Taking boat out overnight for the first time......

(jaybee) · (jaybee) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 05-21-2009, 10:30 AM

This weekend. I plan on using 2 anchors but am still a little worried as i will be out in the bay and a little worried about the wind kicking up and blowing the boat around or just crashing it into wave after wave. Also, how bad is it that I am leaving my boat in salt overnight for possibly 2 nights. I am anal about cleaning it and flushing it so I would hate to have something happen due to it being in salt water for an extended amount of time.

Also if someone could just post the best way to anchor the boat, it would be a huge help. Should I get a anchor buddy? I know it been gone over before but just curious if there is anything different due to me being out on open water.

(bill_airjunky)

Your anal & putting your boat in salt water?

I just found an "anchor dragging" alarm on my Garmin Etrex GPS. Might be something to help with the stress.

(jaybee) · (jaybee) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 05-21-2009, 11:25 AM

It is a salt water series boat.

(h2oproaccessories)

then don't worry about the salt.

(denverd1)

Your anchor lines needs 3 or 4 times the water depth on each anchor. A few feet of good-sized chain on each one helps them dig and a bungie on each will keep waves from yanking your anchor once its set. Put the bow into the wind.

(stephan) · (stephan) **Join Date: Nov 2002** 05-21-2009, 11:44 AM

If you are leaving it overnight I wouldn't use an Anchor Buddy. If the wind picked up your boat could be blowing all over the place. You will have to think about the tide too, make sure you give yourself enough slack for the changes in water level.

I'd have both anchors off the bow at approx a 45 degree angle to each other and then tie off the back of the boat to the shore. Keep the bow into the waves. Maybe put a little weight in the back tanks to make the boat ride nose up if you are concerned about waves.

(trace) · (trace) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 05-21-2009, 11:49 AM

Tie the larger anchor off to the bow eye, pointed into the wind. Use an anchor rope that is 5x the depth you're anchoring in. Once the boat finds a place to settle with the prevailing winds, you can toss a smaller anchor off the back with a slack rope to keep it from swinging around too much.

(phenom_1819) · (phenom_1819) **Join Date: Jan 2008** 05-21-2009, 12:00 PM

If you are using a danforth style anchor (two plates with a metal rod horizontally across the top... the kind most of us trailer-boaters use), you're going to want 6x line length to depth.

And you're better off with only one anchor off the bow so the boat can swing.

And it'll be fine...! :-)

(guido) · (guido) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 05-21-2009, 12:28 PM

I'd probably sleep on the boat just to be sure.

J/K

(Message edited by guido on May 21, 2009)

(wakeboardlasvegas)

Box anchor is the only way to go.

(jaybee) · (jaybee) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 05-21-2009, 1:12 PM

Thanks for the input guys.

(jon43) · (jon43) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 05-21-2009, 1:26 PM

box anchor and anchor buddy the only way to go!
I am on a big lake, and I have my boat anchored every weekend during the summer with this set up. I drop anchor about 14' of water (bow out) and tie up to the shore in about 6' of water.the anchor buddy will let me pull the boat in to about 3'. I think it stretches from 14' to 50'.

(wstr01) · (wstr01) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 05-21-2009, 2:23 PM

No, you need 6.25 X the depth you're anchoring in.

(phenom_1819) · (phenom_1819) **Join Date: Jan 2008** 05-21-2009, 2:37 PM

Haha. I know it sounds like a tiny bit of difference... but Danforth anchors need a lot of angle (and don't work well in anything other than sand/mud... and IMO, generally suck). and just a small amount of angle can mean the difference between them holding and pulling loose... and better putting out more and being safe than sorry.

Don't do 6.25x though -- that's too much.