| Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used | | | | When you have adequate rode out halt the |
| Sailboats for Sale ">In a previous article we talked | | | | trawler’s reverse speed. |
| about the five categories of anchors and how to | | | | Some boating "experts" insist that it takes a scope of |
| select the best one for your needs. Today we will | | | | 7:1 rode to safely hold a yacht. That would equate to 7 |
| review how to successfully use that anchor. | | | | foot of rode for every 1 foot of water depth. For |
| Logic would have it that dropping and setting an | | | | example, to properly anchor in 10 feet of water, would |
| anchor is simply nothing more than lowering the anchor, | | | | require 70 feet of anchor rode. But we routinely |
| setting out some line and kick back and start having | | | | anchor the Patricia Ann in 15 foot waters with a 35 lb. |
| fun. Not so fast! | | | | CQR anchor and 5/16 inch chain rode. We usually |
| To work properly, anchors must develop enough | | | | deploy 50 feet of rode and have never had a |
| resistance in the sea bed to endure the environmental | | | | dragging anchor even in some 25-30 mph winds. I |
| forces on the trawler–the wind and the tides. An | | | | suspect that the more chain you use, the greater the |
| anchor’s capacity to develop resistance is | | | | holding power as the rode is pulling more horizontal to |
| completely dependent on its capability to penetrate the | | | | the sea floor and the chain further offers supplemental |
| sea bed. We will assume that you have aboard your | | | | weight. |
| yacht, the best anchor for your intended sea bed | | | | Now you have an appropriate amount of rode |
| conditions . We will also assume you have enough | | | | deployed, how do you set and secure it. We have an |
| rode, chain, rope or a combination, to play out the | | | | electric chain windlass aboard our trawler. Our |
| anchor. | | | | windlass has no locking feature so chain will continue |
| As you near your chosen anchorage, always allow | | | | to be deployed if the yacht pulls it. Your windlass may |
| plenty of swing room. The tides, currents and winds will | | | | be different but you must make certain that you can |
| always swing the boat so be sure to allow plenty of | | | | secure the rode so no more will be deployed. |
| room to avoid hitting other boats that may be | | | | I made up a bridle, consisting of a 5/8 inch dock line |
| anchored nearby. Be sure to estimate how far you'll | | | | that we use to stop additional chain deployment and |
| be from your anchor when it is set. | | | | give some elasticity to it. A stainless shackle is |
| When you have chosen the best place to anchor, | | | | attached to the line. The shackle is connected to the |
| place the bow into the wind and or current and slowly | | | | chain rode as it is lowered; the other end is tied to the |
| bring her to a stop. Look at other anchored boats to | | | | king post. Be sure to use chafing gear where the bridle |
| get a feel of the tides if necessary. | | | | meets the anchor roller. |
| On our trawler, the Patricia Ann, we have all chain | | | | If you are using chain with a nylon rode, you’ll not |
| rode. We have marked the rode every 25 feet with | | | | need to use a bridle. If you are using a metal cable, you |
| red string. The initial 25 feet is marked with 1 string, the | | | | can use a cable or wire puller to fasten a bridle to it. |
| second with 2 and so forth. This makes deploying the | | | | Once the bridle is secured, the trawler is backed-down |
| anchor with accuracy. | | | | until the anchor is set. You will know when it sets as |
| When you are in position, begin letting out the anchor | | | | the anchor rode will rise out of the water and the boat |
| rode. Your trawler will begin drifting somewhat with the | | | | will stop. |
| current. When you have played out enough rode to | | | | Finally, the rode is lowered a bit more allowing the bridle |
| place your anchor on the bottom, bump the engines | | | | to hold the boat. |
| into reverse to begin laying the rode out. We rather not | | | | Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner |
| have the anchor on the bottom with the rode piled on | | | | and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA. |
| top of it to perhaps tangle. Do not keep the trawler in | | | | Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to |
| reverse; you just want to begin laying the rode out. | | | | customers worldwide. |