RiverDave and anchoring lessons.

[Skinny Tire AH]

RD, your docking tutorials were great. Now how about one on anchoring your boat properly.

I was in the shootout spectator fleet. I got there early, set one large box anchor, threw the appropriate amount or rope, and sat

About 90 minutes in, I was forced to fuck-off due to playing dodge boat.

Rude, inconsiderate and uneducated boaters ruin it for everyone.

I felt like Davey Crockett defending the Alamo. SMH

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

RD, your docking tutorials were great. Now how about one on anchoring your boat properly.

I was in the shootout spectator fleet. I got there early, set one large box anchor, threw the appropriate amount or rope, and sat

About 90 minutes in, I was forced to fuck-off due to playing dodge boat.

Rude, inconsiderate and uneducated boaters ruin it for everyone.

I felt like Davey Crockett defending the Alamo. SMH

This is simply part of the charm of the event Steve.

You need friends with crappy boats to surround yours and use them as a sheild.

 

[77charger]

Been there too biggest problem I see is not enough rope for anchor. Just cause they have a box anchor they think it magically grabs in 30ft of wAter with 50 ft of rope. .

I use a danforth style most times and it grabs.I use a lot of rope as well. And because of ones who can’t set an anchor I’ve had to move at humbug often.

 

[Singleton]

IMO, AZ only boaters have no idea how to anchor.
Just go to steamboat and watch the show.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

This is simply part of the charm of the event Steve.

You need friends with crappy boats to surround yours and use them as a sheild.

There was a guy in a small pontoon with a wooden outhouse on it. He got so close (twice) I nearly had to jump on his boat.

Don’t they understand there’s a rope attached to my boat??

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Been there too biggest problem I see is not enough rope for anchor. Just cause they have a box anchor they think it magically grabs in 30ft of wAter with 50 ft of rope. .

I use a danforth style most times and it grabs.I use a lot of rope as well. And because of ones who can’t set an anchor I’ve had to move at humbug often.

Well, humbug is complete amateur hour.

 

[77charger]

Well, humbug is complete amateur hour.

Last time a rental pontoon drifted into my boat pretty good fuckin idiots on boat for sure one guys in water by outboard driver almost started it up since then I tie a bouy on my anchor rope so I can unhook and come back around. They were definite qualified captain status.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Utah wake surfers are pretty inconsiderate as well i battle them at Powell. Best advice i can give is anchor choice, bow to the wake/wind and a stern line as well but i dont know your circumstances. But if it was due to inconsiderate boaters a middle finger and stern talking to usually gets the point across. Just throwing that out there.

Ok maybe disregard the middle finger at havasu but at Powell mormons aren't very confrontational.

 

[sirbob]

Scope must be at least 7 X depth…

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Utah wake surfers are pretty inconsiderate as well i battle them at Powell. Best advice i can give is anchor choice, bow to the wake/wind and a stern line as well but i dont know your circumstances. But if it was due to inconsiderate boaters a middle finger and stern talking to usually gets the point across. Just throwing that out there.

Ok maybe disregard the middle finger at havasu but at Powell mormons aren't very confrontational.

Yeah, pointy end into the wind seems logical to me too.

There were a bunch of “hey you’re WAY to close, try again” since I got there early I had claim.

Couple guys anchor’s weren’t holding and told me I was drifting into them. I asked them precisely how I can drift upwind and push my rope?

 

[hallett21]

Scope must be at least 7 X depth…

Scope is everything. Chain being a close second.

Our “river anchor” is 75 ft.

Box anchor is 200ft.

CO river boaters get complacent with box anchors because they work so well in our water. That is until you put them under load with boat weight, wind, waves etc.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Yeah, pointy end into the wind seems logical to me too.

There were a bunch of “hey you’re WAY to close, try again” since I got there early I had claim.

Couple guys anchor’s weren’t holding and told me I was drifting into them. I asked them precisely how I can drift upwind and push my rope?

Lol yeah river daves tutorials are awesome except they dont hit the crowd that actually cares.

That sucks skinny tire

 

[hallett21]

There was a guy in a small pontoon with a wooden outhouse on it. He got so close (twice) I nearly had to jump on his boat.

Don’t they understand there’s a rope attached to my boat??

You could throw a bow and stern anchor and still have someone claim you’re at fault.

Nothing worse than being at the mercy of someone else’s knowledge or lack of.

Take that beauty north to the sandbar. No issues since the current keeps everyone relatively in check.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I have one of the lower end boats...maybe next year I can act as the defensive line?

