HI,

As it says 'New Boater'

This past weekend was a milestone. I didn't ding a prop. ( Gonna name my boat 'Prop Buster' but I did have trouble with an anchor.

I boat at this time mainly on local lakes and the Piscataqua River trying to learn how to do the things I passed the test on for my safety sticker and safe boaters certificate.

This weekend I took the wife and son out and we were going to fish for a while at High Tide. We anchored off the N.H. shore on the Piscataqua up from Portsmouth Harbour, and fished an hour but nothing on the bait except for some nice crabs that liked the clam bait. But, when we wanted to leave, the anchor would not let loose from any directions and we ended up after 30 minutes with just cutting the line.

Can anyone give some hints about anchoring. Is there something special that needs to be done? How do you retrieve the anchor after fishing?

Is it because of the very strong tides in the Piscataqua ( 2nd fastest in the U.S.?

Anchoring hints anyone. I'd appreciate it.

BTW: I ended up cutting the line and leaving my anchor and chain lead for a new breeding ground.

Thanks - Newbie

To rig an anchor for breakaway.. we do the following.. However I dont anchor in areas w/ huge tidal currents, nor do I know the bottom types, but it is worth a shot..

for a danforth anchor

Drill (Or have a machinist do it) a 3/8" hole in the heel of the anchor.. Then put your shackle for the chain through this hole... Run the chain along the shank of the anchor and tie off with heavy duty wire ties.. This way you can break the ties with the boats power and pull the anchor out backwards...

OR

If very rocky or a wreck.. Get a bunch of rebar and weld up a grapnel anchor.. The rebar can br straigthened w/ the boat's power if needed and then bent back on land... Any questions, PM me...

Bryan

You could also consider an anchor retrieval ball. It's an inflated buoy that you clip onto your anchor rode then power the boat past the anchor at an angle. The ball slides down the rode and lifts the anchor then you steer around and retrieve the floating anchor and rode.
Problem; they're not cheap. Retails for around $75 but you could probably put one together yourself a lot cheaper.

Send Clamdigger a PM......he's an "anchor" professional.

Can you say... swim??:laughs:

..inside joke...

Bo's right, and here's how to make a cheaper one.. (We use this along w/ the above methods for rigging the anchor)

Get a large Snap at West or other boating store (Usually in the sailing hardware dept.) then tie this to a pink poly ball fender (18"+).. The downside over the commercial rigs is that it wond slide over the anchor to prevent it from slipping down the rode, but if you prevent slack from forming the clip will stay right at the knot/splice...

Bryan

The posts are all good advice.

I never heard of the one where you drill a hole in the heel though. (interesting idea).

Anyway they also sell release anchors, they are danforth style, but have a large steel band (elongated ring kinda) instead of a standard shank, so the shackle will just slide to the heel of the anchor when you drive around the other side of it. I had one for years, and its still around, (sold it with my old boat).

Seeing how you now have to buy a new anchor anyway, look into it. I'm not sure where I got it, but i could find out if you need.

Good Luck.

I have been using the mighty mite anchor all this season and I have to tell you it works great. It is not expensive and you can buy it at west marine. Some of the custom ones the guys here made are really nice but since I don't have all the welding eqquipment in my basement I need to find an alternative.
This bites into anything and it frees up easily. You can bend the aluminum tines back if you need to.

Same Idea as the rebar design, just nice and shiny :D

Good luck new boater... And not to sound condicending, but you may want to hire a capt. to take you out in your own boat a few times.. I know there are a lot of good guys on a commercial website I'll send you via PM if you're interested..
Capt. Bryan Oakley
USCG 100GT Master