How Close Is Too Close?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

This is surely true! Don't really understand why... something about perspective I suppose, but it does exist, and with some experience can be factored into how you place your anchor.

Does anyone use those fancy laser distance measuring tools? Seems like a good way to confirm (or deny) your own sense of distance.

My hi-tech way is to ask my spouse, Ann. She’s a swimmer, and seems to have an innate sense of distance over water; measured in olympic pool lengths. She’s usually pretty accurate … at least that’s what she tells me .

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Does anyone use those fancy laser distance measuring tools? Seems like a good way to confirm (or deny) your own sense of distance.

My hi-tech way is to ask my spouse, Ann. She’s a swimmer, and seems to have an innate sense of distance over water; measured in olympic pool lengths. She’s usually pretty accurate … at least that’s what she tells me .

If I want a distance measurement to a close boat I use the Radar.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

This is surely true! Don't really understand why... something about perspective I suppose, but it does exist, and with some experience can be factored into how you place your anchor.

Jim

Although I have, at limes carried a line ashore in order to tie it to some fixed object, never have I anchored my vessel while ashore. Virtually all of the anchoring I have done is from aboard my vessel, or from very nearby when it seemed best to drop the anchor from a dinghy. There have been many times when I never even had the potential benefit of a prospective from shore, and I doubt it will ever influence my anchor placement. But I suppose it is possible.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Paul L

If I want a distance measurement to a close boat I use the Radar.

Radar? You're serious?

A thumb at arm's length is about the height of a man at 60'. I've know that since I was 10. That should be accurate enough. If you can't make out the height, you are far enough.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Radar? You're serious?

A thumb at arm's length is about the height of a man at 60'. I've know that since I was 10. That should be accurate enough. If you can't make out the height, you are far enough.

In truth, the thumb is about as hi-tech as needed, if even that. Despite all of the discussion about geometry not to mention laser and radar, aside from depth determination and charts, there is not a lot of tech that has added to the art of anchoring. Sure anchors and rodes have improved, but the art still remains. Whatever the degree of science, it is not an exact science nor can it be precise or mechanical in its application.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Radar? You're serious?

A thumb at arm's length is about the height of a man at 60'. I've know that since I was 10. That should be accurate enough. If you can't make out the height, you are far enough.

Yep, serious. I have already done the view estimate, now if I decide I'd really like to know the actual, non-subjective distance to a point or a boat, I get an accurate fix from the Radar.

[Jason Flare]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Yep, serious. I have already done the view estimate, now if I decide I'd really like to know the actual, non-subjective distance to a point or a boat, I get an accurate fix from the Radar.

Yah, well, I think I like Mike O'Reily's method a lot better at getting a non-subjective distance to a boat.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Yep, serious. I have already done the view estimate, now if I decide I'd really like to know the actual, non-subjective distance to a point or a boat, I get an accurate fix from the Radar.

+1. Radar is the very t*ts for this. Just like for any other task requiring distance measuring.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[kmacdonald]

I anchor just about anywhere and don't worry how close I am to other boats. If they think I'm too close they can move.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

I anchor just about anywhere and don't worry how close I am to other boats. If they think I'm too close they can move.

Wow. Nice.

[Simonsays]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Wow. Nice.

don't mind the troll.

socialy acceptable distance is only the second important thing anyways.

[Stu Jackson]

He's always like this. Contrarian doesn't even begin to describe it.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

He's always like this. Contrarian doesn't even begin to describe it.

I see you noticed that as well.

[SV Bacchus]

He sounds a bit like my father. I keep telling dad "I'm surprised someone hasn't shot you yet!"

[thomm225]

He's just bored because it's been too cold (and windy) to sail much up where he is right now.

Plus I doubt he'd anchor to close to most cruising boats because it appears he's sailing a Catalina Capri 22.

It's a bit of a light weight....I'm thinking it wouldn't do well bouncing off a heavy cruisin' boat for a few hours if the wind got up

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=166