MacGregorSailors.com

Just picked this idea up from another site....this couple uses a length of oversized chain and rode off the stern....no anchor....stops alot of the swing......and easy to haul in the "stern anchor"

I usually will hang about 25lb of bundled up chain(previously used as snow tyre chains) off from the bow pad-eye, making sure it sits on the bottom.

It does make a difference

R

I drop a mushroom off the stern to stop the swinging. When I first mentioned swinging at anchor to the Admiral whilst I was at Cuttyhunk surrounded by lots of bored Moms, the Admiral wasnt so pleased..... ...since she was home bringing home the bacon.

You can search swing, Mac Dance and the like to pick up some of the threads on this topic - click on Search all terms as usual

Catigale wrote:I drop a mushroom off the stern to stop the swinging.

Ditto. Works great and also helps prevent dragging.

okay i thought dropping a mushroom was something i did as a teenager,whats a mushroom in nautical terms?

When I first saw this post I thought to myself, self, this site is getting a might too friendly

Jock, this is a mushroom, or at least one version of it.


Ray

It depends on the bottom. Soft, grassy bottom may due harm and make the water a bit more cloudy on some of the more used area's.

If you anchor from the stern and use a yoke between the stern cleats, it will help the sway quite a lot, also increases air flow into the cabin.

Here's the one I use:



Might also want to check out Frank's valuable thoughts on anchoring here:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... 4670#84670

This definitely works.

Kevin,

That's what I use on my dinghy. Four pounds. What is the size you use on Miss Tecumseh?

Ray

Mine is a 10 lb. mushroom, Ray... bought it here and have it on a 6' vinyl-coated rode.

Stows where most of you folks put your fuel tanks (mine is below decks).

In big winds I use two anchors about 30 feet apart. The port facing anchor I tie off to starbord bow cleat and vice versa for the other one. This usually holds us very firm. Last week it held firm (without any swing) in 35 knots and 3-4 foot swell for 3 days.

I like that idea of a mushroom off the stern as the two anchor setup takes a bit of setup. Do you think a small sand anchor might also work? (I think I might borrow one off my 14' cat and try)

davidbagnall wrote:I like that idea of a mushroom off the stern as the two anchor setup takes a bit of setup. Do you think a small sand anchor might also work? (I think I might borrow one off my 14' cat and try)

Sure, but as with any anchor, it depends a lot on what the bottom looks like. You mught need something with some 'bite' in some circumstances. The mushroom works where we go.

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I gotta say, though.... when I first read the title of this thread I thought it was gonna be a lot more racy topic.

I thought it was dangerous to use a stern anchor i.e. when the wind/current changes direction, your primary bow anchor will be loaded up much more and may not hold. At least that's what I read here and in at least one sailing book. Has anyone experienced this? Personally, I only have one anchor which holds great but the boat does swing, which is annoying.

Leon

I believe that a stern anchor is fine for light breezes to moderated winds, but for higher winds, and current changes, an anchor sail works for me. It's what "old salts" have used for centuries. It's simple to rig, and there isn't any muddy anchor to deal with.



Frank's bridle system works for him and others on this site. I don't know up to how high a wind he uses it though?

A stern anchor. A bridle system. An anchor sail. They are all tools to use, and like all tools, they are designed to be used best in certain applications. Some of which may overlap others.


Ray

personally i used to preferr the same mushrooms that the viking berzerkas used

i was thinking of putting a twin anchor set up on the bow,but i find franks idea attractive