When I beach or anchor anywhere, I try to give a lot of room. I'm not worried about my stuff so much as I'm worried my screw up could damage someone else's stuff.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Funny . . .I never really anchor at the river . . . I'll just shove my little boat on a sandbar or bank.
Then a couple years ago I had a need to anchor.
So I had one of these laying around in the shed . . .

I rigged it with about 20 feet of chain & some 3/8" line and put it in a little bag.
I was on the lower river and the current wasn't pulling very hard that day.
Now I've anchored 100's of times in the ocean using a danforth / fluke, and bruce style anchors. . . so I know the run.

I was laughing at myself trying to get this POS to grab in the sand. Total comedy show !!!
I even walked it out and stood on it in the water . . . nothing.

Seriously . . . I could stand in the current and hold my little 15 foot boat with 1 hand, and that stupid anchor wouldn't hold it !
Hysterical !!!!!
Only reason I took it along was that it was so convenient and folded up small.

I 'almost' chucked it over and left it . . . but i'm not a litter bug.

Figured some of you may get a laugh at that episode.

 

[Backlash]

This is simply part of the charm of the event Steve.

You need friends with crappy boats to surround yours and use them as a sheild.

I think when you compare ANY boat to his, it would be considered a "Crappy" boat. His is off the hook!!

 

[Rajobigguy]

I’m admittedly very bad at anchoring. I’ve tried heavy weight anchors, mushrooms and tines .
I’ve tried short drop and long rope methods and I can’t get an anchor to set or hold for the life of me.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Funny . . .I never really anchor at the river . . . I'll just shove my little boat on a sandbar or bank.
Then a couple years ago I had a need to anchor.
So I had one of these laying around in the shed . . .
View attachment 1221932

I rigged it with about 20 feet of chain & some 3/8" line and put it in a little bag.
I was on the lower river and the current wasn't pulling very hard that day.
Now I've anchored 100's of times in the ocean using a danforth / fluke, and bruce style anchors. . . so I know the run.

I was laughing at myself trying to get this POS to grab in the sand. Total comedy show !!!
I even walked it out and stood on it in the water . . . nothing.

Seriously . . . I could stand in the current and hold my little 15 foot boat with 1 hand, and that stupid anchor wouldn't hold it !
Hysterical !!!!!
Only reason I took it along was that it was so convenient and folded up small.

I 'almost' chucked it over and left it . . . but i'm not a litter bug.

Figured some of you may get a laugh at that episode.

That’s the exact anchor I use in my fishing kayak.

 

[OC Mike]

Funny . . .I never really anchor at the river . . . I'll just shove my little boat on a sandbar or bank.
Then a couple years ago I had a need to anchor.
So I had one of these laying around in the shed . . .
View attachment 1221932

I rigged it with about 20 feet of chain & some 3/8" line and put it in a little bag.
I was on the lower river and the current wasn't pulling very hard that day.
Now I've anchored 100's of times in the ocean using a danforth / fluke, and bruce style anchors. . . so I know the run.

I was laughing at myself trying to get this POS to grab in the sand. Total comedy show !!!
I even walked it out and stood on it in the water . . . nothing.

Seriously . . . I could stand in the current and hold my little 15 foot boat with 1 hand, and that stupid anchor wouldn't hold it !
Hysterical !!!!!
Only reason I took it along was that it was so convenient and folded up small.

I 'almost' chucked it over and left it . . . but i'm not a litter bug.

Figured some of you may get a laugh at that episode.

Here I was hoping you were going to tell us how great it was….

 

[Desert Whaler]

That’s the exact anchor I use in my fishing kayak.

. . .oh it got better . . . I ended up attempting to tie-off to some scrub bushes on the bank . . . which of course were dried-out and broke like 10 times before I found one strong enough to hold . . . then I look around & had like 10 pounds of sticks, branches, bugs & spiders everywhere in the boat !

 

[DC-88]

Gotta use the right tool for the job

 

[steamin rice]

Anchoring can be a challenge especially in places like Lake Pleasant where there can be a good number of boats in the same area. If you don't have enough scope,the anchor doesn't hold. If you have a long line to ensure the anchor holds, the boat pivots around a lot when the wind shifts and you can end up close to other boats.

At Lake Pleasant, I've been using a bow anchor with a good scope and a stern anchor to reduce the boat movement. It seems to work well, but it is a process to deal with

 

[Desert Whaler]

Horror story of anchoring in alaska.

