Anchoring off a sandbar???

First Born

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Oct 3, 2006
3,900
Charlotte, N.C.
Boat Info
2006 185 Sport
Engines
4.3 L 190 HP
Can you guys help a friend who is new to boating and has the following question. Thanks for all of your help.

How is the best way to anchor off of the sandbar or Goat Island in Wylie? How shallow should we go in? Should we then walk the boat in some? Two anchors?
 
Good Video but what is the best technique for beaching a 20 foot boat? All my other boats have been too large to beach so I always anchored just off the beach. I'd like to try to beach the Sundeck on one of the many islands on Lake Keowee without damaging the bow, outdrive and looking like a complete novice. Any suggestions:huh:?
 
I know I am a noob, but the lake I always run in, I just idle in close and cut the motor, trim full up and walk it all the way in. Keep in mind a lake does not have high and low tide.

I have to mention, I got married on a sand bar off the coast of New Port Ritchey, Florida. When we got to the sand bar there was a boat FULL of people that was hopelessly beach because the captain of said boat was to drunk to remember when the tide went out. They still had booze so they were still having a good time but since the tide was not due to come back in till after sundown, I did not envy them. Just a thought.
 
We camp at a lake almost every weekend with our camper and boat. This is what I do because I have beeched my boat once and scratched the gel coat so I came up with this system to never beech it again.

I use 2 anchor buddies. I have 6' of chain connected to my anchor, I then have my 2 anchor buddies (1 is only rated to 4k pounds so I double them up) connected to the chain. Attached to the anchor buddies I have 100' of line. Where I anchor it's only about 20' deep. If your area is deeper just remember to keep at least a 5:1 scope.

I have a 50' line attached to the stern. I position the boat so that the stern is facing land about 140' from shore, I drop the anchor and I run the line thru the starboard cleat, I hold onto the line with my left hand. I let out about 40' of line as I back into shore. I have 50' worth of anchor buddies and 40' of line out so I can try and set the anchor. As I back up very slowly I can feel if the anchor grabs or is dragging. Once the anchor is set I will back up within 50' of shore and throw my stern line to a person on shore and they hook it to a stake in the ground.

From there I kill the motor and raise the drive. I put tension on the bow line and tie it off. I then pull the boat to shore with the stern line and make a loop in the line and attach it to the cleat when i get it exactly as close to shore as i want I untie the bow line and pull it as tight as I can. Then make a loop and attach it to the front cleat.

I disconnect to stern loop and jump off the boat I pull the boat back into shore and make another loop to attach to the stake. So now I have 2 loops in the stern line a boat loop and a stake loop. I disconnect the stake loop and boat is pulled out to sea about 20'.

When it's time to leave i pull the boat to shore and connect to boat loop to the cleat. Everyone gets aboard.

I usually have more than 25' of my 100' on line not being used so I take the loop on the end of the line and use a carabiner to attach the anchor line and the shore line together. While i'm doing this the anchor buddies are pulling me towards the anchor. I start the motor and put in reverse to pull me away from the anchor, while I'm backing away i attach a buoy to the loop on the bow cleat, and throw it in the water.

When we come back in I approach the buoy from the side, kill the motor and raise the drive. I rehook the buoy loop to the front cleat and then reconnect the shore line to the rear cleat and pull the boat back in.

This probably sounds more complicated than it is. This system works great and I always get people asking me about it.

Here is the anchor buddy video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLUEqHf7Bp4
 
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I just use one anchor dropped out where it needs to be and then I attach the other end to a tree on shore. I use a buoy to keep the line floating out where I can get it from the stern as I motor towards the shore. I stop the boat, grab the buoy and pull hard towards shore. That reverses the front and rear so I can throw the rope over the rear and forward cleat. Then I can move the boat in and out as desired and I can get in close enough that it's knee deep when we step off the back. The boat is anchored bow out and is easy to do and only requires one anchor line and something to float it so you can reach it from the stern!
 
