Achoring With Double Anchors

C

Clewless

New member
I know the technique of using two anchors is well established, however I was unfortunately introduced to another unbidden and unwelcome variation of using double anchors.

I set my anchor in 18' of water (Rocna 6kg, 25' 1/4 chain, 180" 1/2" 8 plait line [hat tip to Bob on the selection of rode]) off the NW beach of Manitou Island in the Apostle Islands for a NE wind (5-10kt) NOAA predicted switching to E then SE overnight. It was sand bottom with areas of sandstone cobble—we had a good set on the third try.

In the morning before our departure, I begin pulling up the rode and we had indeed vaned into the SE. I'm still pulling line and it's not coming up. I asked the first mate (& only mate Betty) to swing us cclockwise thinking that would unwind us from whatever the rode had wrapped around during the night—No Go. Then I tried clockwise and it broke loose. It was still a heavy lift with 18' depth and still no chain.

When the mystery snag appearred on my anchor, it was another anchor with only a shackle and plenty of corrosion.

There are no known wrecks in that area but it certainly has a history of fishing and logging. This location is within the park boundary of the Apostle Island National lakeshore and I choose to deliver the anchor to the Manitou Island fish camp, where the Park service could decide how to best use or interpret this resource.

I'm thankful that I did not have try to figure out this situation in conditions other than relative calm. I would have not enjoyed cutting my new 8 plait rode.....

pics in the album
 
Wow, pretty interesting. I've been up in the Apostles a few times, but rarely anchor. I'm sure the Fish Camp will be able to display that with their other stuff!
 
Interesting anchor. I suspect it is "home made"--don't know if it was a boat's anchor, or in some parts of the world, anchors similar have been used to set nets.

I have brought up all manor objects especially with the old CQR anchors... Try hooking into a battleship chain! the diameter of the metal of the chain was 3".
 
Interesting anchor. I suspect it is "home made"--don't know if it was a boat's anchor, or in some parts of the world, anchors similar have been used to set nets.

I have brought up all manor objects especially with the old CQR anchors... Try hooking into a battleship chain! the diameter of the metal of the chain was 3".
Click to expand...

I am certain it's a "home made" variety as well. I can't top hooking into a battleship chain. I have a short piece of chain from the Pretoria that went down off Outer Island. The diameter of the metal in links is 1 5/8" with each link weighing about 14 pounds. Just don't tell us you lifted any of that up....
 
The Battleship;s chain was in Rhode's harbor (Greece). There all boats go stern to the Quay, bow anchor out in the middle. Battle ship chain was put there for storms, just in case. I had anchored on the far side of it--just right to hook into it. I had two windlasses--one was a 2 speed 24 volt 3500 lbs rated. The other was manual, with 6' long levers. I could pull until the bow was well depressed. Then dove (into contaminated water) and passed a one inch diameter line around the chain, and had my wife snug it up on the sampson post. She then dropped the anchor a couple of feet, enough to clear the chain. I pulled the 70# anchor clear, and she brought it up with the windlass. After I got on board, we let the line with the battleship chain on it loose....

In Spa Creek, Annapolis a friend of ours hooked his CQR into a power cable of some sort...(one of those "no anchoring--cable" areas)...I dove on that and pulled it free... did the same trick--put a line under the cable, took the load on the line, and then pulled the anchor free.
 
Back
Top