How to anchor Single handedly?

[Jack F]

My last boat didn't have a windlass- and I relied on the 'ol "anchor ball" retriever. Easy to use, dirt cheap, and a must for single-handing IMO:

http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/28192-anchor-retrieving-system.html

So..I thought I would try this over the weekend with my wife as a back up, good this she was with me. setting the anchor wasn't a problem but with winds steady about 15+ and gust to 20 the rode was just stretching about 1-2 feet when I tried to retrieve the anchor, I had to drive to the anchor while my wife retrieved it. If I was by myself I would have had to cut it loose or I'd still be swinging, there were to many boats around to try and break it free going to my right or left.

The other thing was we were the only ones that used a stern anchor, 1st time at this beach for us (we were the 1st one at the island that morning) after a few hours it started to get really crowded so I pulled up the stern anchor and and move the bow anchor by hand and spun the boat around bow to the beach.

I can see how the 'ol "anchor ball" retriever would come in very handy...

 

[Alex F]

So..I thought I would try this over the weekend with my wife as a back up, good this she was with me. setting the anchor wasn't a problem but with winds steady about 15+ and gust to 20 the rode was just stretching about 1-2 feet when I tried to retrieve the anchor, I had to drive to the anchor while my wife retrieved it. If I was by myself I would have had to cut it loose or I'd still be swinging, there were to many boats around to try and break it free going to my right or left....

Well Jack,

Now you know what I meant in the post #9. However, it's still doable with the best option to wait for some boats to take off before you. With strong winds as soon as you shorten the scope you'll begin to slide and having enough room is critical. If there isn't enough room for you to get the anchor up and with the boat sliding with the wind I would say don't risk it. I'm not sure how you'll handle an option of controlling the boat at the helm and at the same time retrieve the anchor from the helm (letting enough line to reach the helm), but it would be very uncomfortable. So, consider this being sort of equal to a situations like waiting for a high tide. Some situations require necessary adjustments.

Don't give up, just learn from the experience you got last time and try it again. Isn't this how we all learn :grin: ?

 

[Jack F]

Don't give up, just learn from the experience you got last time and try it again. Isn't this how we all learn :grin: ?

It worked out well with my wife retrieving the anchor and me driving up to it, my wife felt good when a couple anchored next to us gave her the thumbs up when she was done.

I definitely learned something this weekend.

Thanks everyone for the tips.