1. I usually head towards the island (or sandbar) slowly.
2. Drop anchor off the stern.
3. Head towards shore, letting out anchor line 50” or so.
4. Bring outdrive up and coast to shore.
5. Just as you touch the shore tie off Stern anchor I usually use the middle cleat since I am on a tidal river easier to adjust during the day
6. Step off bow and set front anchor
7. Unload; I usually push boat back a bit if tide is outgoing or leave it if incoming tide
8. Scary the first time but after that it is second nature.
 
I just idle in until the outdrive starts to touch the ground. Kill the motor, then physically pull the boat up as far on shore as possible. Put my anchor on shore to keep the boat from floating off. Sometimes, I'll put the outdrive down so that it digs into the dirt to help hold the boat in place.
 
I just idle in until the outdrive starts to touch the ground. Kill the motor, then physically pull the boat up as far on shore as possible. Put my anchor on shore to keep the boat from floating off. Sometimes, I'll put the outdrive down so that it digs into the dirt to help hold the boat in place.

I do the same thing. We beach on a sandy edge of a river. The location is a no wake zone, so there are USUALLY no wakes to deal and with the skeg in the sand the stern doesn't drift. The wife got me a keel guard for my b-day. I'm planning on putting that on this weekend.
 
Dude............I gave you anchoring lessons for most of a week in Florida! I can't think the flavor of the water makes that much difference.

Frank best lessons of my life in regards to boating came that week...out of town at a convention and got a pm asking a couple of questions. I thought the board could give better advice. -- Wesley
 
I do the same thing. We beach on a sandy edge of a river. The location is a no wake zone, so there are USUALLY no wakes to deal and with the skeg in the sand the stern doesn't drift. The wife got me a keel guard for my b-day. I'm planning on putting that on this weekend.

Magic,

let me know how your keel guard install goes... I hear its prety easy. I am planning on adding one to our boat.

also, what color did you get?
 
Magic,

let me know how your keel guard install goes... I hear its prety easy. I am planning on adding one to our boat.

also, what color did you get?


I'll do that. I'll even try to snap some instal pics.

The guard is a 7' Keelshield. The color is white. It looks like its not a snow white, so hopefully it blends in well with the off-white gelcoat.
 
Sounds good.... I was thinking about getting RED. I didnt know if the white would match.
 
I've got the off white one on my boat and it blends in pretty good. It's kind of a pain to install because it's hard to see where the center is when you're under the boat. Other than that though, I think it's worth the small investment.
 
Thanks for the info....
I could have used the Keel guard this past weekend, I was trying to beach the boat near our Camp at Lake Somerville, but it was rocky around the shore. so I had to anchor about 30 feet out.
 
Which park were you at on Somerville? We usually go to Rocky Creek, but that particular park may be closed right now for renovations.
 
Which park were you at on Somerville? We usually go to Rocky Creek, but that particular park may be closed right now for renovations.

We were at Rocky Creek. We had a spot just East of the Northern boat ramp. I have been told not to use the ramp on the west side of the park. its a shame because that is a 3 boat ramp. and I'm told it is a little steeper, the North ramp is very shallow.

We like Yagua better, but it is closed for the summer. I think after they reopen Yegua, they will close Rocky Creek.

How often are you in Somerville?
 
Usually only once a year, although I wish it was more often.

Not sure why you couldn't use the ramp on the west side. I haven't used it, but I've had my boat over there and there is no issue.

If you camp on the opposite side of the park from the ramp, the beach is nice and soft. Those are all electrical sites though, so a little more costly, but worth it for the better beach.

Rocky Creek has been first come first serve for over a year now. It was originally supposed to be closed in September of last year for renovations, but that got pushed out. Hopefully it will all be done by next summer, but who knows at this point.
 
It looked like sand over there, but I want sure. Next time out I will try the steeper ramp and get a site on the east bank with better beach.
I had another thread on here about bunk slicks because the shallow ramp has been such a pain.

let me know next time you go, maybe we could meet up.
 

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