"Lost" Anchor Recovery

S

Sea Wolf

New member
Sunday I hooked up big time with the bottom on Shasta Lake.

Probably got a hold of a root on a old tree stump.

Could not break the Fortress FX-16 loose with all the power of the Yamaha 90 either in forward or reverse with or without a run at it.

The 7500 lb test (approx) 1/4" G4 HT chain and windlass (Aires 500) did not give at all, but could not budge the big baby on the bottom.

Since it is down only 25-27 feet from the surface, I couldn't free dive for it, but decided to simply cut the 100 ft of chain loose from the rest of the nylon rode and come back for it later when the water's down enough to get to it, but before it comes out of the water for just anyone to pick up.

IU'll go back when there's about 3-5 feet of water over it, with some, if not all, of the following:

underwater camera

lotsa ropes

pry bars

hand saws and long handled tree saw

hacksaw and vice to hold chain if necessary

bolt cutters

grapple hook

hatchet/axe

sledge and regular hammers

bucket for chain

wet suit boots and gloves

swim mask, snorkel, and fins

1st aid kit



What else do I need? Is the plan workable?

I have a friend, a 6' 5" 300+ lb Retired Coast Guard Coxwain (Surfboat) who scuba dives*, but think I'll try to recover it on my own at first!

I know Joel (C3PO)) does this stuff as a part-time job at Lake Almanor. How'm I doin' for a rank amatuer?

Joe.

* Watch out Lloyd Bridges, you've met your match and then some!
 
Charlie-

Don't have a license for dynamite or C-4! You?

The water goes down about 10 inches per day, so in about 30 days the bottom there will be exposed, so I'g go back in about 25 or so.

P.S.: For those of you who don't know, the FX-16 is about $200, and the 100 feet of HT chain about $335, + tax= $574!

Joe.
 
Another good argument for the trip line. No, I don't have one either, but I should. Just like I should always drive the speed limit and not eat ice cream.
 
lloyds-

Yep, should use a trip line, although might still be able to snag it up in an area full of roots! Hate having to handle a hand line in addition to the windlass!

Probably need to go over to a cheaper anchor and rode when anchoring in such situations:

IM001929.sized.jpg

Joe.
 
flapbareaker-


Thanks for your interest!

Yep, I have a friend that dives (see first post toward the bottom).

But I figure I can get it myself (probably with my 36 year old son).

Like being able to still do as much as I can myself.

At 64, life is slowly taking away my physical independence, but I'm going to only let it go kicking and screaming.

Hate getting old and losing my strength, agility, mobility, and independence!

Joe.
 
Hey guys!!!

I'm interested in RECOVERING THE ANCHOR NOT JOING IT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE.

Joe.

SEA WOLF, R.I.P., AKA The Electric Chainsaw Underwater Salvage Co.

"We Get a Buzzz On for You"

"Our Buzzness is Doing Your Business"

FYI: The Supreme Court is currently (no pun intended) reviewing a case in which dealth by underwater chain saw electrocution (Buzz vs. The Electric Chainsaw Underwater Salvage Co.) is being challenged as cruel and inhuman punishment. The states of Florida and Texas have joined the suit on the side of the company.
 
I talked to my "BIG" friend from the USCG tonight about my recovery plan, and he insisted on going with us when the time comes. Should mnake things a lot easier, but would have liked to beat the root devil myself!

I also found out that there really is an underwater chainsaw!

It's pneumatic, so get out the really big generator and compressor.

Sounds like professional level work to me!

CS05A.jpg


UNDERWATER CHAINSAW

Joe.
 
that's good news that you recruited some help Buzz. I hope you have a sucessfull recovery operation....they don't give that ground tackle away.
 
B~C":244wm0t0 said:
that's good news that you recruited some help Buzz. I hope you have a sucessfull recovery operation....they don't give that ground tackle away.
Click to expand...

Yup-

For the price of those Fortress Anchors, you ought to be entitled to wear them around your neck with the chains.

No, forget that, would look like a kinky bondage thing.

Just not my style, that's all!

Joe.
 
Now Don...you already had me looking forward to the pictures of that... :mrgreen: Now, pause for a second or two...(you don't want to waste many of them.. :mrgreen: ) and think of what your alternative is to getting older, slower, and once again in life, more dependant on others??? Hummm, getting older might not be all bad...but for sure you could ask our old friend Dusty... :embarrased

You might just try a quick trip with your friend who does dive.... who knows who all else has been hung up in the area...and they do dives as the water goes down for a little underwater bounty trip. They do on Lake Martin up here... Known good spots where folks hang up... and at about $350-$500 a rig.... a good couple of days of diving pays out pretty good.

Go ahead an take a pic when ya get'r back on board... It has to look better than the pic of my feet in the only crocks I could find in town when I had to go to the water....and Marc had blown one ...not both....but just one of my black crocs overboard showing HOW FAST IT WOULD GO...
 
Byrdman":8ohzmy1h said:
Go ahead an take a pic when ya get'r back on board... It has to look better than the pic of my feet in the only crocks I could find in town when I had to go to the water....and Marc had blown one ...not both....but just one of my black crocs overboard showing HOW FAST IT WOULD GO...
Click to expand...

Not trying to hijack the thread, Pat, but I was watching "Iron Chef" last Sunday and spotted your hero wearing Crocs. Yup, Mario Bataglia wears 'em proudly.... I wonder if he owns a C-Dory?

Don
 
Might not have worked for your anchor retrieval problem, but we carry a two foot loop of chain, looped together with a shackle, with a line tied off on another shackle. Stuck anchor, we put the loop around the anchor rode (taut to the surface), cinch the shackle and with the hand line fixed to the loop, drop it down. The loop (hopefully) goes around the upright anchor shank, then we drop the rode and pull the line to the loop in the opposite direction from that which we anchored, and oila, up comes the anchor. It usually works as well as a preset anchor trip line (which we find a pain, due to the boat moving and fouling the buoy line with shifts in tide, current, or wind shifts).

This system is easy to use, simple to store, and (often) works great!
 
El and Bill":1smthhbb said:
Stuck anchor, we put the loop around the anchor rode (taut to the surface), cinch the shackle and with the hand line fixed to the loop, drop it down. The loop (hopefully) goes around the upright anchor shank, then we drop the rode and pull the line to the loop in the opposite direction from that which we anchored, and oila, up comes the anchor.
Click to expand...
That sounds like a great :idea idea, easy to understand and do. I will make one, but probably not till after I lose an anchor or two.
 
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