where to store anchor on Typhoon?

[Lang]

Ahoy Typhoon sailors!

I am getting Eleanor ready for next years' adventure sail to Tioman (somewhere in the South China sea). Currently, I am looking at how I might have 2 ready to deploy anchors stowed on deck.

I would be single handing, so I am thinking about a system where I can deploy and retrieve the anchor without going forward on the bow. Do share your ideas and pictures of how you do it... Please.

Cheers!

[Tod Mills]

I recently posted the following to the Montgomery list when there was some question about different anchoring arrangements...

The thing I like about keeping my anchor & rode in a milk crate under the cockpit is that it keeps any moisture confined to the bilge area where it can be easily sponged up. It also keeps the weight down as low as can be. Additionally, before I put the milk crate away, I can easily rinse mud off while I'm sailing away from the anchorage and even let the thing set out in the sun on a sunny day to dry before putting it away. I also can make sure the rode is arranged to run freely before stowing the crate.

The sole disadvantages might be that I do have to open the cabin to get the anchor out and that I do go on deck, but I've naught had a situation where I was anchoring in rough seas anyway; I've only anchored in pretty flat watered anchorages. Some people do anchor in a seaway, so those disadvantages might become important.

Annie Westlund uses a different arrangement on her Slipper 17: She keeps her anchor on a roller on the bow, but instead of using a deck pipe, she runs the rode across the deck to the cockpit. To anchor she does it from the cockpit. The advantage of her system are that the anchor is always ready to go from the cockpit without having to go to the bow, but the disadvantages are the rode (esp. chain) on the deck and the weight up high. She spends entire summers aboard her boat anchoring nearly every night.

A guy on the TSBB, Charles Brennan, uses yet another arrangement on his Windrose 18: He keeps his anchor and rode in the cockpit, but instead of walking the rode to the bow, he uses a second shorter piece of line to do the job. The second line runs from the cockpit to a block on the U bolt at the bow (that the trailer hooks to) and then back to the cockpit, where it has a snatch block on the end. The snatch block hooks on to his anchor rode. He launches the anchor from the cockpit, then pulls the rode to the bow by pulling the second line, hauling the snatch block and anchor rode to the bow. Then he cleats of the second line and adjusts his rode to the desired scope and cleats it off too. This system's advantage is in not having to go to the bow, but, like Annie's method, means that there extra lines along the deck (and some of the topsides near the bow, at least). Presumably, they are just line and no chain ever touches the gelcoat, unlike with Annie's method. Still, it seems like a lot of clutter. Charles evidently does anchor quite often in a seaway so that he can fish or scuba dive, so the advantages of staying off the foredeck go without saying.

Assuming I ever get my Tartan 26 restored (on indefinite hold), I expect I'll keep the anchor on the bow with a deck pipe and storage under what would be the v-berth if there were a v-berth. The reason for going to that arrangement over the one on my M-17 is primarily the weight of the anchor system: It would be a bit much to carry back and forth, and I'll have a lot more chain. I actually wouldn't mind Annie's method except that I wouldn't want the chain rubbing on the deck continually.

So anyway, those are some different arrangements I've come across.

[Sea Hunt]

Hello again Captain Lang:

I am a rookie but here is what I have done and it seems to work OK.

I have a 15 lb Danforth type anchor with about 6' of chain and 40' of line. I store it in the portside cockpit locker. Before heading out, I put the anchor and chain on the cockpit floor and then take the other end of the rode and walk it forward to the cleat located near the bow. YOU MUST MAKE SURE YOU RUN THE RODE OUTSIDE OF ALL RIGGING, SHROUDS, ETC. Please do not ask how I learned this simple yet important rule. S/V Tadpole has a small bronze bowsprit ( ) with chocks on each side. I run the rode through a chock and cleat it off at the bow cleat.

When I need to deploy the anchor, I come up head to wind, pick up the anchor from the cockpit floor and gently toss it over the side. Biscayne Bay, my sailing grounds, has a soft sand/mud bottom. Most of Biscayne Bay is shallow (8'-10'). Once S/V Tadpole has settled in, I can walk forward and, make whatever adjustments are necessary.

I just reread your post. I do not know of anyway to retrieve the anchor without going forward to the bow. Sorry.

Hope this helps. For you, today is Christmas Eve!!! Merry Christmas

[Markst95]

I also use the milk crate method. I have 150' of I believe 3/8" line with 6' of chain hooked to my Fortress(smallest one). I keep it in my Starboard Quarterberth. Its fairly easy to grab it from the cockpit. I store a second danforth behind it with 100' of line.

[Duncan]

To retrieve the anchor from the cockpit, I take up a bit of slack in the rode from the bow, then walk that back (outside the shrouds) to the cockpit. Then you can retrieve the rest of the rode and the anchor from the cockpit.

Once you're done, you can retrieve the bitter end of the rode from where it is cleated at the bow, or you can leave it in place for next time.

There are disadvantages to this method, though. The boat ends up stern to the wind, which can cause it to yaw around more than when retrieving from the bow. You can also end up with a messy cockpit, depending on the amounts of mud and weed that come up.

... a small bronze bowsprit ( ) with chocks on each side.

"Stemhead" fitting

[Sea Hunt]

Hello Duncan:

Yes, now that you say "stemhead", I seem to recall someone, somewhere telling me that was the name and that it was the most dangerous piece of equipment on a Ty Weekender, especially in a very crowded mooring field with sailboats bows and sterns literally 2'-3' from each other.

[Troy Scott]

Lang,

Years ago I used a "folding grapnel anchor" on my Ty Weekender. Yes, I know that technically they aren't supposed to work well in some conditions, but I used it a lot and it never dragged. The nice thing it that it took up little space when folded, and it was easy to deploy. I would first run the rode outside of everything and tie it off as appropriate, then just unfold the anchor and throw it over. Always worked like a charm.

[Lang]

Thanks for the great advises. I thought about some of the points that were shared here and sort of tried to work out a system.. I made a prototype for testing. It is not working well, but I am sharing the new info and pictures on my blog for all my sailing friends to comment and critique.

Do visit and add your comments here or there.
http://funvinyldecals.wordpress.com/200 ... g-eleanor/

Or should I post all the details here instead..? Anyways, I am very tired now, but do let me know if I should post the details here.

[Lang]

Lang,

Years ago I used a "folding grapnel anchor" on my Ty Weekender. Yes, I know that technically they aren't supposed to work well in some conditions, but I used it a lot and it never dragged. The nice thing it that it took up little space when folded, and it was easy to deploy. I would first run the rode outside of everything and tie it off as appropriate, then just unfold the anchor and throw it over. Always worked like a charm.

I have a bruce, a danforth and the grapnel onboard. The grapnel is tucked away for now.. I wouldnt trust myself sleeping for 4hrs on that hook in our area, but I will use it during daylight, good weather and I was just having lunch. Like you said, its so easy to use that no system is needed.