Am I OK with this setup for anchoring?

DaveS · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject:

Dave, when we had our 16' Cruiser, I kept my "Bruce style" anchor stored on the bow anchor roller and the 8' of chain with 150 feet of 1/2 inch three strand in one of those 5 gallon white buckets that restaurants receive their mayonaise etc. in. I cut a hole in the lid of the buckets so the chain end was accessible. When it came time to deploy the anchor, I'd carry the bucket (or "string" the chain end) up to the foredeck, attach the anchor to the chain and lower away. I was able to store the bucket containing the rode, under the v-berth. Obviously, this was not the most efficient method perhaps and certainly not an admirable method in rough water, but it works. (I actually had two buckets set up alike, so if need be I could connect the two lines together and have 300 feet of anchor rode).

New Hampshire Guy · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

I have to be careful that people actually read what I write and not simply KNOW what I mean.

You are correct to avoid anchoring from the stern. What I meant to say is to have everything rigged through the anchor roller with anchor and attached rubber coated chain, and just have the line feed all the way aft, keeping only the rope aft.

Sorry about the confusion.
Fair winds...

oldgrowth · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject:

New Guy, thank you for the clarification. I was not sure what you meant in he first post and should have asked instead of making an incorrect assumption.
Thank you for the clarification.

oldgrowth · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:08 am Post subject:

OK - I listened to all of you that suggested anchoring setups for my 16’ cruiser. I built an anchor rode locker in the v-berth using a 5 gallon bucket. I can get 300’ of 3/8” rope in it with 6’ of 3/8’ chain. I have photos of the project in my Boat Projects album here. They start on page 2, photo number 25 to 35

TruroYankee · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:10 am Post subject:

Yo Brats!

I have a 16 Cruiser and solved the singlehanded anchoring problem as follows: I have a 25 lb. hinged plow anchor with twelve feet of stainless chain. I put a small teak block in the rearmost part of the roller channel to keep the "handle" of the plow anchor pitched forward. I lie the chain along the starboard side of the deck beside the cabin, and pull the achor line through a sailboat jam cleat on the gunwale beside the helm to keep tension on the whole rig. This pretty effectively eliminates chain-rattling; if you keep the deck waxed there, there isn't any chafing. After tying off to the rear cleat, I coil the remaining line into a milk crate for a hamper. It holds the line snugly, drains well, and flies out smartly when needed. I fitted a teak top for the crate after cutting a channel for the line in the top rim so the top lies level. It holds 300' of 3/8" line. Strapped through the bottom and a couple of battery strap anchors in the floor, this rig serves as a convenient dockside stepdown, and an extra seat when underway. The upshot is the anchor is heavy and angled enough to drag the chain along the deck when you release it from the jam cleat. You can tie it off at the bow cleat after the anchor's set. It works well and I don't have to futz around at the bow and can handle most every aspect from the helm. I keep a 11 lb. Bruce with chain and 200' rode under the port seat. One advantage to the 25 in the bow is it adds weight up there to help maintain trim. Without it, coming up to plane from no wake speed gives me a fine view of seabirds and low-flying aircraft, but not much of anything else on the water directly ahead. The weight helps.

Peter Burgess