Good anchor for shopping carts

[John Ring]

Hello!
My crew and I have seen a great number of new anchor designs lately, and there seems to be one for every bottom type now. This gives us great security in knowing that in all likelihood we will wake up right where we fell asleep. There are times, however, when nothing seems right. The mechanics are in place, but the conscience is ajar. My crew and I are environmentally astute and the thought of disturbing some ancient undisturbed bottom structure is bothersome.

Our concern is not just limited to beautiful tropical corals either. We are eastern urban sailors, and we often find ourselves in an anchorage of an entirely different nature. Perhaps the most common bottom structure that we encounter is the conglomerate shopping cart. Not wanting to disturb this graceful structure, we thought long and hard about bottom gear options. At first we tried a large tractor tire. Unbeknownst to us, the new ones float, and our attempts to stay put were confounded. Ultimately, we employed a shopping cart of our own (sort of) to grab hold. This worked well for most of a season, and we slept well knowing we were actually contributing to, rather than damaging, this new ecosystem. The cart looked a little strange hanging from the bow pulpit as we sailed past the towers and waterfront condos, but we were quite proud to be doing our part in the name of our adopted environment. We missed the cushioning effect of the large tire up front during docking, but we learned to cope. Eventually, however, the shopping cart police took notice, impounded our ground tackle, and put our names on one of their lists (we have some very "pro-active" governments in these parts). And so our season has ended.

Exactly what list our names should have been put on is arguable, but from this we come away with some understanding of why we sail. Sailing allows an escape from what it is that confines us. Under sail we are able to flee the problems and afflictions - real or imagined - that bind us, and freedom is thus found. As I clean the bottom after another great season I will keep this in mind. And in the spring as I lay on another coat I shall look forward to sailing more than ever (but I'll try to stay upwind of the fumes this time).

John



Ringj@mediaone.net

[Tom]

Hello!
My crew and I have seen a great number of new anchor designs lately, and there seems to be one for every bottom type now. This gives us great security in knowing that in all likelihood we will wake up right where we fell asleep. There are times, however, when nothing seems right. The mechanics are in place, but the conscience is ajar. My crew and I are environmentally astute and the thought of disturbing some ancient undisturbed bottom structure is bothersome.

Our concern is not just limited to beautiful tropical corals either. We are eastern urban sailors, and we often find ourselves in an anchorage of an entirely different nature. Perhaps the most common bottom structure that we encounter is the conglomerate shopping cart. Not wanting to disturb this graceful structure, we thought long and hard about bottom gear options. At first we tried a large tractor tire. Unbeknownst to us, the new ones float, and our attempts to stay put were confounded. Ultimately, we employed a shopping cart of our own (sort of) to grab hold. This worked well for most of a season, and we slept well knowing we were actually contributing to, rather than damaging, this new ecosystem. The cart looked a little strange hanging from the bow pulpit as we sailed past the towers and waterfront condos, but we were quite proud to be doing our part in the name of our adopted environment. We missed the cushioning effect of the large tire up front during docking, but we learned to cope. Eventually, however, the shopping cart police took notice, impounded our ground tackle, and put our names on one of their lists (we have some very "pro-active" governments in these parts). And so our season has ended.

Exactly what list our names should have been put on is arguable, but from this we come away with some understanding of why we sail. Sailing allows an escape from what it is that confines us. Under sail we are able to flee the problems and afflictions - real or imagined - that bind us, and freedom is thus found. As I clean the bottom after another great season I will keep this in mind. And in the spring as I lay on another coat I shall look forward to sailing more than ever (but I'll try to stay upwind of the fumes this time).

