tips on anchoring a boat?

Question

My 30ft cruiser has an anchor on a windlass. roughly 20ft of
chain and then 150ft of rope. I also have a depth finder to give me a read of depth.

My windlass DOES NOT have freefall. Therefore how do I know when the anchor has hit the bottom? In other words how much rope for the depth that I'm at?

any ideas? tips?

OKAY LET ME CLARIFY...

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THE ANCHOR AS HIT BOTTOM??

please don't answer if you're not going to answer the question I'm asking.

Answer 1

I think yankee sailor has it right, however... NOBODY has suggested that you check your chart to see if the bottom you're intending to hook in is FOUL! Have a crewperson feel the rode after putting out 5-7 times the depth of the water (PLUS the freeboard between the anchor roller and the surface), to see if it bounces when you put the vessel moderately astern to set the hook. If no bouncing/jumping is detected, you're indeed hooked. Then go astern with purpose to ensure you're not going to pull the hook out of the bottom during the night. Take bearings of any trees, houses, points of land to make sure you're not drifting!

Good Luck

Answer 2

Mark the line with coloured tags, at some regular interval... every ten feet, say. That way, you'll be able to count out how much anchor line you're paying out, and compare it to the reading from your depth finder. When the two are the same, it's hit bottom.

It's actually a bad idea to try and lay an anchor off the winch in a smaller boat, anyway, for exactly the reasons you give .

Better to calculate the length of cable needed, then flake it out along the side-deck, in advance... you can still measure by the cable marks, or even between two measured point on the deck. You can, if you wish, lead the anchor out through the bow roller and then back, outside the rail, to the cockpit, so than you can handle it single-handed.
With the anchor and cable prepared and laid out, motor up to the chosen spot, and throw the heavy bit into the water. The rest will follow :-)

Be aware, though, that you need a LOT more line than that... an anchor line which just goes straight down is useless, the anchor has to pull at an angle in order to dig in.

At least 3 to 5 times the indicated depth is generally recommended, but this may vary with the type or ground you're anchoring on, and local conditions.

Personally, I'd get more than 20 feet of chain, too, since it's the weight of that chain which sets the "lie"

Answer 3

You will know when the anchor has hit bottom when the line starts going slack. You will know when you have the minimum amount of anchor line out when the anchor line is at least at a 45 degree angle from the bow. No need to measure or mark the line, look for that angle, it will be at 5-7 times the water depth. You will need more line if its rough out or very windy. The boat will swing its bow into the wind or tide when the anchor grabs.
This is what I teach my students:
Pick a spot in the anchorage that will give room to swing on the anchor. A spot that’s out of the channel, away from boats drifting for fish. Anchoring is a two person job, one at the helm and one anchoring, giving verbal or hand signals to the helmsman. Take note of the wind or tide, whichever is affecting the boat most and head into it. Stop the boats forward motion when you reach the spot you want to anchor. Lower the anchor by hand or winch (do not cast out the anchor) and SLOWLY back up. The rule of thumb is to release 5 to 7 times the water depth in anchor line. If the water is 10 feet deep we let out 50 to 70 feet of line. With practice you can judge by the angle of the line if there is enough out. Feeling the anchor line, we will be able to tell when the anchor holds. Maybe if the wind is blowing a bit or the tide is running, more line might be let out to hold fast. The line is cleated and engines secured. Keep an eye on your bearings to other objects; this will let you know if the anchor is dragging.

Answer 4

well, its tough to know when its deploying off a windlass......with a depth finder you know the depth; you'll always put out all the chain pluus as people said 5-7 times the depth....the only way to really know is to touch the line after gravity has pulled the anchor and chain down......if the rope is still paying out the anchors not on the bottom....if its still or being slowly dragged as the boat drifts, its down.......

Answer 5

I don't have a windlass but, I hope this helps.
Don't call it rope, It's called "LINE" in the world of boats.

Make sure there are no rocks, electric cables ect.

Drop the Anchor, the scope should be between 5-7 to one.

Example: 10 feet of water on the depth finder, should have between 50-70 feet of anchor line out.

Pay out 50-70 feet of line in reverse, stop winch, wait for the "Grab", ya done.

Answer 6

You need 3 - 5 times as much chain down for your anchor to what the depth of the water is. So i can easily tell how much chain i have out i have a colored cable tie every 10m of chain so you can count the amount of ties that have gone past so you have a rough idea of how much chain is down. Don't worry about marking the rope because you rarely ever go that far, although i have 30ft more chain than you do.

Answer 7

There are only two traditional techniques. One is a draw
anchor, this usually has to be freefalling and is recommend
for scuba and odd location stops. Free will give you a stronger line down for following in high seas. A draw is made
of a bucket shape with small holes thru to allow some drain.
Often filled with heavy rock compounds like steel cast stone, or cement unbreakables. Second a rope towout is a
good anchor for constant moving. This gives you the final
set situation because these are detachables when in weather area regularly changing environments. Example
where there could be seal herds, whales, sharks, or large
fish schools, penguins, and even bears or crocodiles. When keeping clear line I like to use magnet clickers that have three ring tighteners, and unfixable fast decay lines.
My lines decay in less than one month, you can get these at
sea world, or glastron boating. The anchor I prefer is a
square chain link solid fence nonruster pipe filled with a
soluble oil chemical food for coral beds made to weigh over
400 pounds. I use 400 for each 50 feet of boat. In really
rough seas I use six anchor skid with simple plier designs.
http://www.nfwf.org/programs/anchors_away.cfm

Answer 8

The rougher the seas & stronger the wind, the more rope you must let out. 3 to 5 times the water depth for lunch or fishing, 7 to 8 times the water depth for night mooring, 10+ times the water depth for "storm" conditions (winds over 30 knots or 34 mph). Didn't you say you have a depth finder? Maybe you could mark your line every 10 or 20 feet. We are all trying to help you, don't get mad.

Answer 9

The anchor rode can be marked every 10 feet so that you can tell how much line has fed out. You need 7 to 1 scope generally and more for rougher weather. Have someone watch the line go out(after marks ae put on it), then back off on the anchor gently.

Answer 10

It's hit the bottom when it quits pulling the rope down!