Let's Talk Grounding Tackle

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by marujo.sortudo

Here's an example in Maine of a lovely little harbor that the norm is bow & stern anchoring in. It's quite narrow (about 200' wide at the widest spots.) The holding is good, the location is excellent for traveling up/down the coast, and the protection is nearly complete with the harbor being described quite rightly as an Inner Pool and Outer Pool. A good number of boats can anchor in here safely bow and stern to line up with the channel.

https://goo.gl/maps/vW7ZL

Nice. Still, I count several mooring balls. A beer says the ball owners do not care or follow the courteous convention. 'Hope I'm wrong about that.

[cfarrar]

We've used a stern anchor (or a shore fast) to keep the bow pointed into a light swell on a windless night, and also to enjoy a nice view from the cockpit. This is for benign conditions only. We understand that if the wind picks up from the side we might need to release the stern rode, because the loads quickly become enormous (think of the gymnast doing the "iron cross" on the rings).

[marujo.sortudo]

Well, the Inner Pool which is a bit shoal for most cruising sailboats, has fisherman's moorings and 2 day use moorings for visitors to the island. The Outer Pool had two moorings when I was there last, but they are generally unused. Some things that look like moorings on the satellite view are probably lobster traps. The island consists of two pieces of property: a conservation trust with hiking trails, a caretakers cabin, and an old fishing shack turned into a 1 room museum; and an old Coast Guard Lifesaving Station that's now privately owned. The 2 moorings in the Outer Pool belong to the folks who own the old station and they're a lovely and very courteous couple who are friendly to cruisers and fisherman alike. Should you ever make it to Damariscove Island, set a course afterwards for the Blue Hill Peninsula and I'll be glad to collect that beer

[Sun and Moon]

Originally Posted by smj

I think that powering full speed at a closed bridge then relying on a stern anchor to stop you is insane! Do you consider the people who told you this friends? :-)

Utterly insane. But perhaps you misunderstood them.

While waiting 59 minutes for an hourly opening bridge and jealously watching another boat drop their anchor from the cockpit using a powered windlass, I realized I could do almost as well. I keep a Fortress on my stern rail, and deploying and retrieving it is almost as easy as using a powered windlass. Well, what do I know, I don't even have a manual windlass. But I can drop and retrieve my 15 lb Fortress by hand in seconds. With the wind or current pushing me down, the stern anchor often holds me right in place until the bridge is ready to open, allowing me to shut down the engine, attend to chores, or just sit and relax. A few minutes before the bridge is ready to open I pull the stern anchor and start motoring in circles. Easy-peasy.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by marujo.sortudo

Well, the Inner Pool which is a bit shoal for most cruising sailboats, has fisherman's moorings and 2 day use moorings for visitors to the island. The Outer Pool had two moorings when I was there last, but they are generally unused. Some things that look like moorings on the satellite view are probably lobster traps. The island consists of two pieces of property: a conservation trust with hiking trails, a caretakers cabin, and an old fishing shack turned into a 1 room museum; and an old Coast Guard Lifesaving Station that's now privately owned. The 2 moorings in the Outer Pool belong to the folks who own the old station and they're a lovely and very courteous couple who are friendly to cruisers and fisherman alike. Should you ever make it to Damariscove Island, set a course afterwards for the Blue Hill Peninsula and I'll be glad to collect that beer

Here is OPEN CPN of the island harbor. Could be a bit shallow in the north end. At We draw 6'-8" so we would have to stay at the south end.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Sun and Moon

Utterly insane. But perhaps you misunderstood them.

While waiting 59 minutes for an hourly opening bridge and jealously watching another boat drop their anchor from the cockpit using a powered windlass, I realized I could do almost as well. I keep a Fortress on my stern rail, and deploying and retrieving it is almost as easy as using a powered windlass. Well, what do I know, I don't even have a manual windlass. But I can drop and retrieve my 15 lb Fortress by hand in seconds. With the wind or current pushing me down, the stern anchor often holds me right in place until the bridge is ready to open, allowing me to shut down the engine, attend to chores, or just sit and relax. A few minutes before the bridge is ready to open I pull the stern anchor and start motoring in circles. Easy-peasy.

I don't think the OP was thinking "lunch hook". We have waited for bridges too but don't anchor in the channel. Too much traffic in smaller craft. It annoys them. (and would me too).