How to anchor Single handedly?

[Jack F]

This is my 2nd year with a boat and I go out a lot by myself, I’d like to anchor but haven’t tried it with out someone else helping, how do you guys do this when you’re alone?
I don’t have a windlass, just an anchor roller.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Lazy Daze]

Cruise up wind/up current of your intended spot. Stop the boat's forward movement with the engine. Climb up to the bow and drop the anchor as the boat moves backwards because of the current/wind. Tie off when you've let the appropriate amount of rode out. If the current/wind is very light, you may want to initially bump the engine in reverse to get it going. However, if the conditions are so light that they aren't moving the boat, you won't really need to worry about having the correct amount of scope (assuming you are paying attention in case the conditions change).

Scott: By one minute!!!

 

[Jack F]

Thanks guys that seem easy enough. I’ve only anchored with someone else helping and plan on trying this over the weekend, I love cruising around for hrs by myself but being able to anchor with out any help will be nice.

 

[chuck1]

Ditto, Yep what they said:thumbsup:

 

[Tonka Boater]

Ditto again what they said. Scott's correct - it can be a lot of running between the bow and the helm. You didn't say if you had a windlass. With my windlass I manually release the clutch and let the anchor free fall and pay out enough rode. I then lock the clutch, run to the helm and give a quick pop into reverse then back to neutral and let the momentum set the anchor.

 

[EricW]

Before you get to a crowded anchoring spot, it helps to make sure your anchor is all set for a quick drop beforehand while in open water. You can have the anchor ready to go and then idle over to your chosen drop spot.

 

[Alex F]

One thing I don't understand is why do you guys say it'll be a lot of running back and forth? All is necessary to have enough room from other boats and the shore to have the wind to push the boat while you lay out necessary scope. When enough line is out, get back to the helm and set the anchor tightly by putting the engine in reverse. It used to take me only one run on my 240.

I would say that retreaving the anchor might be more difficult if there's a wind or current and some other boat decides to drop the anchor near by (i.e. behind you).

 

[Alex F]

Scott,

I guess it all depends on the location, but I usually anchor in 5-6' and know pretty much exact scope I need. So, tying the line in advanced worked for me.

 

[1956olds]

you can mark your rode by threading a piece of red blue or yellow material through it at different lengths when you are anchored with someone then you,ll know where to set it up when alone,red for calm blue for light chop yellow for we may have to run in in the middle of the night chop.

 

[Good Grief]

Stern anchor? How? I was under the impression stern anchoring is bad.

 

[Jack F]

If I know I’ll need 40-50’ of rode and there is no wind do you pay it all out at once then back down, couldn’t this cause a problem with tangling the rode? I can see if the wind is moving the boat you can let it out while drifting then tie off and put the boat in reverse to set the anchor.

 

[Good Grief]

My bad, I should have provided more information. I was looking for information on using a stern anchor as the secondary anchor. Methods, anchoring points (boat), do's and dont's, how to's, etc.

 

[tobnpr]

If I know I’ll need 40-50’ of rode and there is no wind do you pay it all out at once then back down, couldn’t this cause a problem with tangling the rode? I can see if the wind is moving the boat you can let it out while drifting then tie off and put the boat in reverse to set the anchor.

Just coil the amount of rode you want out loosely on deck, tie off at the desired point, and back down allowing the rode to pay out...don't just dump it all into the water.

 

[dpmulvey]

If I know I’ll need 40-50’ of rode and there is no wind do you pay it all out at once then back down, couldn’t this cause a problem with tangling the rode? I can see if the wind is moving the boat you can let it out while drifting then tie off and put the boat in reverse to set the anchor.

This needs to be done prior to departure.

If you need 50' of rode, I am assuming you are in roughly 8' of water. Put a zip tie through the anchor line at about 10'.

Tie off at the 50' mark on your rode at your bow. Bring the rode you are to pay out back to the cockpit.


Keep the anchor tight in the roller by tieing off the rode in the cockpit at midship cleat. If that is not easily accessible, a stern cleat will do.

When you get to your anchorage spot, untie the rode from the side or stern cleat and start slowly paying it out by hand while you are at the helm. When the zip tie goes over the roller, put the boat in reverse to get a little momentum. Keep paying out the rode until the last "x" feet which you can't pay out because you are at the helm. Let that go over the side of the boat. You will be going in reverse, so there in no chance of tangling the line in the prop.

If you do not like the idea of going to the bow because there is no one there to help you should you fall from the boat; even worse, fall and strike your head; use a spare line and tie a bowline around the rode in the cockpit. Secure that line to an unused cleat. Everything else is the same. The difference is the last few feet of line you could not reach before will be able to be retreived by pulling on the spare line. As a bonus, you can creep up on the anchor without leaving the helm. Worst case scenario is you get a little dirt on the boat but you will be safe.

Here's a drawing I found years ago.

HTH.

 

[Nehalennia]

Scott,

I guess it all depends on the location, but I usually anchor in 5-6' and know pretty much exact scope I need. So, tying the line in advanced worked for me.

How much does the tide swing there?

We need to anchor in 20+ feet because our tide swings 10'-14'.

I'll let out 130-150' of anchor, chain and rode to stay in 20-40' of depth.

...yeah no windlass for me, so that's fun when it's time to go.

 

[tobnpr]

Single-handed anchor retrieval in deep water is def a challenge, and can be unsafe in any kind of seas.

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

 

[Jack F]

Thanks for all the tips, I’ll give it a try over the weekend.

 

[elreyos]

This is my 2nd year with a boat and I go out a lot by myself, I’d like to anchor but haven’t tried it with out someone else helping, how do you guys do this when you’re alone?
I don’t have a windlass, just an anchor roller.

Thanks,
Jack

Jack I used to do it the way Laze Daze describes, when we had a 24ft Bayliner cruiser. It worked pretty well as long as I droped plenty of rode. It does require a little guess work with reference to swing room and how close you are to shore. Weying anchor was a real pain without a windlass. I finally installed a windlass. It was fairly easy because the boat was prewired fo it. Just make sure when you cut the hole for the windlass to use plenty of epoxy to seal it up. I'll bet your 240DA is prewired.

 

[Alex F]

How much does the tide swing there?

We get no more than 1.5'-2' of tide change (in the anchorage area I use most of the time). It's a bathtub, the bay of course :lol:. In the areas near the inlets the tides changes 3-4'.

I'll let out 130-150' of anchor, chain and rode to stay in 20-40' of depth.

...yeah no windlass for me, so that's fun when it's time to go.

I guess, that's how you stay in good shape Todd. :thumbsup: :smt043

 

[Alex F]

Just coil the amount of rode you want out loosely on deck, tie off at the desired point, and back down allowing the rode to pay out...don't just dump it all into the water.

That's exactly method I have used.