Boat dragged anchor today

A

ALKA2710

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
RO Number
25407
Messages
670
Was at Sailors Haven today having a great day at the beach when a friend of mine came running down to the beach that my boat was now blocking the channel and still drifting. A quick sprint down from the beach and sure enough there I was about 1000 ft from where I dropped anchor. So I run down and climb down the ladder and start swimming. Not sure that was such a smart thing after I just ran from the beach and I sure was tired by the time I reached her. No harm no foul I guess just my pride. I had 30 ft of chain out and at least 20 ft of rope out in about 4 ft of water and not sure what happened. I am leaning towards it being that when I got there I was the only boat there and when I returned it was fairly crowded so maybe some one hooked my anchor by accident or it was just one of those things. Anyway it was a great day the kids built a great sand turtle. By the way a big thanks to Rich in Summer Love for hustling to the beach to let me know my boat was leaving with out me.
Al
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Posted Pictures wrong hope this works.
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That's a nice turtle.

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Not sure what to say about dragging anchor. There are several possible reasons ( as I am sure you already know ) and no good way to determine which caused the problem.

Next time, though, you might want to borrow a dink to go catch the boat... the "swimming after it plan" does not always work so well. ( IMO )

Glad you had a good day.
 
50' sounds like overkill for 4' of water, so it's probably likely someone ran over your anchor line and pulled you out. Do you see any cuts in the rode?

I haven't anchored by Sailors Haven in a long time but when I did I had a 24' boat. I would drop the anchor and not go into beach until low tide, then I would get out and set the anchor real good since the water is only about 3 feet deep then. You can dive down and dig it in or even pull the chain and a lower angle and set it good. Then pull in some rode. Boat needs about 25' of rode when anchored there and anchored is dug in.

I am no expert. I drag my anchor too sometimes. Happens because our bottom has weeds and weeds foul the anchor and you think your caught but over time it pulls out.

Nice turtle!
 
I cannot anchor in zachs for the life of me. I know how to anchor, but it always doesnt hold. Last year, I was anchored and some guy ran over my anchor line and snapped it. He replaced it with what I thought was on the boat but ever since that anchor swap i cannot anchor in zachs. Any other cove is fine..Weird right?
 
quote:
Originally posted by BoatCrazy

I cannot anchor in zachs for the life of me. I know how to anchor, but it always doesnt hold. Last year, I was anchored and some guy ran over my anchor line and snapped it. He replaced it with what I thought was on the boat but ever since that anchor swap i cannot anchor in zachs. Any other cove is fine..Weird right?

Click to expand...

What anchor are you using?
 
Did not notice any damage to my line. We go there all the time and this is the first time I had this happen. Bottom is very sandy and there is not a big current going thru there. Dave this was the first time I did not wade over to the anchor and stand, push, pull on it to make sure it was set. My fault and lesson learned. Won't happen again. Also been going to Zachs for years and have never had an anchor drag there.
Al
 
I'm not trying to stand on a soap box because every possible mistake you can make on the water I've tried at least once. It makes me shake my head the mistakes people who have spent a good deal of money on a boat only to short themselves on an anchor. Chain will not make up for an anchor that is too small for their boat. I realize cost (and space)is a factor but you are protecting your investment with the purchase of a good anchor. I bought a Fortress anchor that was two sizes too big for my boat, but I drop it and am confident it will hold. It has held raftups in afternoon wind storms and is worth it if you ask me.

Just saying,

Billy K.
 
Wow If I wasn't so honest I would set up a web site and start to sell that stuff :)
 
Im using a fortress. My boat is a 310 searay, has a wide beam, so I instead of getting the proper size for the boat, I went one size larger, that holds up to a 40ft boat. My windless will hold that size anchor so thats not the problem...
 
Another vote for the Fortress Anchors. We have one on the little fishing boat I share with my Uncle and it is a great anchor. Well worth the money. Getting one for the Sea Ray is on my list of things to do.
 
Again, not on a soapbox.
Drop your anchor with minimal reverse, only enough to let the chain lay out without knotting on itself or the anchor. In twenty feet of water you need 100' of rode to set. After setting pull in or let out as to conditions. I got the FX-55 for a 35' boat, one size up may not be enough for all bottoms, but the fortress has never failed me. By the way for those who do not have a windlass, the Fortress is a much lighter composite then the Danforth so you can lift up a bigger anchor.

BC, I'm pretty sure you can adjust the flukes on the Fortress, check to see if you can increase the angle from what you have.

Just saying,

Billy K.
 
Can honestly say I have never had a problem with the FX-16 Fortress I have on my 31' Rinker. The boat came with a plow anchor, that would sort of randomly (and sometimes in very inopportune times) give way. Another vote for the Fortress!!
 
I have a FX-16 but it's undersized for my boat, so its my rear anchor.
Will trade (plus cash) for a FX-32 if someone has one and wants to downsize!
My front anchor is a danforth and I don't like it!
 
Al, years ago I had my anchor slip at Sailor's Haven. I had a good size danforth, with plenty of scope out. I was on the boat, and was able to figure out why it didn't reset. The boat swung enough during a slack period without exerting and pull on the rode that the chain laid into the fluke and jammed once pressure was exerted after the boat swung. That prevented the anchor from sitting properly enough to reset. In my opinion, that is an inherent problem with the danforth design. I switched to a Delta Fastset (oversized), and have never had that problem. The Delta will not jam no matter how much the boat swings.
 
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