Anchor Weight

[vizwhiz]

Just out of curiosity, where do you tie off the anchor buddy? My S has only one big cleat front-and-center, but I don't know what is on the M/X boats...

[mastreb]

There are two forward cleats on the M. I tie it off to whichever is the other one.

[capt grumpypants]

Two cleats forward on our

[Miss_Dallie]

We are preparing for our first overnight trip on our . I found this post and thought I'd ask a question or two. First I didn't know about this type of anchor rigging. I'm very interested in pursuing this further, is there any recommendation on an optimum weight for the "buddy" weight? Secondly, before I knew of the buddy weight system, I was thinking of purchasing a second anchor for the stern. Is a stern anchor a good idea or a bed idea. Which anchorage type is recommended by you all knowing and wise Mac Sailors?

Ron Harris
Miss Dallie

[bscott]

We are preparing for our first overnight trip on our . I found this post and thought I'd ask a question or two. First I didn't know about this type of anchor rigging. I'm very interested in pursuing this further, is there any recommendation on an optimum weight for the "buddy" weight? Secondly, before I knew of the buddy weight system, I was thinking of purchasing a second anchor for the stern. Is a stern anchor a good idea or a bed idea. Which anchorage type is recommended by you all knowing and wise Mac Sailors?

Ron Harris
Miss Dallie

If you are concerned about maximum holding in a gale, two anchors off the bow in a "V" (Bahamian style) is best. Since winds normally clock, having a stern anchor that tries to prevent the boat from settling into the wind will exert a strong pressure on the windward side of the boat that will become very uncomfortable for the crew.

I hang two canvas water buckets off my stern to slow down the Mac dance--I use these buckets for slow speed trolling and to wash down the deck after fishing. Great multi-purpose tools

Bob

[Miss_Dallie]

Thanks Bob. a stern anchor, after what you said, is not what we want. I'm going to West Marine tomorrow, I'll check out the gear for the buddy weight.

We are excitedly anticipating our overnight stay, we plan on staying out three days (two nights). I feel like a kid waiting to camping for the first time...albeit, this isn't actually my first time staying on a ship...CV-43, the USS Coral Sea, was my first; I was an Avionics tech on Phantom (F4) aircraft in the USMC (15 years). That trip lasted 7 months between 1979 and 1980. I don't think I'm comparing apples to apples here. Especially since I'm going to have my Admiral on board! Yea!

Thanks again for the information.

Ron Harris (ex Marine, Sailor at heart)
Miss Dallie

[Sumner]

..If you are concerned about maximum holding in a gale, two anchors off the bow in a "V" (Bahamian style) is best. Since winds normally clock, having a stern anchor that tries to prevent the boat from settling into the wind will exert a strong pressure on the windward side of the boat that will become very uncomfortable for the crew...

We have use the "V" setup on occassion and are using it more and more just for peace of mind. We are to the point where we can get them both down in about 5-10 minutes and up in about the same time. It has worked well in Florida where the bottom is so flat. It wouldn't work quite as well on a lot of the western lakes we have been on with water depths that vary a lot in short distances.

The "V" method isn't really a Bahamian Moor. In a Bahamian moor...



...the anchors are set about 180 degrees from one another with you in the middle and just enough slack in the rode so that the boat can rotate over the slack rode. Used a lot in narrow channels where you have to keep the boat in about the same spot as the tide/currents clock one way and then the other. We have used it also to get close to shore where we wanted the boat to stay in the same spot and not swing into the shore with current or wind changes.

I don't like it as much in high winds as if the wind clocks and is coming from 90 degrees to the imaginary line between the two anchors you are trying to pull them sideways. In that situation I think the "V" is much better with quite a bit of rode out. In a true Bahamian Moor you are only on one anchor at a time, switching to the other on the current change. We have used it with one anchor close to shore and one out perpendicular to shore with the wind from the shore. The one out in deeper water is there to hopefully keep us from swinging on the other anchor into shallow water and/or the shore if there is an unexpected wind shift during the night. With this setup you are still mostly on one anchor with the second there just to keep you from swinging into shallow water.

I like the challenge of new waters and different bottoms and situations that get you thinking about what will work. Having two good anchors off the bow along with the ....



....chocks and cleats to cover different situations can give you a lot of piece.

We hardly ever put down a stern anchor or stern line to shore unless we are very confident that the wind will be from the same direction all night or very light. Get good anchoring gear and enjoy anchoring out.



For us that is the best part of the trip,

Sum

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[bscott]

Sumner-thanks for the clarification on the Bahamian moor

Bob