www.iFourWinns.com

We will be taking our 18' FourWinns on a camping trip (new to us). The campground is on a large inland lake in Michigan (Lake Charlevoix) and rather than take the boat out of the water every night I would like to anchor 20 or 30 feet out if the weather is nice. Any help (anchor type and arrangement) on this from experienced boaters would be helpful. We will not be sleeping on board the boat.

Thanks.

A good quality danforth with LOTS of line out and you should be fine.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Are you talking about Fisherman's Island? Because it is in Lake Michigan. Although Lake Charlevoix can get rough, Lake Michigan can get fierce. My advice would be base on which body of water you are in. A basic necessity is 6 feet or more chain between your anchor and the anchor line. A scope of 7:1, although some say 5:1, is a safe ratio. Thirty feet of water, 200 feet of rode. A stern anchor with equal scope or tying to shore if possible, is a must. When I anchor out in unknown waters, I set a second bow anchor at a thirty degree angle to the first. Dan

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Current Boat: 1994 278 Four Winns Vista

I would use a Dansforth let out plenty of line, I clutch mine in and out of reverse until I feel it grab, I would try to get close to shore with the anchor, once it has bitten in, find a tree or something solid and tie off to a cleat on the stern, watch it for awhile until you feel comfortable it won't move.

Mike

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Mike
2007 Horizon 200 SS
5.0 GXi SX drive.

I am going to offer some unconventional advice, but advice based on dozens of nights on the hook in lakes, the Columbia River, and Puget Sound aboard a 26 ft sailboat, a 23 ft cuddy cabin and, now, a FW 258 Vista. I grew up within a few miles of Lake Charlevoix but now live in Oregon so I am familiar with the Lake. First, the recommendation for 5:1 or even 7:1 scope is certainly sound, but the drifting circle is horrendous (the circle may be up to several hundred feet in diameter) and may just get you crosswise with others anchored in the same area. I have routinely spent on night on scope of 2:1 or 3:1 and not moved an inch. I have 20 ft of chain between my anchor, a danforth knockoff, and my line. I also use 3/8 inch line so there is some stretch to reduce the strain on the cleat. Of course, the strength of wind, both current and expected, the waves, the exposure, the bottom, and the anchor all affect the scope needed.

If the conditions were calm when I anchored and were expected to remain calm, I would feel comfortable with a 3:1 scope; I would spend some time confirming the anchor was set well before leaving the boat for the night. If the forecast was for 25 mph winds with 2-4 ft waves, I would probably pull the boat if I could.

Anyway, my two cents.

I think Desert Steve touched on a number of very good points. I enjoy anchoring out over night but it sure helps when you have confidence in your ground tackle so you can have a restful sleep and not worry about your anchor(s) breaking free.

I understand you plan to anchor your boat and will not be aboard overnight. Maybe a Danforth anchor is the most suitable anchor for Lake Charlevoix's bottom conditions, but if I were you I would at least want to consider an anchor that could reset itself in the event the winds changed direction and strength that resulted in your Danforth to break free. I think it is unlikely that the Danforth would reset itself but other anchors (like Bruce or Bruce knockoffs) likely will. If you are tied to shore with a stern line then the chances of your boat completely reversing direction shouldn't happen, but anchored in 20 feet of water with just one Danforth anchor with the boat being able to rotate 360 degrees wouldn't let me sleep to well especially not being on the boat. Now if its a calm night with not much chance of increasing winds, no chance of thunderstorms or changing wind directions that's a different story. Enjoy the beers and expect to find your boat in the same place the next morning.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Here is a link from Fortress on setting a 2nd anchor. good info. http://www.fortressanchors.com/2nd_anchor.html

I would use 15 to 20 feet of chain, more the better, but it is not always practical. (10 feet of chain is more like 20 feet of line, you need less scope) What the chain will go for you too is, act like a shook absorber, and will keep the anchor set by lowing the rode and shank (were the line hook on) of the anchor.

I would do, 2 anchors from the bow. I would set them almost 180 deg. from each other. If the wind shifts, the other anchor will hold you in place. If you set the 2 anchors, say at a 45 from each other and then the wind shifts. The boat "could" go right in between then and pull them out. Also, the boat will not move very far or swing into other boats.

Remember too, how ever was anchored first, has the "right of way". In other word, the new comers need to make sure that there boat could NOT hit the other boats even if there is a shift in the wind.

How do you plan to get in and out of the boat, by swimming? The reason I ask is that one summer a few years ago we rented a cottage up near sleeping bear dunes. The cottage didn't have a dock set up for my boat, but instead had an anchor line drilled into the bottom of the lake about 100 yards out into the lake. For us, that was a pain in the neck, but thats just us.

Honestly, why not just pull the boat out at the end of each day. If you do, then there is never any sleep loss worrying about your boat or hitting other boats. Plus if you're intending on using the boat a lot, you're going to likely need to gas it up anyhow. In the end, it only take 10 minutes to launch each time. Is there a beach by your camp site? If so, and it is just that "sandy" I might just consider beaching the boat if the weather allows for that. Just my two cents.

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2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

If you beach your boat, you run the risk of sucking up sand into the impeller and your engine, if it is not a closed system. Wouldn't do it, but thats me!

Just use a inflatable. You can buy the used AND I HAVE ONE for sell. Last year a bought a bigger one,

Good point on the sand.

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2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL

Wow great input.

I guess my idea about the ice cream buckets filled with concrete would not sound so good now.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

I saw a guy do that, it did not hold too good. Even concrete will displace water.

There are all kinds of good suggestions already made, and many more that haven't yet been suggested, but until djflory comes back with more info as to what kind of conditions are typical for where he is talking about anchoring, it is challenging to give specific info.....

I often beach the boat during the day, and then use a bow and stern anchor for overnight with an anchor buddy attached to be able to pull the boat up to the beach when desired.
http://www.tuggyproducts.com/anchorbuddy.html

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

My recommendation is to pull your boat. I know it's a pain, but better safe than sorry. Nearly every year, people anchor their boats overnight in west bay here. They put out an anchor off the bow and stern and don't allow for swing (with as many boats anchored, they would inevitably play bumper boats). We then get a fierce north wind that ends up sinking boats as the waves go right over the bow, not enough scope and stern anchor hindering the boat. Quite often a couple of boats either aren't set well or break a cleat, etc and wash ashore. They get pounded with waves washing over them and are as good as sunk too. Another suggestion, I'll assume you're going to Young State Park. You could get a slip at Boyne City. They have a new marina that is fantastic. One of my co-workers pulls his boat from Torch every year and goes to Boyne City for a week to boat on Lake Charlevoix. That's my .02

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'99 Horizon 200

That anchor buddy is pretty sweat. I didn't know they even had things like that! Why didn't I think of that invention????

_________________
2011 H210 SS
MerCruiser 350 MPIC/Bravo I 300hp
"Crooked Wake"


Prior Boat
1999 Bayliner 1950 CL