Problem Setting Anchor.

[Jfrano]

First Happy New Year to all!!

Have a Rocna Anchor and swivel, which I always seem to have great difficulty setting. I’m thinking the issue relates to the impact of winds blowing the boat easily one direction, which is often different than the currents and tides mpact on the anchor in the water. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Joe

 

[Pilotnavigator]

How much chain do you have out? Also do you use a Kelley?

 

[Red Raven]

What scope are you trying set with? The only time I have ever had any difficulty getting a set with our Rocna was quickly resolved by adding more scope. The Rocna, like most anchors, often will not set with a scope less than 3:1. Try setting the anchor with a 5:1 scope or more if possible. If in a tight anchorage you can reduce the scope somewhat after setting (but never less than 3:1 for over night).

Current and wind can make it challenging if trying to set on a deep steep slope where you want to set upslope. Those conditions should be rare and sometimes it means finding a different anchorage. If the bottom is relatively flat you should be able to set in any direction and then the wind and current shouldn’t matter. If there is a lot of wind or current I suggest getting the anchor on the bottom quickly to stop your drift and then set as normal.

Also, avoid trying to anchor on a rocky bottom. Even if you get a set it may not come back up!

Curt

 

[Jfrano]

Usually shallow water, 10-12ft. I’m putting out 20-30ft, maybe will try more next time

 

[scross]

We have had great success with the Rocna 10 on a wide variety of bottoms.
If you are in 12 ft of water remember that it takes about 18 ft of chain deployed just to get the anchor to touch bottom. If you are putting out 30 ft of chain you have a effective scope closer to 1:1.
In that depth I’d be putting out at least all of my 60 ft of chain and probably 10-20 ft more rode. When I set the anchor the boat will go from 2-3 knots in reverse to a immediate dead stop.
Like Curt said, if you are in a tight anchorage with limited swing, start long, set the anchor and bring a bit back in. But for 12 feet I’d always try to have all 60 ft of my chain out. If that’s not possible due to limited swing room I’d be looking to stern tie after setting the anchor first so as to keep the scope as great as possible.

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Here we are in a tight Conover Cove on Wallace Island. Anchor was dropped pretty close to the opposite shore, all 60 ft of chain out and stern tied to the opposite shore. Transom in less than 6 ft of water at low tide.

 

[Smcavana]

Joe-sounds like you need more scope,. In 10-12 feet of water, even 30-35 feet wouldn`t really be 3 to 1 because you need to add in the height of the bow above the water. That said, we anchor our R27 Classic in 12 ft with our Rocna 10 with 35-40 feet of scope. No problem in the mud bottoms around here. We actually pay more attention to the angle of the rode when we are setting than the specific length of chain and rode payed out. Anyway, try more scope. The Rocna is the best anchor we've had in 4 decades of boating!

 

[FWTMD]

Distance from the bow roller to the waterline + depth times 3 MINIMUM.

So in 10 to 12, with maybe 6-8 above the waterline, think 20x3=60 minimum.

 

[scross]

One other consideration for determining how much anchor chain and line to deploy.
Calculate your depth for the highest tide during your stay at anchor. If setting the anchor at low tide, say in 6 ft of water, you might think 40 ft of anchor chain+rode out is enough for a 3:1 scope. But if the depth at high tide six hours later is 18 ft then that 40 ft of line out is not nearly enough! You would need to deploy about 70-80 ft of anchor chain+rode to get a 3:1 scope.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

This is a basic question and indicates that some form of boating course is required. Please consider one of the power and sail squadron courses prior to spending any time away from the marina. You will meet some wonderful people and share a lot of local knowledge. Your confidence will be increased.

 

[Jfrano]

Part of the season I noticed when retrieving the anchor, it would come back up, locked in reverse orientation. I replaced the swivel and added two links of chain between the anchor and the swivel, as per other thread recommendations, to prevent the prior lockup, which fixed that issue.

PS I’ve taken several classes, although nothing like successful experience with proper functioning equipment.

 

[FlyMeAway]

If you anchor frequently, this is among the best ~$30 you'll ever spend: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-An ... 870335391/

It will have answered your question, and then some. Hands on courses might be helpful, but I've always found that they are immeasurably more so if you spend a couple of hours at least grounding yourself in the basics -- and maybe even a few trial runs.

