15 lb manson supreme anchor

Martin gives a good description--my version is a little different, but the same principle. I use a little longer piece of chain--about 4 feet, and a bow shackle with an extra line attached to it, The chain is thru the pin (one link at each end). I use the main boat to ease back after the chain is around the shank of the anchor--and pull back slowy--don 't put much force on it until I am sure that the chain is down around the shank as far as possible--this is by feel. I do go at 180 degrees of where the boat was riding and the anchor was set. When I am back at 2/1 scope, I then cleat the pulling line down (we still have the anchor rode on the boat) and slowly give pull in reverse. The reason I use the larger boat probably has to do with a small motor on the dinghy (3.5 hp) and my age/back.

The trick is getting the chain down over the shank. I keep the rode tight and even depress the bow a little during the time I am lowering the chain.

As I back the boat up, I keep a little pressure on the pulling line attached to the chain.

I have had to use another trick when caught under a cable on several occasions. That is to bring the anchor up as far as possible--then either diving or using a boat hook, if you can get the anchor and cable as close to the surface, place a piece of rope around the cable--take this line up tight with both ends cleated down. then suddenly drop the anchor; this should allow it to drop free of the cable. Cables are found in many anchorages where logging has taken place.
 
Anchor woes!

I got a Fortress FX-16 stuck in a submerged pine tree in Shasta Lake about 6 years ago, and couldn't break it free with the full force of my Yamaha F-90 and all the momentum I could gather with my CD-22. The flexible limbs of the old tree made it even worse, since their elastic give cushioned the impact I was able impart to the tree.

We finally marked the spot, cut the rode, and waited for the water to receed in the following months (reservoir).

Came back two months later with my pontoon boat, my 37 year old son as a diver, and an underwater TV camera. Found the anchor and retrieved it and the 100 feet of GS-40 chain. Lucky that the water was getting shallower in the cycle, not deeper!

The chain loop is a good one, but probably wouldn't have helped in this case, since the tree branch was jammed in the flukes tightly.

Another idea:

How about using a ballast bag to help raise an anchor when you can't get enough purchase on it with a dinghy or boat?

Send the chain loop down with a line along with a small air hose and an expandable bladder attached. Inflate the bladder to raise the anchor, boat, body, or whatever. The pressure needed to inflate the bladder would require an air compressor.

I believe there is 1 atmosphere of pressure (14.7 psi) per 33 feet of water depth, so one can calculate the pressure needed, about one half psi per foot of depth.

The bladder would have to be pretty tough/durable to withstand the lifting forces generated on it. A cubic meter of air would generate approximately 2,200 lbs of lifting force (1000 kg.)

We could probably raise more than an anchor or two with this set up! :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
thataway":20djkn2p said:
Joe, then you could use that chain saw you always carry to cut up the tree. :D
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Click to expand...

Bob-

Actually I've been working on an underwater chainsaw/submersible diving capsule that is disguised as a sawfish, so as not to alarm the other sea animals. It's amazing how life-like we've managed to make it as you can see:
sawfish-2.jpg


Seen any interesting or unusual sea creatures in your bayou lately? :smiled

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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