[Rhodes22-list] Lunch Hooks

[Bill Effros]

Bob,

Thanks for you comments, and everyone else, too.

I'm going to break out my replies into topics, instead of trying to 
reply to all of the remarks made by any individual. I'll try to change 
the subject lines so we can discuss different threads on the same 
topic.  In the process I'll tell you what I learned this summer, and I 
hope others will share their experiences, as well.  I don't think I am 
the definitive word on anchoring--it is something I felt I should know 
more about for that day when I really need it.

As you may remember, I started with a 1 1/2 lb. $5 folding grapnel 
anchor on rode without chain.  I thought this anchor made an excellent 
"lunch hook".  You could almost literally throw it overboard.  It went 
straight for the bottom.  It always hooked on something. It held just 
fine in most situations.  It could be retrieved by a child.  It came up 
clean.  What's not to like?

I thought it was the perfect "lunch hook" and I discovered that whereas 
I had been reluctant to anchor in the past, I now thought nothing of it, 
and would anchor at a moment's notice--sometimes just out of curiosity 
to see how deep the water was--like a lead line.

But, I also knew that sometimes the anchor would shake loose, and I 
would drift for a bit before the anchor reset.

So I went to a larger folding grapnel, a 3 lb. model, and then a 5 
pounder.  Every time I increased the size I also increased the 
reliability of the anchor.  But still, each anchor would sometimes allow 
for some drift.

So I switched to a 2 1/2 lb. Guardian anchor (by Fortress) with no 
chain.  This has become my "go-to" anchor as I will explain elsewhere.  
It has all of the advantages of the folding grapnel, and none of the 
disadvantages.  It is light, easy to deploy, always hooks on something, 
can be disassembled without tools, comes up clean...and once set it 
stays set until you release it.  It is an ideal anchor.

I never use the "lunch hook" anymore, and have banished the concept of 
"lunch hooks" from my anchoring vocabulary.  Every time I anchor I want 
to use an anchor that doesn't drift--whether I'm paying attention or 
not.  Also, by practicing with my "go-to" anchor all the time, I get 
better at using it, and have more faith in it when I use it at times 
when I cannot constantly watch it.

The Guardian runs around $50, can be completely disassembled and stored 
in a pouch along with 100 feet of rode, is made of an aluminum/magnesium 
alloy, has 11" long flukes, and will fit into a Rubbermaid container 
under the cockpit seats, along with rode, completely assembled, without 
the need to cut notches into the container.  (I've done that too, but 
the container fails after a while.)

I have 2 on board--one under the cockpit seat, and the other in a pouch 
in the lazarette.  I have a Fortress FX-7 on the bow.  I would match 
these 3 anchors against any other anchor in the world in terms of 
safety, holding power, ability to remain set in changing wind and 
current conditions, and likelihood of having available when needed.  All 
three anchors are always on board, each with 100 to 150 feet of its own 
rode.

These are my "lunch hooks" but they are also my "hurricane hole" hooks. 

Bill Effros





Robert Skinner wrote:

>The chain, believe it or not, serves somewhat 
>like a shock absorber.  
>
>Under no strain, a chain rode lies on the bottom.  
>Under severe strain, it is pulled up, almost in 
>a straight line between the anchor and the 
>attachment point on the boat.
>
>It is what happens between these two static 
>positions that is most important.  The energy 
>used to raise the chain and make it taught is 
>subtracted from the shock that the boat will 
>put on the anchor when it has straightened out 
>and used up all the rode.
>
>That helps the anchor stay where you put it.
>
>Shock absorption is also helped by using 
>twisted 3-strand nylon rode, as opposed to 
>poly, as it stretches more than poly.
>
>While long-term tension may ultimately cause an 
>anchor to drag, large short term shock will have 
>an even greater likelihood of breaking the anchor 
>loose.
>
>So when the stuff is in the fan, or if on the 
>hook overnight, I opt to use some chain, nylon 
>line, and a rubber shock absorber in the line 
>-- in addition to as much scope as reasonable.
>
>Of course, I still use a folding grapnel on a 
>simple nylon rode as a lunch hook.  KISS.
>
>And, yes, I do wear both belt and suspenders...
>
>/Bob Skinner
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