THE ART OF STORM ANCHORING
1. Get to boat in plenty of time to get your boat out of the slip and anchored. Many members have stated to me that they just could not get down in time and now it was blowing to hard for them to leave their slip.
2. Know what anchors, chain and line you are going to use. There is no such thing as anchors, chain and line that are to big! As a minimum you should use at least your hull length in the amount of chain that you use and if you are anchoring in Broad creek (average depth of seven feet) the minimum about of anchor rode should be twenty to one or one hundred and forty feet. I have to anchor my boat most of the time by my self so I find that the best way is to place each anchor at right angles to each other. The best way to do this is to drop the anchor (slowly) until it hits the bottom (let the boat drift back or put the engine in reverse) to lay out the chain and rode on the bottom of the creek till the desired amount is in the water. Cleat off the rode and set it as hard as you can with all the power your engine can give you. Once the first anchor is set drive your boat away from the first anchor (keep your rode on the first anchor tight) until you come to the correct angle from your first anchor than drop your next anchor and do it the same way you did it with the first anchor. Make sure to keep the first anchor rode away from your prop!
3. Every boat has different characteristics as far as windage is concerned. The more the windage the larger ground tackle that is needed. Take down all sails, canvas, auxiliary outboard and any thing else that might cause windage problems. Don't forget to lock your boat when you leave.
4. Make sure that when you anchor that you have more than enough room for your boat to swing in all directions. I was amazed that after hurricane Fran and Bertha how many people had anchored right on top of other boats.
5. Some boats use anywhere from one anchor to four anchors. I firmly believe that two anchors is the minimum that should be used. There are at least four good anchors on the bottom of Broad Creek due to that fact that the lines chafed through on one anchor. If they had just one out they would) have been in the woods. The boats with more than one anchor out stayed put!
6. Get enough double walled fire hose to go from your cleat through your chock and into the water. This does a number of things for you. You will eliminate the chafe through the chock and if the anchor rodes twist the fire hose that went from the chock to the water will keep your rode from chafing through. Make sure to put a light piece of line through both walls of the fire hose and tie it to a cleat. This will keep the fire hose from slipping down your anchor rode. Please try not to use tape for chafe instead of fire hose. I have seen a whole roll of tape used as chafe guard and still have the anchor rode chafed half way through! Anchor rodes stretch and many times the tape will be pulled away from the chocks, use fire hose!!!
7. Do not tie your anchor rode to just one cleat. Take the anchor rode around your primary cleat than snake it back to your mast (only if it is keel stepped) and tie it off there. If it is not keel stepped than take it to your primary winches and pull it tight than tie it off to another cleat. If this sounds like over-kill it is - but - a hurricane is over kill!
8. Leave some sort of light on your mast at all times. They do not draw much power and may keep your boat from being hit by another boater who is trying to anchor his boat after dark. I almost hit a boat that had no light on. If you have to anchor after dark take a Q-beam or good flash light with you to spot the other boats around you.
9. If in doubt ask for help. There are many very experienced people at our club that are more than willing to lend a hand - just ask.
We look forward to seeing you on the river.
Ted and Kate Clark
S/V Feather
