Anchor chain buoy recommendations

[HBrew]

Hi - I need to get some floats for my anchor chain (10mm chain). I am looking for any recommendations for robust models for me to buy.

Thanks

[GordMay]

Boat fender?

[slug]

What is the purpose for your anchor chain floats ?

[Shrew]

Are you referring to an anchor marker? Goodness please don't. That is like parking sideways across three spaces in a parking lot. Besides, when it gets confused and you drift over your anchor, you've introduce the possibility of fouling your anchor marker line in your running gear. Also a great way for another boat to foul their running gear in your marker like as they creep through the anchorage in the dark.

(It sounds outlandish, but I've witnessed both events). There is no need to 'know where your anchor is'.

[slug]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Are you referring to an anchor marker? Goodness please don't. That is like parking sideways across three spaces in a parking lot. Besides, when it gets confused and you drift over your anchor, you've introduce the possibility of fouling your anchor marker line in your running gear. Also a great way for another boat to foul their running gear in your marker like as they creep through the anchorage in the dark.

(It sounds outlandish, but I've witnessed both events). There is no need to 'know where your anchor is'.

Yah. Well said

Anchor bouys are a nightmare

Don’t use them

[Woodland Hills]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Are you referring to an anchor marker? Goodness please don't. That is like parking sideways across three spaces in a parking lot. Besides, when it gets confused and you drift over your anchor, you've introduce the possibility of fouling your anchor marker line in your running gear. Also a great way for another boat to foul their running gear in your marker like as they creep through the anchorage in the dark.

(It sounds outlandish, but I've witnessed both events). There is no need to 'know where your anchor is'.

True, but the ability to pull a fouled anchor out backwards can be quite useful. We once got tangled in some steel cable and had to wait several hours for a diver to go down and pull the anchor free. He told us that hoisting it up via a bouyed line would have immediately freed it. In fact, our Rocna Vulcan has a hole in the anchor for just that purpose: to pull in the opposite direction as the chain.

[slug]

Originally Posted by Woodland Hills

True, but the ability to pull a fouled anchor out backwards can be quite useful. We once got tangled in some steel cable and had to wait several hours for a diver to go down and pull the anchor free. He told us that hoisting it up via a bouyed line would have immediately freed it. In fact, our Rocna Vulcan has a hole in the anchor for just that purpose: to pull in the opposite direction as the chain.

When you get your anchor bouy wrapped around your prop , always At night when its blowing a gale
, You may loss your boat

Your bouy also terrorizes any other boat in the anchorage
The last time I destroyed an outboard motor prop hub was by picking up an anchor bouy in the Harbour when chugging home at night

[GordMay]

The usual purpose of an anchor chain float, is to prevent damage to nearby coral.
As other note (I agree), merely marking your anchor is poor practice.

[slug]

If you must anchor in foul ground learn how to rig an anchor breakout lashing

[HeinSdL]

Originally Posted by slug

If you must anchor in foul ground learn how to rig an anchor breakout lashing

Good, I will stop marking the anchor, was a pain anyway. I thought it was good practice and that it would help free the anchor on occasions. But here to learn, and in that light: how does one rig an anchor breakout lashing?

[HopCar]

I spent last weekend on a rental houseboat in Everglades National Park. The bottom was mud with the occasional log on the bottom. The anchor was a claw. The rental company had tied a length of yellow polypro to the head of the anchor, no float. Didn’t have to use it but I was glad it was there. I asked the manager, Capt. Molly, why there wasn’t a float. She just said there used to be a float on the line. It really didn’t need a float. The yellow line was easy to see.

[GordMay]

An "anchor breakout lashing" is also known as a “tripping line”.
Sooner or later it is almost inevitable that an anchor will become fouled on the sea bed. Then a buoyed tripping line, attached to the crown anchor is invaluable; but at all other times it will be an unnecessary extra annoyance. Tripping lines can be fouled by other boats, or picked up in error, and have an infuriating habit of wrapping themselves around anything within range. In these circumstances they will do exactly what their name implies – trip the anchor!

A length of chain inserted into the line will help to ensure that it hangs vertically from the marker buoy, or the line can be lightly attached to the anchor chain itself, so that it can be broken away when needed. Neither is a perfect solution, however.

I have never used one.

[slug]

Originally Posted by GordMay

An "anchor breakout lashing" is also known as a “tripping line”.
Sooner or later it is almost inevitable that an anchor will become fouled on the sea bed. Then a buoyed tripping line, attached to the crown anchor is invaluable; but at all other times it will be an unnecessary extra annoyance. Tripping lines can be fouled by other boats, or picked up in error, and have an infuriating habit of wrapping themselves around anything within range. In these circumstances they will do exactly what their name implies – trip the anchor!

A length of chain inserted into the line will help to ensure that it hangs vertically from the marker buoy, or the line can be lightly attached to the anchor chain itself, so that it can be broken away when needed. Neither is a perfect solution, however.

I have never used one.

The classic method for anchoring in foul ground is called “Becue”
A breakout lashing

https://wavetrain.net/2011/01/08/bec...-a-stuck-hook/

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The usual purpose of an anchor chain float, is to prevent damage to nearby coral.
As other note (I agree), merely marking your anchor is poor practice.

Agree. I assume the OP is asking about this former, fully legit, use. And not about the latter.

Use of an anchor float simply to mark where your anchor's location, is indeed poor practice. It unnecessarily blocks out a larger area of the anchorage than is necessary (just like an unused mooring), and is introduces new dangers to you, and to your neighbours.

For the record, I have used an anchor float as part of a trip line. I deploy the trip line when I have serious reason to believe the bottom might be fouled. Otherwise, it is a poor idea.

I have heard about people who string their trip line along their main rode, and bring it back to the bow. I've never tried this yet. And the becue approach looks interesting as well. Might have to try this some time.

[Mark Thurlow]

As has been said when you need to deploy a tripping line then bringing the end back to your bows is a kindness to others when space is at a premium.

If however you find your anchor stuck without a predeployed solution you can come up tight on the rode/chain and sink a small circle of chain attached to a line down the rode. With some manoeuvring , or outside assistance you can get the circle of chain over the stock to sit against the head of the anchor and trip it out backwards.

I know this works from real situations. Go get that foot of chain now and hang it in the anchor locker!

Mark