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#91
Routes and Destinations / Re: Launch Sites
Last post by wolverine - March 20, 2025, 03:11:24 PM
😄😄😄 Yes the man is a wealth of information. He responded with some great ideas. He even provided links!
#92
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by CapnK - March 20, 2025, 02:37:28 PM
You're right - not much room there!

Maybe make a platform that sits *over* the lights and cleats, on which to mount a roller?
#93
Routes and Destinations / Re: Launch Sites
Last post by CapnK - March 20, 2025, 02:22:30 PM
Tap on Charles Brennan over on the TSBB, he likely knows some - or knows someone who does. :)
#94
Routes and Destinations / Launch Sites
Last post by wolverine - March 19, 2025, 08:21:21 PM
Looking for Florida Keys launch ramps were vehicles and trailers can be stored for a couple weeks.

Any suggestions?
#95
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by s/v necessity - March 19, 2025, 11:06:53 AM
Anyone got any ideas on what I can do for keeping my primary up front? Best I have been able to figure out so far is to just rig a simple roller, so retrieval is easier, and then lash the anchor to the siderail, or the cleat.  So far I've been carrying it back to the cockpit locker.

I might be able to move the navigation lights up onto the pulpit and be able to shoe horn something in there, but it'll be tight.  And I'm reluctant to start cutting up the bow fitting.  I know others have dealt with this by having a custom bow fitting made and installed.

I have thought that mounting it at the stern might be the way to go...  Not sure how that would work out though. I would think that retrieval might be more difficult, or atleast I'm not sure how I feel about dragging the boat backwards towards the anchor and then being pointed the wrong way (assuming a lee shore)

Oh and thanks for the discussion, I'll be running the #33 anchor up front, perhaps the #25 manson can be a secondary.
#96
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by CapnK - March 18, 2025, 10:15:42 PM
Quote from: Frank on March 04, 2025, 11:03:46 AMCapt K
Secret to good photos now that digital are free, is to take lots!
Surely 1 or 2 turn out ok, then delete the rest 😄

True dat!!! ;D lol
#97
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by CapnK - March 18, 2025, 10:08:52 PM
LOL for travel on Katie I have a 25# Manson Boss (HUGE flukes on that thing!), 22# Delta, 17# Mantus, Fortress FX-11, and a cast iron Folding Northill 3-R. The Boss (as the storm primary) lives in the top of the bilge under companionway, nestled with either the Delta or the Mantus, whichever is not serving as the bower. The Fortress and Northill are both stowed "flat" against the hull up in the bow chain locker area. The Northill, when motoring any distance, lives aft and "ready-to-pitch" on a moments notice.

For rode, there's 250' chain in 4 sections (2x ~30'ish, 1x ~80'ish, and a single 100' piece), and lotsa 3-strand, 300'+ in sections. In reserve, 2 spools of 3/8" that are several hundred feet each; 600' IIRC.

Overkill? Hardly. Maybe if I added in that 33# Original Bruce... I have 2 of those. And the 45# "Oh poop!" Spade ;D and a 'new this past year' 44# Delta... :)

Keep in mind, I wind up anchoring out for at least 2 named storms every year, at least two boats, and even three for several years (and had another Original and a 25# CQR as well...). I've lost IIRC 3-4 anchors during these, over the last 20 years.

Connie, AKA "Pixie Dust" here many years ago, told me that she and Croc were on the way back up to the Bahamas from Venezuela when they had to pull in and anchor for a 'cane. They were on a ~50 boat, and even tho' in fairly good shelter put out *7* anchors. During the storm, all the rodes except one parted. They had the anchors buoyed and were able to recover them, but still...

I will always travel with way more anchors than most. In addition to that they can't help if you don't have them with you, I kinda figure that out where you really need them, they might be hard to get if you lose one or two.
#98
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by Frank - March 18, 2025, 09:33:01 PM
That dreaded Anchor talk. Much like politics and religion. 😄
I do not have insurance on my boat
The best insurance when cruising is good ground tackle
Déjà vu is 24 feet long and about 4500 pounds with gear.
Primary Anchor is a rocna Vulcan 27 pound with 50 feet of chain and 150 feet of rode. This lives on a bow roller.
Secondary Anchor, which lives in the Anchor well, is a 22 pound delta with 25 feet of chain and 100 feet of road.
Both are oversized, and I could probably anchor securely on something lighter
That said, when it's blowing 25+ and gusting 35+ it's nice to know you have something down like that.
#99
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by wolverine - March 18, 2025, 06:16:02 PM
My Compac 19 has a 12# danforth with 30' of 5/16" chain and 150' of 3/8" rode. It's dragged a few times too many so I also have a 33# bruce with 30' of 3/8" chain and 150' of 1/2" rode. Last year at the Florida 120, I was anchored in 9' of water with all 30' of chain and 40' of rode out. We encountered 53mph winds overnight and the shaft of the danforth bent 30* and I ended up on shore. I had forgot the bruce at home.
the proper ground tackle can save a trip and a boat in bad situations.
My Orion (27') has 100' of 1/2" chain and 200' of 3/4" rode.  Retrieving it is a workout and I'm getting too old, so later this year I'm getting a windless.   
#100
Boat Bits / Anchors and Rodes
Last post by s/v necessity - March 18, 2025, 01:49:02 PM
Yeah, I'm gonna do this.  It's been too freaking quiet around here.  Too friendly.  And I haven't been kicked out of anywhere in over a decade.

Seriously though...  We got folks here with SMALL sailboats who have traveled distances.  And I just dont see how three oversized anchors and three sets of all chain rode is gonna fly.  You guys must be making some serious compromises...  So come on, fess up!!!  Your boat is already dangerously small, you might as well admit your ground tackle game is negligent too!

Last summer I sailed the better part of 2 months on lake superior with just a Primary consisting of 30' chain and 120' of nylon rode that came with the boat and a #25 Manson supreme I added.  My secondary was a pathetic danforth copy with 3' of chain and some light nylon line.  (also came with the boat.)  I don't have an anchor roller or anything up front, so I had to go flake out my rode and lash my anchor to the pulpit in advance.  And to retrieve it I had to lean overboard and haul straight up by hand.  We weathered all storms out at the marina  (C&C 27, 5500# boat 27' loa).  Once when we left an anchorage in a hurry I developed cramps in both forearms.  Im going to go ahead and assign a marginal score to my marginal arrangement.

This season I would like to up my game a bit.  I'm probably going to go with 60' of chain and 165' of Plaited 8-Strand.  And I might swap my 33# spade in place of the Manson.  If I do this I'll need to add a roller up front for retrieval and find a way to stow the anchor on deck.  I'm reluctant to run the spade because 1) It weighs more 2) It costs a bunch more, and getting an anchor stuck under a log is a thing... 3) The Manson has been rock solid so far

And then to decide what to do about a secondary...  It's not a big boat, and I'm trying to be as minimalistic ***as reasonable***.  Current plan is something along the lines of a #20 stern anchor with a compact rope rode.