Anchor Size.
This question is mainly aimed at the Dampier/Karratha locals but all are welcome to participate. I have a 5.5m glass boat and I think the plough anchor on it is a bit small for the tides up there. It does the job when I take the kids to ski beach or Sam's for the day but when I stayed at a mates shack on Malus, the boat had moved over night. I had anchored on the sand there as the tide was big enough for the reef under all the moorings to become exposed. As you all know, glass and reef don't mix well together. My kids are big enough now to venture outside Hampton Harbour for camping trips to the islands. My question is what type, size, weight range should I be looking for so my boat doesn't leave us behind over night? Below is a pic of our rig and a pic of the type of anchor on it now. Cheers for your feedback peoples
davidbland50
Posts: 392
Date Joined: 24/07/11
Oversize
As can be seen by my boat, the plough anchor is larger than what is recommended by the manufacturer. I believe it is around the twelve pound but more importantly, the length of chain it is attached to is at least ten metres in length. This makes sure the anchor is at the correct angle when it is lying on the seabed.
Wherever you go, there you are
solly
Posts: 376
Date Joined: 11/09/05
6kg lewmar delta
I have this on my 7m fibreglass and have no problems up here, I also run 10m of chain
There are two types of people ,do'ers and watchers
Right now the do'ers are the doing it
And the watchers are watching us do it
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
Anchor
Cheers Solly. I have added a pic of the type of anchor I use at the moment and checked the Bias Boating website and the anchor on my boat is about 1/3 cheaper than the Lewmar. Cheap and nasty seems the case I think.
mullows
Posts: 738
Date Joined: 25/12/08
Friends had one of those and
Friends had one of those and they were constantly resetting their anchor. Pay the money and get the Delta anchor, I sleep well knowing mine will hold in any conditions.
Cheers
Mullows
The Older I get the better I was :-)
mullows
Posts: 738
Date Joined: 25/12/08
Ditto! Cheers Mullows
Ditto!
Cheers
Mullows
The Older I get the better I was :-)
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
2 anchors if leaving it over
2 anchors if leaving it over night.
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
shortfuse
Posts: 211
Date Joined: 02/01/12
As Mullows said get rid of
As Mullows said get rid of the cheap anchor get yourself a sarca or delta on the larger size for your boat plus extra chain minimum 10m of heavy link for a boat that size
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
Cheers!
Cheers for the feedback people
snuffs
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 06/08/12
Delta Anchor - no question.
Delta Anchor - no question. Buy one size above recommended specifications for your boat given your boat is glass and used in high tidal areas. The added weight is very minimal and the holding power for size is fantastic. HOWEVER, Chain size is also a big factor in these areas (what are you running - 6mm minimum?). I upgraded chain size and it made a HUGE difference. As an example I anchor in precarious areas for surfing in big swell and weedy bottom that is not ideal and does not always catch well on the anchor, therefore I run 14 metres of 8mm anchor chain with a Delta anchor (boat is 8.2 metres weighing 3 tonne ... so quite heavier than yours). Previously I used 6mm chain of 5 metres and it wouldn't catch properly even with the extra size anchor. For yours 10m of chain is more than enough and upsized Delta will solve your issue. Personally I never run two anchors due to boat twisting on changes in wind/tide. Just make sure all your rope and connections are good on your primary anchor.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Can't put too much chain
Can't put too much chain on.... as long as the type of anchor is right for the bottom eg plough for sand, but not weed.. then the more important thing is the length of the chain and ensuring you have enough line out. Four times the deepest water depth. This will let the boat rise and fall with the tide, waves, and swell. The long chain acts as a springer and keeps the anchor digging into the sand instead of being lifted and therefore dragging. Two anchors for overnight stays for sure.
Fish! HARD!
ace rimmer
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 19/08/13
anchors
had the same problem as you so got rid of the piece of crap anchor, went 4 kg delta for 6m glass boat with 15 metres of chain, can now anchor in 20m water when it is blowing 20 kts and the first 5 metres of chain is rising and falling rest is sitting on the bottom
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
Cheers for your help peoples!
The Delta has been ordered!
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
anchoring over night
the best bet eric is to take a nervous mate with you when you camp at the islands over night , he will be up every 15 minutes to check on the boat and you and the family will get a good nights sleep and he will be to knackered the next day to fish
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
anchor
Good idea Pete! I know just the mate, he has only been living up there for about 4 months! Thanks for the spots on the map the other day. Cheers, Luke.
diver albie
Posts: 153
Date Joined: 10/01/11
gees eric
I've got a 6kg delta in the garage i don't need . What size didbyou buy and what did you pay if i can ask?
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
6kg Delta
Paid $179 with free postage from Bias Boating. I got carried away and ordered it today. It should arrive just after I get home. Am in Perth at the moment but will be home in Dampier next weekend. Bad timing, I would have bought from you if I had known. Are you Perth based?
diver albie
Posts: 153
Date Joined: 10/01/11
yep
In Belmont
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Basically the size of the
Basically the size of the anchor is not that big an issue (for once size doesn't matter). Look at any ship. Is the anchor size proportional to the size of the vessel? Compared to what you are using? Basically if you go for a much longer chain you get away with a lighter anchor. I have a cheap anchor. I have a decent length of chain. You dont need to spend alot. Just get a suitable anchor and a lot of chain
Fish! HARD!
EricBananaMan
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 18/08/13
Tides
Gday Randall. Does this apply to 4-5m tidal movements? I bought the boat off a bloke in Dunsborough and it came with this anchor. It has about 6m of chain on it and it drags. I have seen it drag when I have had it parked up at the beach a couple of times in 2-3m of water on medium tides.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Perhaps the strength of the
Perhaps the strength of the water flow has an impact in that the constant drag on the boat may be very strong, but it is still essential that your anchor is pulling at the correct angle, no matter how heavy the anchor is. The only way you achieve the correct angle of pull on the actual anchor is too ensure that not matter what the conditions you always have some chain lying on the bottom so the anchor is always trying to dig not lift. In the case of the ship at anchor, all the anchor does really is hold the chain in the one place. Its the chain itself (not moving thanks to the anchor) that allows such a small anchor, compared to the size if the ship, to hold its position. Its a symbiotic relationship I suppose, with an emphasis on the chain. Does that make sense?
Fish! HARD!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Bottom line is, the second
Bottom line is, the second your anchor lifts, it starts to drag. Long and heavy if possible chain prevents that.
Fish! HARD!
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
a big subject is anchors
Randall is right on the chain size.
But the anchor you had, there is nothing wrong with that. Its not a "cheap and nasty", they have been used for years.
The reason they are cheaper is they are no longer under licence and anyone can make them.
A REALLY good project for any amateur boaty, is to get your anchor, drop it on the sand and pull it along and watch what happens. Doesn't need to be in the water but you can learn a lot doing that.
See how to get it to set, then pull it sideways (current/wind change).
Set it and then lift the chain up (too short a rode) and pull-
GUARANTEED-this exercise is where you'll learn the most about your anchor.
There are many different types of sand and some is very fine and hard, its difficult for a pick to set properly.
Anchors like the Bruce, Rocna, CQR Sarc are designed so that they can go deeper and deeper under load, while some such as the Danforth (common and cheap) and Stockless (common on ships) don't. They get to a certain depth then cant go any deeper.
Chain as mentioned above is probably the most important single factor.
Along with bottom type of course-sand and mud are the only secure bottoms (all things being equal)
Weed, coral, rock-only for fishing
Gravel-borderline depending on how fine/coarse it is
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.