Setting anchor

J

Jfrano

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Aug 12, 2018
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473
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C-30 CB
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June Sea
Have read other posts on the subject, still a bit unclear to me. So I have a Rocna anchor on my R29. What RPM, in reverse, do people use to set the anchor once they have the appropriate rode deployed?

Thanks
 
I’ve never looked at what rpm I’m using to set the anchor. It’s not much. I’m guessing 1000-1100. My eyes are outside watching the anchor rode and boat position.
 
I go just in gear. Using some reference point, when I see that I'm not moving anymore, it's set. Sometimes even that small but of thrust will be enough to pull some rode out through the windlass, in which case I really know I'm set. That being said, I'm also curious to hear from the more experienced folks on here what they do...
 
I anchor in the Kenai Fjords and Prince William Sound anchorages in Alaska with some quite deep and steep slopes, so making sure the anchor is holding is very important for a good nights sleep. I try to use at least the 3:1 ratio of water depth to scope, but at times I've had to go below the 3:1 which is not ideal. I check by putting the boat in reverse at an idle and watch the anchor line very carefully to see if it is holding the load and then returns to a relaxed state when the engine is put into neutral. The other very important thing I do is set my Anchor Pro, anchor drag alarm when the anchor hits bottom +/- before I put the boat in reverse. I watch the anchor drag alarm through dinner and the evening to assure myself that it is holding well.
Stay safe.
Bob
 
I go by speed, not RPM. Typically 2-3 mph backwards. The Admiral is at the bow and watching the rode. I don’t want to be going so fast in reverse that the sudden stop in speed when the rode tightens and the anchor sets that it knocks her off balance.
 
5:1 for an overnight. 3:1 lunch hook. 7:1 if expecting rough weather. (To sounder depth add high tide differential plus 4 feet for bow above waterline). Ronca recommends very slow in reverse. Idle speed to get nice boat momentum then neutral to let the anchor set well. Too much too fast and you will have a bad set. It’s best when it slowly sits and digs itself in.
 
Rocna's FAQ advises letting it set on its own for a while before using much power:

"When deployed let the boats backward momentum and or wind set the anchor rather than engine power initially. Other than low rev’s to get the boat moving in the right direction don’t back down on the unset anchor with any power.

"You should feel the anchor start to set as the rode takes up. Only then by all means use some engine power to complete the set and reassure yourself it is in. However, I don’t recommend any more than 25% revs until the anchor has had a few hours to work itself in."

That is somewhat impractical to start the engine again later and only then decide whether to move. So I try to split the difference and use a bit more than idle power sooner (e.g. 1000 as mentioned, instead of the 800 or so that they suggest). But wanted to note it for the "official" answer.

BTW this is specific to Rocna and similar "modern" anchors (Vulcan, Mantus, etc) and not traditional anchors. Source: https://rocna.com/faqs/
 
We also have a Rocna on our R29.
I like to hit the waypoint button as the anchor is dropping to mark the spot, and don't move the boat till enough rode is out to reach bottom. Then slowly back down at idle as the rode plays out. Even if conditions dictate a short scope, I let out lots of rode to get a shallow angle of pull for setting the anchor; you can shorten it up later. I'll stop the windless and let the boat coast or idle till the anchor catches and the rode pulls tight, then slowly increase revs a bit to ensure we arn't moving.
Too often I've tried to set the anchor too soon or with too much power and pulled it out. Slow and patient works.
I leave the chartplotter on for a while to watch my track around the anchor waypoint. I'll use the measuring function on the MFD to check my distance to the anchor waypoint; if it is greater than the length of rode I have out (rode is marked every 25 ft), then either my anchor didn't set where I dropped it, or I'm dragging. If my track stays centered around a single point I'm good, if the distance to my waypoint keeps increasing then I know I'm dragging.
 
