I'm just curious, I was at block island over the summer, rafted up with 6 other boats in the salt pond. We had various boats come and go over a week, we were there for 4 days. During that time, we had taken in and deployed several anchors, most of the time we had 3 coming from 3 different boats. This didn't work particularly well, and we would swing anyway and an anchor would end up behind the raft, or tangled with another line. All the boats were about 32-36 feet. Would 1 anchor on the center boat suffice? or is there a good way to deploy multiple anchors and still swing properly. I realize the answer depends on the conditions, I'm just wondering if the center boat should deploy multiple anchors and if so how to configure them.
proper anchoring of a large raft of boats
- Thread starter drfeno
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We anchor out quite often. If we only have 3 boats, we put the biggest one in the middle and he puts out one anchor, with plenty of scope.
If there are more than 3, we alternate every other boat with a bow anchor. Once we have more than one bow anchor, we start using stern anchors, to prevent swinging over the bow anchor lines. Remember that if you are in a tidal area, when the tide/wind changes, your stern anchors will, at some point, be the anchors holding you - so make sure that they are large enough to hold the boats, and have enough scope out. Use the same number of sterns as bows.
If there are more than 3, we alternate every other boat with a bow anchor. Once we have more than one bow anchor, we start using stern anchors, to prevent swinging over the bow anchor lines. Remember that if you are in a tidal area, when the tide/wind changes, your stern anchors will, at some point, be the anchors holding you - so make sure that they are large enough to hold the boats, and have enough scope out. Use the same number of sterns as bows.
Thanks, our issue was that we were in a pretty crowded place, and we needed to be able to swing. I've seen some info on tandem anchoring, where there are 2 anchors and one rode. looks a little difficult to deploy and recover, but it would beat the stuff we did.
Dave
Dave
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The problem with Salt pond is the depth. Most of it is pretty deep, 40’+ if I remember correctly from anchoring there years ago. Not the ideal place to raft up
We rarely raft up and if we do it s always been in fairly shallow water and never with more than a couple of boats tied to us. The best way is to have the largest boat drop anchor with extra scope holding everyone. But even with an oversize anchor there are limits to what you can hold
If you have a large group then you will need one or two other boats to use their anchor. If they do, anchors should be dropped at an angle away from the first one.
Still there are limits to what you can do especially in deep water. If the conditions are light and known to remain light with no current then adding a couple of stern anchors to prevent swinging 180 may work but again light wind and no current.
I m not a big fan of rafting up overnight. I want to be able to move quickly if the wind picks up. Things can get downhill really fast... all it take is one boat catching an anchor rode in one of their wheel and it will turn unit a disaster
My worst rafting memory was about 10 years ago outside Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard. We had a 70’ Swan rafted up to us (also a 70’ but MY on a 176 Bruce) Squall lines comes in from the mainland with 50kts for 20 minutes. My anchor held but it was a tense 15 minutes, I was at the helm with the engines on ready to supplement the anchor if need be
We rarely raft up and if we do it s always been in fairly shallow water and never with more than a couple of boats tied to us. The best way is to have the largest boat drop anchor with extra scope holding everyone. But even with an oversize anchor there are limits to what you can hold
If you have a large group then you will need one or two other boats to use their anchor. If they do, anchors should be dropped at an angle away from the first one.
Still there are limits to what you can do especially in deep water. If the conditions are light and known to remain light with no current then adding a couple of stern anchors to prevent swinging 180 may work but again light wind and no current.
I m not a big fan of rafting up overnight. I want to be able to move quickly if the wind picks up. Things can get downhill really fast... all it take is one boat catching an anchor rode in one of their wheel and it will turn unit a disaster
My worst rafting memory was about 10 years ago outside Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard. We had a 70’ Swan rafted up to us (also a 70’ but MY on a 176 Bruce) Squall lines comes in from the mainland with 50kts for 20 minutes. My anchor held but it was a tense 15 minutes, I was at the helm with the engines on ready to supplement the anchor if need be
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So many variables that would influence how I’d rig everything, but one thing I would NOT DO - and this just my personal opinion - is ever intentionally hold to an astern anchor in anything but a last ditch, keep her off the beach breaks emergency scenario.
I also (assuming larger boat) like to have both main engines online and low idling, but the boats I’m running nowadays won’t be anchoring UNLESS both mains are offline!
Time for me to start getting used to the recreational side of boating again, I think...
Thanks All,
We're not usually part of raft-ups that large. The week we were there was pretty calm, but I could see it turning bad if the wind really picked up. We were in the shallow part of the salt pond (6 - 8 feet of water). I was just curious if there was a generally accepted way to anchor a lot of boats and still swing, without having a huge anchor.
Dave
We're not usually part of raft-ups that large. The week we were there was pretty calm, but I could see it turning bad if the wind really picked up. We were in the shallow part of the salt pond (6 - 8 feet of water). I was just curious if there was a generally accepted way to anchor a lot of boats and still swing, without having a huge anchor.
Dave
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One problem when using multiple anchors for a raft up is that as the raft up swing, one anchor is going to carry all the load, and probably drag, while the rode of the other(s) will be slack. Basic geometry.
That s why rafting up more than 2 or 3 boats is really just a light wind and no current affair
That s why rafting up more than 2 or 3 boats is really just a light wind and no current affair
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What he said.
every year this Searay group anchored in a circle in the Delta. I can't recall how many anchor lines I saw, but it was fun watching them assemble into the circle. They started with 4 boats at 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions. Depth was 15 feet or so, but subject to tide and current. Winds could be moderate at tmes
yes, complete circle. There was one "hole" where dinghys could enter to go inside the circle. They had large blow up toys in the center
They would hire a helicopter to take overhead pics. Not sure if they posted those anywhere
They would hire a helicopter to take overhead pics. Not sure if they posted those anywhere
they are definitely rafted in a complete circle and not all of them had anchors deployed
They had it well engineered and managed. They even had a plan on how to unraft
adding in progress pic from different year. Zooming in, it does look like most if not all had anchors out, so I stand corrected on that
They had it well engineered and managed. They even had a plan on how to unraft
adding in progress pic from different year. Zooming in, it does look like most if not all had anchors out, so I stand corrected on that