John

John, Remember these are the good old days. On my worse days I can imagine a time in the not too distant future when boating will be like flying. A control tower will track every boat on a huge grid and you will call to get permission to enter the traffic lanes from the control tower. Your GPS will send a signal to the grid that will plot your position. When you arrive at the destination on your sailing plan that was filed you will call in to control to get permission enter and tie to their mooring ball. None of this will be cheap and your boat will have all the emergency gear required before you can depart and everyone will be wearing PFDs and transmitters that track your location if you fall overboard. Boats under 100 feet will not be permitted to cross oceans and there will be designated sailing areas, but they will be crowded due to over population and you will have to apply 6 months in advance to get permission to sail on a specific weekend. If the wind is above 15 knots small boats will not be permitted to depart but your sailing permmit fee can be applied to your next proposed sailing date if you file the correct papers with 10 days. You won't have to worry about coral because it will have been mined and used to pave roads. The designated anchorages will have been cleared to make them safe. I've got to stop I'm making myself sick.........



TomCambria@mindspring.com

[Neil Gordon]

We missed the cushioning effect of the large tire up front during docking, ...<<

Try one of those newer, plastic shopping carts... they're still heavy enough to sink but they don't dent and won't scrape the paint off the boat next to you if you dock too close.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[john]

Boater's World sells a very nice shopping cart anchor bracket for your pulpit made of sturdy die cast Zamak, guaranteed against corrosion until unwrapped, with teak grain formica inlay for that "nautical" look.
guaranteed to increase your fun and get more bikinis.

[John Ring]

Hello!
My crew and I have seen a great number of new anchor designs lately, and there seems to be one for every bottom type now. This gives us great security in knowing that in all likelihood we will wake up right where we fell asleep. There are times, however, when nothing seems right. The mechanics are in place, but the conscience is ajar. My crew and I are environmentally astute and the thought of disturbing some ancient undisturbed bottom structure is bothersome.

Our concern is not just limited to beautiful tropical corals either. We are eastern urban sailors, and we often find ourselves in an anchorage of an entirely different nature. Perhaps the most common bottom structure that we encounter is the conglomerate shopping cart. Not wanting to disturb this graceful structure, we thought long and hard about bottom gear options. At first we tried a large tractor tire. Unbeknownst to us, the new ones float, and our attempts to stay put were confounded. Ultimately, we employed a shopping cart of our own (sort of) to grab hold. This worked well for most of a season, and we slept well knowing we were actually contributing to, rather than damaging, this new ecosystem. The cart looked a little strange hanging from the bow pulpit as we sailed past the towers and waterfront condos, but we were quite proud to be doing our part in the name of our adopted environment. We missed the cushioning effect of the large tire up front during docking, but we learned to cope. Eventually, however, the shopping cart police took notice, impounded our ground tackle, and put our names on one of their lists (we have some very "pro-active" governments in these parts). And so our season has ended.

Exactly what list our names should have been put on is arguable, but from this we come away with some understanding of why we sail. Sailing allows an escape from what it is that confines us. Under sail we are able to flee the problems and afflictions - real or imagined - that bind us, and freedom is thus found. As I clean the bottom after another great season I will keep this in mind. And in the spring as I lay on another coat I shall look forward to sailing more than ever (but I'll try to stay upwind of the fumes this time).

John

John, Remember these are the good old days. On my worse days I can imagine a time in the not too distant future when boating will be like flying. A control tower will track every boat on a huge grid and you will call to get permission to enter the traffic lanes from the control tower. Your GPS will send a signal to the grid that will plot your position. When you arrive at the destination on your sailing plan that was filed you will call in to control to get permission enter and tie to their mooring ball. None of this will be cheap and your boat will have all the emergency gear required before you can depart and everyone will be wearing PFDs and transmitters that track your location if you fall overboard. Boats under 100 feet will not be permitted to cross oceans and there will be designated sailing areas, but they will be crowded due to over population and you will have to apply 6 months in advance to get permission to sail on a specific weekend. If the wind is above 15 knots small boats will not be permitted to depart but your sailing permmit fee can be applied to your next proposed sailing date if you file the correct papers with 10 days. You won't have to worry about coral because it will have been mined and used to pave roads. The designated anchorages will have been cleared to make them safe. I've got to stop I'm making myself sick.........

Yes,

I see! It would be like that Aldous Huxley novel, "Brave New Zealand"!

John Ring



Ringj@mediaone.net