(Not even $30! I bought mine used in good condition, and realized that Amazon has them for under $15)

 

[Jfrano]

If you anchor frequently, this is among the best ~$30 you'll ever spend: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-An ... 870335391/

It will have answered your question, and then some. Hands on courses might be helpful, but I've always found that they are immeasurably more so if you spend a couple of hours at least grounding yourself in the basics -- and maybe even a few trial runs.

(Not even $30! I bought mine used in good condition, and realized that Amazon has them for under $15)

Thanks...currently not doing much anchoring, never overnight yet. That will change next year as we start using the boat more than just weekend trips.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Thanks...currently not doing much anchoring, never overnight yet.

I should have said, if you *plan* to anchor frequently 😀

 

[knotflying]

I usually use a scope of 7 feet of rode to 1 foot of water dept. Possibly more if there are strong winds or current. Allow for height of bow from water. The scope should be measured from water line. Come to complete stop facing the direction of wind or if other boats are around see how their bow is facing. Let out rode as you slowly back up. You do not want everything to just pile up below. As you get close to your desired scope, put engine in neutral. Let anchor grab. Once grabbed, use a little reverse power for complete set. Make sure rode becomes tight and will not slack when in reverse. Eye up a stationary object and observe that to make sure you are not moving. Then go to bow and cleat rode. You do not want to rely on windless to hold.

 

[dgiles]

The issue with 7 to 1 scope in light winds is you can only park one boat every 300' in an anchorage, plus if your neighbor doesn't know you have 250' of line out, you are going to possibly tangle in a tighter anchorage. Realistically, unless you are weathering a storm, 7 to 1 is a little overkill.

 

[FWTMD]

Most new generation anchors are designed for 5-1 scope.

Of course, if you know a serious storm is coming let it all hang out.

 

[FlyMeAway]

The issue with 7 to 1 scope in light winds is you can only park one boat every 300' in an anchorage

This isn't true at all, and reflects a common but incorrect perception about safe anchoring.

You only have to go to the Caribbean, where you'll see dozens of boats in an anchorage with 5:1 or 7:1 scope, in 25-30' of water, safely anchored 75-100' apart. Everybody swings together. It's ok, and normal, for your anchor line to pass over someone else's anchor. You don't need a completely free circle of swing to anchor safely; overlapping swing is absolutely normal, and safe.

You are right, though, that it's important for most folks in an anchorage to have roughly the same amount of scope. Also roughly the same amount of chain.

 

[SJI Sailor]

This seems like it may be another East vs West coast difference. Having only boated here on the West Coast, my impression is that we more frequently have boats swinging in different directions due to winds, variations in tidal flow (which commonly are 12-15' in variation from low to high and much more -- like 30' -- as we go further north), steep slopes under the anchorages, etc. It is a good idea here to keep an anchor watch if there is much wind at all!

 

[FlyMeAway]

This seems like it may be another East vs West coast difference. Having only boated here on the West Coast, my impression is that we more frequently have boats swinging in different directions due to winds, variations in tidal flow (which commonly are 12-15' in variation from low to high and much more -- like 30' -- as we go further north), steep slopes under the anchorages, etc. It is a good idea here to keep an anchor watch if there is much wind at all!

Agreed that it totally depends on the anchorage! In Liberty Bay near Poulsbo you get a way with much closer anchoring (and people do, especially on the 4th!) than in a less protected, more variably-deep, or more current-prone anchorage. Spencer Spit, or Roche, for example, are places where you can also get away with closer anchoring (certainly not full swing -- otherwise there'd never be room at the Spit!). But you are right in that it is about the conditions specific to the anchorage. Giving yourself full swing between other boats, though, seems overkill except in the most questionable conditions.

But one very important part is to ask other boaters around you about their scope. It's a little like driving on the freeway: if everyone around you is going 20mph over the speed limit, it's much less safe to go the speed limit than with traffic. Having scope that is dramatically different from other boats around you is also asking for problems! If I'm in a fairly tight anchorage, I'll often yell to boats around me (or even swing by in the dinghy) to ask about their scope and try to estimate where their anchor is.

 

[knotflying]

The issue with 7 to 1 scope in light winds is you can only park one boat every 300' in an anchorage, plus if your neighbor doesn't know you have 250' of line out, you are going to possibly tangle in a tighter anchorage. Realistically, unless you are weathering a storm, 7 to 1 is a little overkill.

Poster is from New Jersey. Anchoring on the east coast is somewhat different we will usually be anchoring in water around 10 feet. I will always ask nearby boaters how much rode they have deployed to avoid any issues.