In the Cook Inlet the tides can be almost 30 feet in exchange.
On a super glassy summer day you can be a few miles offshore and not know you're drifting 5+ mph unless you look at your gps.
The water is that still.
People have just 'thrown' the anchor w/o checking which way they are drifting.
They throw out a bunch more line and tie it off.

The anchor finally grabs, comes tight, and all that slack line that went under the boat goes tight, locks everything up, and the bow can't point into the current and it just pins, yanks, & flips the boat over.

My sister was a nurse up there and said they brought in some people who were rescued who had that happen . . . they said , "All of a sudden the bow went down, we all climbed to the stern, then we climbed over the transom and onto the bottom of the boat". . . . happened in seconds.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

This thread reminds me of of the many times ive struggled to get an anchor set. At times it has come down to me piling one of my many milk crates on board full of rocks and bailing wire my anchor to the milk crate and weaving bailing wire over the top to hold the rocks in and just hucking that over board. (Absolutely make sure you're clear of that rope when you let that anchor go)

Haha OMG! I wanted to kill myself pulling that sucker up off the bottom but it did hold.

My father in law taught me how to anchor and we go hardcore but its due to the conditions he's been in at Powell. That's also why i carry lots of rope. On a couple occasions we've gotten crafty with side ties and such but every scenario dictates the need.

 

[MPHSystems]

I learned to anchor at sea.

When you drop a hook or 2 for the night you'd better do it right or you may wake up wet

Anchoring in inland Waterways seems like it might be a little different. I'd loved to see a tutorial on the subject

 

[Reddy Too]

Physics and knowledge of the bottom dictates procedures.

 

[92562]

Local knowledge is key! I thought I was a master until I sailed the Abacos. See how everyone else is doing it first!

 

[mash on it]

20 ft of the rope.
Enough for the river. Where the water actually flows.

That's all I got.

Dan'l

 

[Orange Juice]

RD, your docking tutorials were great. Now how about one on anchoring your boat properly.

I was in the shootout spectator fleet. I got there early, set one large box anchor, threw the appropriate amount or rope, and sat

About 90 minutes in, I was forced to fuck-off due to playing dodge boat.

Rude, inconsiderate and uneducated boaters ruin it for everyone.

I felt like Davey Crockett defending the Alamo. SMH

Everyone knows to anchor up wind, from the guy with the Box Anchor setup.

 

[Orange Juice]

Anchoring can be a challenge especially in places like Lake Pleasant where there can be a good number of boats in the same area. If you don't have enough scope,the anchor doesn't hold. If you have a long line to ensure the anchor holds, the boat pivots around a lot when the wind shifts and you can end up close to other boats.

At Lake Pleasant, I've been using a bow anchor with a good scope and a stern anchor to reduce the boat movement. It seems to work well, but it is a process to deal with

The 2pm wind shift, the line of boats figure out who has a good anchor set.

 

[Runs2rch]

Danforth style is hands down the best for Colorado lake bottoms. Box Anchors are crap.

Sized for the boat, 150-200ft rope also sized right, good beach stake (not a shitty sand spike), set with proper scope.

In 30 yrs have had to reset an anchor once or twice because of a wind shift in 70mph plus.

 

[77charger]

Danforth style is hands down the best for Colorado lake bottoms. Box Anchors are crap.

Sized for the boat, 150-200ft rope also sized right, good beach stake (not a shitty sand spike), set with proper scope.

In 30 yrs have had to reset an anchor once or twice because of a wind shift in 70mph plus.

I carry both and both have purpose. Box worked great for rocky bottoms or where you need a fast anchor set on small patch of sand. But they don’t hold as well in right conditions.

The danforth I use everywhere else and when they set they are set. Had a hard time pulling one up at Powell after a week it was deep in the sand and took some good storms. Box anchor just grabs surface where danforth keeps digging deeper.

 

[Ziggy]

I admit anchoring isn't my strongest suite but I also find that joining a raftup makes it more difficult to set it properly. Most cases you simply can't cast out enough scope.
In an event like the shootout, I would expect a large percentage of boats to drift as I have little trust most have set anchor well. One year I tossed anchor for the shootout(back when they ran it out of Thompson) we had 3 foot rolling wakes that pushed everyone south.
I don't ever really plan to anchor in any deep water on Havasu so I don't carry a exceptionally long anchorline to begin with.

