Anchor Watch

[unbusted67]

Do you keep an anchor watch? This is anonymous

[Pelagic]

This can be interpreted so many ways.

I always set the depth alarm and GPS alarm, so is this maintaining a position watch?

Often when local conditions dictate extra vigilance, we both sleep lightly on deck….is this a security watch?

Obviously at anchor in storm conditions, the Radar is on to measure vessels upwind of us
to see if they are dragging.

The point I am making is we are always aware of our situation and without any words being spoken, I may decide to sleep early, then read a book during the night due to local unknowns.

I actually quite enjoy it!

[s/v Jedi]

Pelagic: exactly the same here. Storm is coming, we check the anchor and snubber again, fix what's loose on deck etc. At sundown we realize we must do anchor watches and we curse a bit about that, but when it's dark we enjoy it; it's like passaging without the sail changes ;-)

cheers,
Nick.

[barnakiel]

GPS anchor drag alarm ON, depth shallow alarm ON, depth deep alarm ON.

If conditions dictate, one person napping in the cockpit the other down below. Happened once in 6 years circumnavigation.

b.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

GPS anchor drag alarm ON, depth shallow alarm ON, depth deep alarm ON.

If conditions dictate, one person napping in the cockpit the other down below. Happened once in 6 years circumnavigation.

b.

My GPS anchor drag alarm sucks because it goes off when you rotate around your anchor, not specifically if you are dragging backwards. So if you set it for twenty feet and you swing twenty feet in an arch, well there you go Weeeeooooooo! What is the distance at which you set yours to go off? I haven't fiddled with the deep/shallow alarms.

[Chrisc]

Solution to the above, courtesy of my clever wife....
You need to set the GPS anchor alarm where you actually drop anchor and not where you fetch up after paying out your rode. Then, set the distance according to the scope plus whatever drag allowance you chose. This means that the circle of rotation is centered on the anchor. If you set the GPS alarm where you fetch up after anchoring, the circle of rotation is centered on the boat and therefore you can easily veer out of it in wind shifts thus actuating the alarm, but in reality you haven't dragged.

Chris

[GordMay]

Where were you (Chris’ clever wife), with that simple, yet effective advice, about 17 years ago, when it would have done me some good (D'oh, he says, banging his head)?

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by Chrisc

Solution to the above, courtesy of my clever wife....
You need to set the GPS anchor alarm where you actually drop anchor and not where you fetch up after paying out your rode. Then, set the distance according to the scope plus whatever drag allowance you chose. This means that the circle of rotation is centered on the anchor. If you set the GPS alarm where you fetch up after anchoring, the circle of rotation is centered on the boat and therefore you can easily veer out of it in wind shifts thus actuating the alarm, but in reality you haven't dragged.

Chris

Didn't this come with the instructions..........i2f

[Pelagic]

Chris...you certainly have a "Golden" Girl........I will remember that!

[zeehag]

any time i am at anchor or on a mooring i am on watch--there are certain noises one listens for and certain feelings one feels when boats drag anchor--even slightly---as i have anchored and moored fopr many years these are ingrained and natural, as it were---saved us phils boat at least twice, now--when we anchored in places where no one was able to have holding in windy situations----even before the electronix said something was wrong--i donot trust alarms--they fail--i trust ME!!!!!! LOL--there is just a FEEL about not having holding, despite having felt the anchor grab---electronic thingies cannot feel those feelings...and they are able to be sensed even in sleep---

[George Wade]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

Do you keep an anchor watch? This is anonymous

The poll is much too simple minded to answer; though it is one step ahead of the way media would have run it: 'Do you have an Anchor watch' ? Yes ~ No

'Would you pay $5, $10, $20 or $50 for a good quality, bronze Anchor watch' ?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Didn't this come with the instructions..........i2f

You actually read the instructions?
What a clever, and novel idea; that many of us, I included, could take to heart.

[mesquaukee]

Only in crowded anchorages if and when we feel a sudden wind shift and rapid increase in wind strenght.
Heavy ground tackle and a lot of scope gives a restfull good nights sleep.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by George Wade

The poll is much too simple minded to answer; though it is one step ahead of the way media would have run it: 'Do you have an Anchor watch' ? Yes ~ No

'Would you pay $5, $10, $20 or $50 for a good quality, bronze Anchor watch' ?

Or "people dragging anchors: Are you protected? Find out how you vessel could be at risk. And later: does breathing cause cancer? Find out more at six!"

Tell me how you would like to see it changed and I will ask a moderator make adjustments.

[Eleven]

Why not drop the spare (or dinghy) anchor on a rope, tie a bucket to the inboard end and lay it in the cockpit. Add a few bolts, tin cans etc if you are the deep sleeper sort.