before many times but in the sound, not the ocean. I figure if the secondary anchor fails it just means a longer swim

 

[stackz]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

How do you compensate for the tide....yes salt water... I mean it can ten feet from low to high here. I don't want anchor it at half tide or either extreme...sleep..and boat be gone...how do you find the happy medium without the boat sloshing back and forth possibly loosening up?

 

[shrew]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

How do you compensate for the tide....yes salt water... I mean it can ten feet from low to high here. I don't want anchor it at half tide or either extreme...sleep..and boat be gone...how do you find the happy medium without the boat sloshing back and forth possibly loosening up?

I've used a single anchor and two anchors (boy and stern) in tidal waters without any issues. I've floated around on a single anchor and been floating right on top of the anchor with the slack snaking all over the place. That occurs when there is slack tide and no wind. When tide begins flowing again and/or wind picks up the slack is eaten up again. Yes if wind or tide turns 180 degrees, you're opposing the direction you set the anchor. A properly sized and set anchor will typically be ok, even if a big blow kicks up.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: is a beach spike necessary?

Stackz, It will be hard to anchor properly if the tidal change is large. Make sure you tilt the motor up all the way, so if you mess up and the boat is on land, there will not be any damage. Then anchor it out as far as you can, and hope for the best.

I had my boat anchored just off an island in the Hudson River, up near Albany. We camped on the island. The tide went way out (who woulda thunk it, that far up the river) and the boat ended up high and dry. The answer was to go back to bed and wait for the tide to come back in.