 

[stephenkatsea]

I’ve used Box and Danforth anchors, depending on bottom characteristics. If you see a guy actually throw his anchor, watch out. Very likely he’s clueless. In order to determine the proper amount of rode, you need to know the water depth. Ease your boat over the position you want your anchor placed. Then lower your anchor from the bow and begin backing down when it’s on the bottom. At least a 5:1 ratio of rode to water depth. More is better. Some chain between the anchor and anchor line always helps. A line run from your bow/anchor eye, back to a stern cleat, then to a well planted spike on the beach, should keep your boat from swinging too much.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I admit anchoring isn't my strongest suite but I also find that joining a raftup makes it more difficult to set it properly. Most cases you simply can't cast out enough scope.
In an event like the shootout, I would expect a large percentage of boats to drift as I have little trust most have set anchor well. One year I tossed anchor for the shootout(back when they ran it out of Thompson) we had 3 foot rolling wakes that pushed everyone south.
I don't ever really plan to anchor in any deep water on Havasu so I don't carry a exceptionally long anchorline to begin with.

Go exercise your poor maritime skills somewhere else Zig.

 

[Ziggy]

Go exercise your poor maritime skills somewhere else Zig.

I have a habit of doing "on the job" training

 

[Nordie]

. . .oh it got better . . . I ended up attempting to tie-off to some scrub bushes on the bank . . . which of course were dried-out and broke like 10 times before I found one strong enough to hold . . . then I look around & had like 10 pounds of sticks, branches, bugs & spiders everywhere in the boat !

I can't believe that much weight in chain alone wouldn't hold that little bote.

I've never had an issue anchoring, but I've always used chain as the leader, but I've never owned a box anchor where it's not needed.

Simple rigging math it's easy to figure out that your boat can't sit above the anchor. It'll never hold.

 

[2Driver]

Tough trying to anchor with a bunch of people on the lake. You need to be either in a raft-up or way apart from each other, in between doesn’t work. Wind changes and one boat catches more wind than the other and it’s bumper boats.
I had good luck with this anchor for the river and lake. You can also get it unstuck easily. I just gave one away.

Digger 15 Pound Fresh Water Anchor | DIGGER

The Digger Boat Anchor is one of the most heavy duty & innovative anchors on the market! No chain needed! Grabber cleats on the anchor place pressure downwards to keep digging down if the weather is undesirable and the boat continues to move Easily digs deep into sand, weeds and mud to hold the...

www.diggeranchor.com

 

[rivermobster]

Once you know how to anchor in Parker, you can do it right anywhere.

Too bad it's closed now. It would a great place for people to learn!

 

[2Driver]

Once you know how to anchor in Parker, you can do it right anywhere.

Too bad it's closed now. It would a great place for people to learn!

LOL who can’t anchor in Parker current?

Putting it in a slip with the current and boat wakes takes some talent.

 

[rivermobster]

LOL who can’t anchor in Parker current?

Putting it in a slip with the current and boat wakes takes some talent.

You'd be surprised. Most can't even tie off to a cleat properly.

 

[steamin rice]

Tough trying to anchor with a bunch of people on the lake. You need to be either in a raft-up or way apart from each other, in between doesn’t work. Wind changes and one boat catches more wind than the other and it’s bumper boats.
I had good luck with this anchor for the river and lake. You can also get it unstuck easily. I just gave one away.

Digger 15 Pound Fresh Water Anchor | DIGGER

The Digger Boat Anchor is one of the most heavy duty & innovative anchors on the market! No chain needed! Grabber cleats on the anchor place pressure downwards to keep digging down if the weather is undesirable and the boat continues to move Easily digs deep into sand, weeds and mud to hold the...

www.diggeranchor.com

That's the problem at Pleasant.. I'll get there early and anchor away from the crowd, and then before I know it there are 4 boats around me and my boat is swinging around the anchor line and getting too close to some of the other boats who pulled in after I was already there... That's why I toss out a stern anchor now as well.

 

[Wheeler]

Once you know how to anchor in Parker, you can do it right anywhere.

Too bad it's closed now. It would a great place for people to learn!

Anchor in Parker? You must be new to this part of the river. tourists need to stay home.

 

[rivermobster]

Anchor in Parker? You must be new to this part of the river. tourists need to stay home.


View attachment 1222068 View attachment 1222069 View attachment 1222070

They have to stay home, now that it's closed.

All the cool kids go to Lake Havasu.

 

[2Driver]

Whos orange Spectra Looks nice

 

[lbhsbz]

You'd be surprised. Most can't even tie off to a cleat properly.

