Securing your Anchor

[A Little Nauti]

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone has some good ideas for securing your anchor when running about. Would like something that prevents it from breaking free when bouncing around but easy enough to drop if required without much fuss. There has to be a better way than what I am doing. There must be someone out there with a great idea to share eh! At present I have the anchor set with 4' of chain which I tie to the bow cleat to prevent from popping off. Pain in the butt to have to release it. Any ideas out there ??

[cdhunter]

For the last 10 years I have been using a bungee to secure the anchor (Bruce) with good results.

[shrew]

Hi A Little Nauti. What model/year boat and what are you doing now? I have a bow pulpit with a bow roller and it's mounted out there all the time. That wouldn't work on a bow rider. What are you doing with the anchor now?

[A Little Nauti]

I have a 1999 24' Maxum SCR which has a bow pulpit and bow roller. I have used a bungee cord to secure it but now hust tie it up with a lanyard. I thought there might be a better way than this. Just seems like it should be more simple to use than it is. Could I put a windless on a boat like this?

[shrew]

OK, so storing it out on the bow pulpit would make the most sense. There are a couple of things you can do:

1) spring-gate carabiner attached to a lanyard. Clip the carabiner to the shackle on the anchor and cleat tie it to the anchor cleat. You really need static line for this, and even then it is tough to get it really good and tight.

2) The next option, and my preference is to use an anchor tensioner:



3) BOTH: I still use a lanyard and carabiner. The tensioner holds the anchor rock solid, and the carabiner and lanyard are for safety purposes. Particularly, so when the admiral dploys and retrieves the anchor, the carabiner and lanyard hold the anchor in place while she's either hooking or unhooking the tensioner.

[A Little Nauti]

Thanks Shrew, I haven't seen one of these types of tensioners before but they look like they will do the trick. I will keep my eye open for them and get one before the spring. Thanks again.

[biggerseagar]

Nauti........check West Marine or other boating web sights for that....... If you don't have any stores in your neck of the woods that carry it in stock.

It's easy shopping online!

Roger

[jamanati]

I have a cleat not to far from my anchor, a small nylon rope does the trick for me.

[shrew]

Nylon rope will work. It would need to ba static line, and not allow any natural stretch (unlike an anchor line or boat line) However, even static line can stretch and possibly part. You also also have to trust that the full tension is taken up and tied tightly and properly each time with a cleat hitched line. Otherwise, the anchor can bang around up there a little. With a 25lb anchor, that can be tricky. Again, not saying it would work.