I will be anchoring overnight for the first time next weekend. If I cannot find a spare public mooring that is.
I just watched a few vids on length of chain to let out, when I came across this video -
Who here does this?
If so, what do you use?

Also. If you haven't got a depth sounder. What do you do to find the depth?

Thanks.

have done it with cable ties on a 20 foot power boat, worked well with a 6mm cable tie and a bit of power from 200hp outboard!!

Watched the video and in theory it look ok but what happens if the tide or wind changes in the middle of the night, the boat wants to hang in the opposite direction and instead of the anchor turning and resetting the string or cable tie breaks and the anchor trips itself and releases

As far as working out the depth without a sounder you could either tie a lead line or something heavy (ring spanner etc) to a piece of string and lower it over the side and pull it up and measure the length of line or mark your anchor rode or chain ever couple of meters and lower it over the side and see what depth you have and than let out the correct amount to get the scope you want and set the anchor

Regards Don

For a first go pick a well known safe spot with good holding. The pilot guide will tell you - if you're in nsw or qld Lucas' guides are good on this. Avoid foul ground.

We're breaking in a new anchor set up and are doing this.

If there are other occupied boats they'll tell you the depth.

I seem to recall that the traditional depth weight is lead with a tallow packed section which would pick up a bit of the bottom so you could tell what it is.
Best luck

Bristle

That business of shackling the chain to the crown is the stupidest, most dangerous thing I can think of, I hope I am never near someone who does this. An anchor well dug in and a 180 swing with the tide and who is to say that the anchor won't trip. The safest way if you are in coral or sus ground is to tie a fender as a float on a line about as long as the water depth at high tide tied to the crown and use that as a trip line if you are struck.

Hi BJ
When fishing I have used reef pick with cable ties on my 20 foot half cab, yes works a treat, well I did.
Now I have a drum winch with a Sarca anchor. It is slotted so the pick up point moves forward when you drive above and over it. But it will swing on the tide.

www.anchorright.com.au/products/sarca-anchors/

I've thought about this over the years and a slotted or cable tied anchor arrangement just doesn't make sense. It's a couple of hundred bucks for a lost anchor but insurance $excess, stress, heartache and injury or worse if I drag. That doesn't even take into account lost sleep!
If I can't retrieve the anchor i can buy a new one.

I can see how this would be a bad idea when anchored overnight.
If I am suss about where I will be anchoring, I will use PhoenixStar's tip. Great idea.
Thanks Bristol and Donk, I will get some line with markings and a weight.

Cheers everyone

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slammin said..
I've thought about this over the years and a slotted or cable tied anchor arrangement just doesn't make sense. It's a couple of hundred bucks for a lost anchor but insurance $excess, stress, heartache and injury or worse if I drag. That doesn't even take into account lost sleep!
If I can't retrieve the anchor i can buy a new one.

Slammin, you are dead right. Safety first - and you can spend a lot of time and money on retrieving an anchor that's not expensive. If you can't retrieve it you can always stick a float on it and come back later with help. Trip line is ok.

Bristle

I guess it could be dangerous for overnighting, I have only used to for fishing with max anchoring 3-4 hours.

I've never had the pleasure of needing to anchor overnight in a spot where the possibility of snagging is real, nearly all mud or sand where I go!!

Sand and mud also in Lake Macquarie where I am.
But you never know what could be down there.

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BJRobinson said..
I will be anchoring overnight for the first time next weekend. If I cannot find a spare public mooring that is.
I just watched a few vids on length of chain to let out, when I came across this video -

Who here does this?
If so, what do you use?

Also. If you haven't got a depth sounder. What do you do to find the depth?

Thanks.

That video should be removed from You Tube. As Phoenix Star says, really stupid.

A much safer method here

It is the lazy man's trip line.
Definitely could cause trouble or worst.

What is wrong with a buoy and a length of 8mm laid rope? Or a thin chain if you are over rock or coral.

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sirgallivant said..
It is the lazy man's trip line.
Definitely could cause trouble or worst.

What is wrong with a buoy and a length of 8mm laid rope? Or a thin chain if you are over rock or coral.

I am with you Sir G. Simple, it works and inexpensive.

I did south oz to tassie to qld ...outer reefs lizard island etc never snagged the anchor just drop it in sand or mud unless your reef fishing in a yacht I wouldn't even think about it. If you can never drop the pick in a reef or rocky bottom. If you have no choice use a rope and trip line! Still can't belive I found a brand new Manson supreme in the Whitsundays!

On Sunday we were at anchor at box head Central Coast. Lovely spot that would normally be very exposed it as the weather was so calm it was an option to anchor fr the night. At abt 5pm and after everyone had left the spot, we were there alone. I thought it would be a great ace to leave for port Jackson but was a bit concerned about how open it was should a breeze come. Cliffs All around, tiny beach. I made the decision to sail over to bArrrenjoey head under the lee of it and leave from there the following day early. Went to pull up the anchor and it was gone. Crickey. It was 20 feet of water and nearly dark and I just didn't feel like diving in for it. I have 2 other anchors. The shackle had unwound itself I guess. Really taught me a lesson. You really don't want those anchors coming off!

Yeah, that is why l use wire tie on the shackles.
I got a 27lb cqr if you need one more anchor. That would hold Kia Kaha in a gale, no worries.

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sirgallivant said..
Yeah, that is why l use wire tie on the shackles.
I got a 27lb cqr if you need one more anchor. That would hold Kia Kaha in a gale, no worries.

You're a gentleman john. Id take you up on that if you dont mind. Beers?
The anchor i lost was a cqr and my biggest.

That is an offer l couldn't refuse.
Come and get it, with beer in hand.
I'll be home sometimes next week.

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sirgallivant said..
That is an offer l couldn't refuse.
Come and get it, with beer in hand.
I'll be home sometimes next week.

im going out sailing monday and tuesday. tuesday looking iffy weather wise, both days light winds. i thought if you wanted to raft up monday at whiting beach, or you can come with me. But in regards to anchor ill comes get it with some beers.

I am out ever since.
Give me a call and we'll meet.
Running out of vine too, that's my biggest woe.