Do not Attach a Floating Buoy to a Trip Line.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by rognvald

" Trip lines are also of little help when the chain has become entangled in underwater debris. I have cut away two anchors that were caught among debris in turbid water with strong currents where I was unwilling to dive.
Hudson Force


Anything that adds unnecessary complexity to anchoring is a liability. Err to the conservative . . . simple is better. Better to choose your anchorages carefully and stay away from the crowd. If it is necessary to anchor in close quarters, keep a secure but short scope and a watchful eye. And, there are those times, as described above, that are unavoidable and part of cruising. For me, no buoys, no trip lines, no drama. Good luck and good sailing.

I'm Gobsmacked..!!!

We agree on something...

[noelex 77]

Andrew Troupe's idea of using a strong subsurface float that can be grabbed with a grapnel is also worth considering.

With these options consider that if it is the chain that is caught, rather than the anchor you will not know accuratly where the anchor is located. It would still be possible to "trawl" with a grapnel and snag the float. The float on my anchor also, just, shows up on the fishfinder in my tender. A larger float could probably be found reliably with this technology.

[MIDGET]

I can't see the pic(?) in post 12 of this thread. Was it this?

The Automated AnchorBuoy

If not, what do you folks think of this products usefulness? Self-adjusting, lighted, etc.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by MIDGET

I can't see the pic(?) in post 12 of this thread. Was it this?

The Automated AnchorBuoy

If not, what do you folks think of this products usefulness? Self-adjusting, lighted, etc.

Actually, I find the complexity and cost of this item humorous. 'makes me think of an old "Saturday Night Live" advertizing something like a Bass-o-matic. I've anchored extensively for the past 43 years and I've had three ocassions to dislodge my anchor successfully with a trip line and two events when I cut away my anchor.

I carry spare anchors and I can buy a used anchor that works as well as a new one. I've purchased a couple of anchors from the marine consignment store in Oriental, NC for a total cost far less than this solar powered, LED light, magnetic fastened, automatic jewel that is just as likely to work or foul as a bleach bottle on a light line.

I don't use a trip line float often, but if I decide to use one, I could make one for temporary use with materials I keep on board and for no cost.

[Fuss]

Originally Posted by dohenyboy

Tell me what is wrong with my idea.
Use an anchor buoy but set it up so that it floats 8' below the surface at low tide. This keeps it from fouling any props.

Why should 8' below the surface at low tide keep it from fouling props.

It would be true if there were no props and other boat bits more than 7' below the surface but thats just the point, there is sometimes.

You can see by the length of this thread that any talk of having an anchor buoy results in continuous misunderstanding of the problem and danger that anchor buoys cause.

To keep things simple, your anchor safe and other boats safe.....

Do not Attach a Floating Buoy to a Trip Line.

If you need a trip line then I gave a possible solution in the first post.

[noelex 77]

There is also this one Swi-Tec, with a spring loaded adjustable length line.

Really these are very expensive solutions to simple problems. If you want it self adjusting a weight and block attached to the float will do the same thing.

I don't see a problem with an anchor float, providing you consider carefully when it should be used. Make it simple and cheap.

[SV THIRD DAY]

In 4ys of full time cruising living at anchor 365days/yr we saw 2, maybe 3 boats with anchor bouys. They set them more as a way to warn off other boaters from dropping anchor ontop of their anchor. That didn't go to well when another cruiser that came into the anchorage late at night tied up on their anchor bouy (Mooring Ball). It gave them a nice surprise in the moring to find another boat hanging from their anchor bouy line!