Good Anchor??

atlmover · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:02 pm **Posts:** 52

I have a four wins 220 and it has a built in anchor storage compartment in the front of the bow. I bought the anchor that is supposed to fit in the front compartment. It will not hold the boat. Went to a cove today and tossed the anchor off the front ( feels like it weights 5 lbs) and the boat was moving. So I tossed a different style anchor off the rear and the boat was all over the place.? Any anchor suggestions? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance!

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2014 11:27 pm

The secret to good anchoring is not the anchor, but the rode. Add about 15-20 feet of galvanized rode and I bet that anchor will "stick". The general rule is 5-6 times more scope (anchor/rode/line) than the depth of the water you're anchoring in. So, 20 feet of water, is 100-120 feet of scope. Easy right?

By the way, what kind do you have? Danforth, grapel, 2 prong, plow, box, mushroom, etc?

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 8:53 am

I believe I have the same style/size boat as you, just a couple years older, and I use this:
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... bs&i=79945
I have the 9lb #8 size. It fits in my storage locker, albeit tightly. I have never had any trouble getting the anchor to hold. I do have a couple feet of chain attached to the anchor before the anchor line. Not nearly 15-20 feet (more like 4-5 feet). The key, like Niagra said is letting out enough line. I find that it helps to determine which way you believe the boat is going to swing, based on wind/current, then pull up to where you want to drop your anchor, drop it and back away while letting out line. You will be able to feel if the anchor begins to drag as you put tension in the line. When it grabs, I tie it down. If it is windy or there is a strong current, I let out more line.

atlmover · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:02 pm **Posts:** 52

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like I wasn't putting out enough line. I found a spot, cut the boat off and dropped the anchor until I could tell it hit bottom. We were all over. So from what I understand I should drop the anchor until it hits the bottom let out a 10 ft extra or so, back up a few feet until the tension grabs and cut off the boat? The cove we have been going to is usually packed with boats. I'm guessing if I let out an extra 50-60ft we would be swinging that much? If that's the case we would swing into someone else.
As for the anchor style we have a heavy mushroom anchor I toss off the back and a longer one that looks like it's designed to dig into the ground that is designed for the front compartment?? If feels like its maybe 10 lbs if that.

atlmover · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:02 pm **Posts:** 52

Also, I was trying to attach a picture of my boat to pop up at the bottom of my messages like you all's. I used the avatar feature. It keeps telling me the file's are too large. It's just pictures off my phone and I've cropped them and it still says this. Any ideas?

FrenzyLenz · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:25 am

Ditto to the previous few posts. I use a danforth anchor which fits nicely in the anhor locker in the bow. When we drop anchor, I have the admiral put the boat in reverse for a couple of seconds to get the boat moving slowly backwards while I throw it from the bow. Once the anchor hits the bottom, I can feel it dragging (we have a muddy bottom on the Pueblo Reservoir). Once I feel it "grab" and dig in, I let about 10-20' more line before I tie it down on a cleat.

It sometimes takes a couple of tries before I can get the boat positioned where I like in relation to other boats already anchored at the point in time when the anchor digs in.

Depending on winds, I may have to periodically readjust, but on a typical day, once I get the anchor set, we are good for the entire day.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:27 am

You need at least a 5:1 ratio of anchor line to water depth.

Example: Water is 10ft deep. You need at least 50ft of anchor line out. Once it's set, you can use a smaller rear anchor like your mushroom to keep you in position.

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 2:43 pm

ric wrote:

You need at least a 5:1 ratio of anchor line to water depth.

Example: Water is 10ft deep. You need at least 50ft of anchor line out. Once it's set, you can use a smaller rear anchor like your mushroom to keep you in position.

Yep.

As far as putting a pic in your signature line, they do have to be kinda small, bytes-wise. I don't believe you can use an avatar there tho.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2014 2:52 pm

Your not saying how much chain you have. You can have an oversized anchor but it won't hold without the right chain.

I would add 20 to 30' of 1/4" chain. I prefer a Fortress anchor myself.

As to "swinging", All things being equal, all the boats should swing the same. Thats is, a 9,000lb boat is not going to swing at the same rate as a 30,000lb one. Been there, seen that!

fi.na.tine · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2014 5:22 pm

I would ask what others are using where you are anchoring. And look at their techniques.

We beach anchor and use an Anchor Buddy. It's a bungie type material - holds my H180 and my buddies Maxum just fine. I added 2 feet of chain I had on hand to mine.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:49 pm

I use two danforth type anchors personally. One in the front, one in the rear (that's what she said). Only when the weather gets BAD with swirling winds do I remove the rear anchor and let the boat move and stay pointed in the wind for comfort. I've been in some nasty florida storms, but I've had enough warning to haul butt to a dock and tie off and hide inside the cabin for dear life. 60+ mph winds my little anchors won't hold that. One day I'll drop on a fortress setup.

Rick2752 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 07, 2014 5:43 am

As everyone else says it depends on where you boat. I have a 16lb danforth anchor that holds almost all the time. We went to Lake Norris a few weeks ago. I anchored in 145ft of water next to a rope swing. We got hung up and couldnt get the anchor up, after backing up in every direction in finally moved. 2 guys pulling took everything we had to get 200 plus ft rope up plus 10ft chain and my anchor. Low and behold after much cussing and sweating and calling each other feminine names, we finally saw the chain. Next we saw ......someone elses 20lb anchor that had cut their line. I bought a 33lb bruce anchor at an auction i was gonna install, looks like im selling it now after 36lbs kicked my butt something fierce.

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2014 8:52 am

2 danforth anchors, lots of chain, lots of rope, lots of scope. I think my bow is 11# 15' chain and 300'rope. stern is 7# 6' chain 75' rope.

john55c · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:15 am

atlmover wrote:

I found a spot, cut the boat off and dropped the anchor until I could tell it hit bottom.

One recommended technique, especially from a safety standpoint, is to never cut the motor until you are sure the anchor is holding. If you need to readjust, move the boat, or if is a windy day, it's best to leave the engine running. They once anchor is out, put it in reverse to set it. This way you make sure it is holding well. Then cut the engine. My grandfather en-grained that in my brain from his days in USCG and as a USCG Auxiliary.

If anchor doesn't hold, then you have to scramble to pull in line, start engine, etc.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:57 am

That's a procedure? I always thought it was just common sense to not cut the engine until you're securely anchored.

www.iFourWinns.com

Good Anchor??

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