Do you ever anchor, backwards!?

[bergius]

As several here have mentioned, this is a pretty common way of anchoring in the Baltic Sea (no tides, rocky shores). Explains why boats with a full keel and a cutaway forefoot are so popular here.

As a matter of fact, we’re anchored with a stern anchor and shore lines from the bow right now in the Swedish archipelago:



We have dedicated aft anchor for this: a 15kg Bruce hanging from our pushpit (our old bower that we switched to aft when we upgraded to a Vulcan). 5m of 8mm chain, and 45m of webbing on a reel. When approaching the chosen rock, drop the anchor and let the reel play out. Then set and tighten when close enough, and jump to the shore with the bow lines.

Here’s a picture from above from couple of days ago that might also help to show how it works:

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by hugosalt

Thank you Atcowboy, very nice piece of kit but not inspired to the tune of
$800 + so its to the drawing board for me. Will share if come up with anything
presentable. (which is not always the case with me!)

Their stuff is absurdly expensive, hence the "inspiration" .

- AT

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by bergius

As several here have mentioned, this is a pretty common way of anchoring in the Baltic Sea (no tides, rocky shores). Explains why boats with a full keel and a cutaway forefoot are so popular here.

As a matter of fact, we’re anchored with a stern anchor and shore lines from the bow right now in the Swedish archipelago:



We have dedicated aft anchor for this: a 15kg Bruce hanging from our pushpit (our old bower that we switched to aft when we upgraded to a Vulcan). 5m of 8mm chain, and 45m of webbing on a reel. When approaching the chosen rock, drop the anchor and let the reel play out. Then set and tighten when close enough, and jump to the shore with the bow lines.

Here’s a picture from above from couple of days ago that might also help to show how it works:

What a beautiful location and boat. It seems like webbing stern rode is popular over there. I have never seen it once on the east coast of the USA.

- AT

[David Mathis]

Occasionally, when at a beach with a gentle breeze from shore, we use an 8 lb Danforth to hold the stern toward the beach so we can wade to shore. I would never consider stern anchoring for overnight or anytime when the air is more than light.

[FoxIslander]

So if you stern anchor and unfurl a bit of genny...does it behave like a riding sail?

[Atcowboy]

Originally Posted by FoxIslander

So if you stern anchor and unfurl a bit of genny...does it behave like a riding sail?

I'm not sure, I have Hank on sails. But my boat definitely doesn't hunt when stern anchored.

- AT

[capn_billl]

Not voluntarily, but wind/ current conditions sometimes put me stern to the wind

[thinwater]

Yes, I have a few times.


a. The boat yaws less. Of course, a multihull with a good bridle barely yaws, so that isn't a reason for me.


b. Improved ventilation in light winds. I have found this is not really true on many boats, because the ventilation was designed for wind from the front. Depends on the boat.


c. Bad if the wind picks up at all. Too much wind in the cockpit and companionway. Spray can be a problem. The boat does not ride the waves as well because it is not shaped to take them stern-on. Noisy and jerky.



d. Horrible if it rains. A funnel into the saloon. Really horrible.


e. The windlass and lockers are at the other end. You could design for both, but the bower anchor will always be kept at the bow.



So after a few tries, at least one on each boat I have owned, I never went back to it. I won't need to try it on the next boat, because for me, everything is worse.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by FoxIslander

So if you stern anchor and unfurl a bit of genny...does it behave like a riding sail?

Anchored by the stern you won't need a riding sail.


And no, it does not, for a number of reasons.

[davb]

Just be sure that little waves are not forcing water into the exhaust outlet of your inboard engine (if you have one), which can cause a lock and possible damage to your engine.

[senormechanico]

If you like riding a spinnaker, you have to anchor by the stern.
We did that often while in Mexico.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by Atcowboy

Do you ever stern anchor?

If the water is calm, I often stern anchor so my dodger now becomes a lovely wind scoop stuffing my salon with cool air. Or, my sun sails become more effective (cast more useful shade). Eventually it can get choppy enough I turn back around, as my overhang slaps a little like this.

I've only ever seen one other boat doing this purposefully, and it was a small weekender motorboat! Good for them, noticing the wind direction.

I've also set up a "swell" bridal to change the orientation of the boat to the sun, for more or less, to taste. - AT

I have anchored using both bow and stern anchors a number of times but that was due to limited anchoring space or other location factor. I have never anchored overnight for the reason you suggested. Strange things can happen overnight and I would not feel secure with my stern facing into the wind and waves.

[Oohla]

I was told that exclusive of other factors anchoring by the stern puts the center of lateral resistant upwind from the center of lateral effort such that the boat does not oscillate as the bow falls of to leeward making the boat "sail forward". Rinse and repeat.

Just a technique to bear in mind.

[Shanachie]

When I lived in Fort Lauderdale, there would be a couple of newspaper stories a year about powerboats sinking because their operators anchored off the stern while fishing the first reef.


Generally, what would happen is that a cruise ship or large freighter would plow along offshore and throw up a large wake.


With the common easterly winds, the wake would combine with the wind waves, grow larger and aim directly for the stern of the powerboat.



The powerboat, of course, would be stern-heavy because of the many hundreds of pounds of engine(s) there. The anchor line would keep the stern from floating up when the wake arrived.


The wake would climb over the stern and swamp the open powerboat. One minute, the guy was fishing. The next, he is waist-deep in water as the boat sinks.

[ohdrinkboy]

I often do a bow and stern anchor overnight to keep my bow pointed into potential passing boat wake. Do this in light/no wind.