SJI Sailor":2n56sxuw said:
Rocna's FAQ advises letting it set on its own for a while before using much power:

"When deployed let the boats backward momentum and or wind set the anchor rather than engine power initially. Other than low rev’s to get the boat moving in the right direction don’t back down on the unset anchor with any power.

"You should feel the anchor start to set as the rode takes up. Only then by all means use some engine power to complete the set and reassure yourself it is in. However, I don’t recommend any more than 25% revs until the anchor has had a few hours to work itself in."
Click to expand...

This is what I’ve been doing and it works well for me. In most instances (so far) I’ve been in relatively shallow water (less than 20 feet) with sand or mud (or combo) bottom and a current. I point into the current/wind and drop the anchor. I let out rode slowly for at least 5:1 and wait while the current pushes the boat back. If it doesn’t feel as if it’s setting, I let out more rode. I’d only use a bit of reverse if it won’t set at 7:1 — but that’s never happened to me. Yet.

I should add here that I’m usually cruising solo so I’m usually dropping (and retrieving) the anchor from the bow so I can see what’s going on. The engine is running and I can get back to the helm pretty quick when I need to. I don’t kill the engine until I know the anchor is set.

And if you don’t have an anchor alarm, get one and use it. Even on a mooring ball.
 
mlanger":2cfj4stv said:
And if you don’t have an anchor alarm, get one and use it. Even on a mooring ball.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%. Anchor Pro is the app I use, and keep my phone on a charger overnight. Agreed about buoys. They have been known to drag, or have chains fail.

There is an anchor watch feature on Garmin chartplotter that is great and shows the radius with chart overlay ... but will eat up substantial battery if used overnight.
 
SJI Sailor":1x10obyu said:
Agree 100%. Anchor Pro is the app I use, and keep my phone on a charger overnight. Agreed about buoys. They have been known to drag, or have chains fail.

There is an anchor watch feature on Garmin chartplotter that is great and shows the radius with chart overlay ... but will eat up substantial battery if used overnight.
Click to expand...

Someone I was cruising with had a mooring ball pennant break loose in Sarasota. They came up for a last look at the city lights before bedtime and realized they were no longer in the mooring field! Fortunately, they were able to get the engine started and motor back to the marina, where they parked at the fuel dock overnight. If they hadn't come up for that look, they would have ended up aground or, worse yet, hitting a bridge. I learned from their experience -- anchor alarm! I also use Anchor Pro and for the same reason you do. It works and it won't suck down my house batteries.
 
When I set my Rocna10, I do the following.

I lower the anchor and put the boat into reverse so I back away from the anchor (once it's on the bottom) so as to not pile up the rode on top of the anchor. Just in gear, slowly backing away with my finger on the windlass-down button. Once I get out enough rode, I put the boat in neutral. (I have my rode marked every 5 fathoms (30 feet) so count the markings as they pass through the windlass). I then walk up to the bow and secure the rode to the bow cleat.

Then I go back to the helm, put the boat in reverse (just in gear in reverse). As the boat backs away, the slack in the rode is removed. I watch my speed on the Garmin chartplotter and wait for it to hit 0.00 knots. Then I look at my watch and let it sit there, in reverse, at 0.00 knots for 60 seconds. This allows the Rocna to bury itself. Once completed, then I turn off the engine, walk back up to the bow and put on the bridle.

I also do use an anchor drag alarm. My Vesper XB8000 AIS unit has one built in which is what I use. I've yet to have the anchor drag on me. I've got 50' of 5/16" galvanized chain with 200' of rode and most of the time I'm at 3:1 or 4:1.
 
The original poster asked about RPM used to set the anchor. I anchored earlier this week and saw that the RPM was 950 RPM when I backed down. However, I still recommend not looking at the gauges when backing down while anchoring. One needs to have eyes outside looking at the anchor rode for tautness and at nearby shoreline references for lack of motion.

Happy anchoring!
(BTW, my Rocna 10 has never let me down!)
 
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