That’s what the bow eye is for

 

[C-Ya]

There are too many anchoring scenarios to give advice on anchoring. But, all the advice, scope, chain, and whatever else will NOT compensate for a piss poor anchor.

I do a lot of anchoring. I mean A LOT.

Random Thoughts:

Ask “yourself” why are all the boats pointing the same direction at the mooring field or sandbar or cove? The answer you come up with will tell you what you need to know about wind direction and current?

I see an empty space deep in the middle of a mass sandbar situation. Will my boat fit? Now you need to know the depth? This is because you will use your boat to drop anchor. Throwing out the anchor is truly doing it the hard way. 5 to 1 should be sufficient with chain.

Where I live. You really don’t want to use too much scope. The reason why is that the more scope you use, the higher the chance that the next boat will end up on top of YOUR anchor. You also want to avoid sitting on someone else’s anchor.

In mass anchoring situations, such as Lake Boca. The rare few that use stern anchors reallly fuck up the group swing.

Proper etiquette in a mass anchoring situation. The newcomer is responsible for anchoring in such a way as to not impede on the others before him. In other words, don’t make others have to move their boats because of you!

Know the current. There are a LOT of anchor lines out. Getting hooked up on somebody else‘s anchor line is an INEXCUSABLE OFFENSE.

Have your anchor and gear ready in advance of anchoring.

I am humorously adding my next thoughts…….. Buy a boat with a built in windlass. For those unaware of the term windlass. This is a push puttonn power anchor built into the boat. You press the down button to lower and the up button to lift. I prefer this method personally. Lol

One last thought……… Parker is an excellent place to learn about current. The Eddie at Fox’s is an example of how the bottom can effect current too. This shows that current direction is not absolute.

 

[Taboma]

There are too many anchoring scenarios to give advice on anchoring. But, all the advice, scope, chain, and whatever else will NOT compensate for a piss poor anchor.

I do a lot of anchoring. I mean A LOT.

Random Thoughts:

Ask “yourself” why are all the boats pointing the same direction at the mooring field or sandbar or cove? The answer you come up with will tell you what you need to know about wind direction and current?

I see an empty space deep in the middle of a mass sandbar situation. Will my boat fit? Now you need to know the depth? This is because you will use your boat to drop anchor. Throwing out the anchor is truly doing it the hard way. 5 to 1 should be sufficient with chain.

Where I live. You really don’t want to use too much scope. The reason why is that the more scope you use, the higher the chance that the next boat will end up on top of YOUR anchor. You also want to avoid sitting on someone else’s anchor.

In mass anchoring situations, such as Lake Boca. The rare few that use stern anchors reallly fuck up the group swing.

Proper etiquette in a mass anchoring situation. The newcomer is responsible for anchoring in such a way as to not impede on the others before him. In other words, don’t make others have to move their boats because of you!

Know the current. There are a LOT of anchor lines out. Getting hooked up on somebody else‘s anchor line is an INEXCUSABLE OFFENSE.

Have your anchor and gear ready in advance of anchoring.

I am humorously adding my next thoughts…….. Buy a boat with a built in windlass. For those unaware of the term windlass. This is a push puttonn power anchor built into the boat. You press the down button to lower and the up button to lift. I prefer this method personally. Lol

One last thought……… Parker is an excellent place to learn about current. The Eddie at Fox’s is an example of how the bottom can effect current too. This shows that current direction is not absolute.

And stand clear of Saily Boats, they swing, well, differently

 

[stephenkatsea]

C-Ya made a valid point. When also using a line from your stern to a secure beach spike, expect other boats, swinging in the wind and current with only a bow anchor, to likely swing into you. It is best done on a beach where neighboring boats are also using an anchor and a stern line to a beach spike. Once saw a guy pound 4 pieces of rebar into the bottom, 2 on each side of his boat. He then slid PVC pipe over the rebar and tied his boat up to them. He sat there like a rock, on his 4 point moor. But all the other nearby boats were swinging in the breeze like ducks. Didn't work at too well.

 

[Outdrive1]

RD, your docking tutorials were great. Now how about one on anchoring your boat properly.

I was in the shootout spectator fleet. I got there early, set one large box anchor, threw the appropriate amount or rope, and sat

About 90 minutes in, I was forced to fuck-off due to playing dodge boat.

Rude, inconsiderate and uneducated boaters ruin it for everyone.

I felt like Davey Crockett defending the Alamo. SMH

I find it amusing that anyone would think RD has actually thrown or retrieved an anchor.