[Rhodes22-list] Anchoring Re: Call for Advice; depth sounder

[Mary Lou Troy]

Frank,
You may get varying advice on anchoring. We've been anchoring in the 
Chesapeake for 20 years. First on a Com-Pac 16 and then on the 
Rhodes. We've anchored in a fair number of creeks from Turner's Creek 
on the Sassafras to Hudson Creek on the Little Choptank. I can only 
tell you what has worked for us.

We had a Danforth type anchor that we really liked for the Com-Pac. 
It was not really as large as you might like for the Rhodes but 
because we were used to it we continued to use it.  We never liked 
the R22 rode storage. Some people use it effectively. We didn't want 
to be trying to get all that wet rode through the cowl vent into the 
rode tray in the v-berth. Instead we used an anchor rode bag and put 
the anchor and the rode (neatly flaked) into the bag. It gets store 
in the lazarette and walked forward when needed. It can be deployed 
from the cockpit in an emergency. It works well because it is always 
the 2 of us.

After being out in a couple of T-storms with 45 knot gusts we decided 
at the very least we would add more chain to the Danforth. We only 
dragged once (and we had four other R22s rafted to us at the time) 
but it seemed prudent to increase out holding power. With more chain, 
the Danforth held really well but was now hard for me to carry 
forward because of the weight.

A couple of years ago we decided to regroup and bought a Fortress. We 
put the recommended amount of chain on it (I think 6 feet). There is 
an art to setting it but it holds really well and is easy to walk 
forward. Its only downside is that it doesn't fit neatly in the rode 
bag but the arrangement is still workable. On the plus side, the very 
first time we anchored out with it, we had a 180 degree wind shift 
and then wind increased to where we had nearly 1 ft. waves in the 
anchorage. It was at night in a strange creek. We reduced windage 
(put the bimini and poptop down) and let out scope to 10 to 1 and 
stayed up on anchor watch from  8 to midnight when the winds finally 
died down. The good news is that while we were very anxious, the 
anchor didn't budge.

One of the nice things about the Fortress is that the really smooth 
surface sheds mud fairly well. I take a gallon bucket on a rope up on 
the foredeck with me when I am going to haul the anchor. I'm usually 
able to get rid of most of the mud by dunking the anchor up and down 
a few times (like you would a tea bag). The bucket takes care of the 
rest - mostly on the chain and the shackle. When everything is all 
cleaned up it's easy to walk it back to the cockpit.

Works for us.

Again, best wishes with the new boat.

Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

At 09:02 PM 12/4/2009, you wrote:
>Many thanks to those of you who responded to my call for advice.  I will
>explore the archives with some care and see what else I can learn.  For now,
>I think the 8 hp 4-stroke motor type that Stan recommended seems right.  As
>does the blue color. And the bimini and the pop-top cover. I also think I
>can use a depth sounder (beyond the centerboard solution suggested by Stan).
>I am still concerned about motor controls, and guess I should check with the
>manufacturers about these--since I have no experience with outboards.
>
>The other matter I have been considering is the ground tackle issue.  I saw
>a picture of a Rhodes with an anchor roller on the bow and have contacted
>the owner but have no response yet.  If any list members have added a bow
>roller to hold an anchor, I would appreciate knowing what you have used, and
>any pictures you might have.  I anchor often (lunch, overnight)in muddy
>areas and can't imagine leaning over the pulpit dragging up 40 lbs of sticky
>anchor with chain and then trying to hang it up on the pulpit or the
>forestay. A roller seems more civilized.  On my last boat I also had a wash
>down pump to clean the foredeck and anchor.  It was an on-demand 12 v pump
>that drew raw water from the marine head intake hose via a T connection.  I
>attached a small hose to a connection on the foredeck when I wanted to use
>it. This may be overkill for a small sailboat, but it is something I might
>explore.  It did draw quite a bit of battery power...
>
>Again, thanks to all for your welcome and suggestions.
>
>Frank
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Robert Fuller
>Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 3:37 PM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Call for Advice; depth sounder
>
>Frank: Let me add my "welcome" to the chorus.
>I also wanted more advanced warning than the centerboard and went for
>overkill with a forward-looking sonar.  At $800, it was a ridiculously
>expensive toy, but I have had as much fun with it as any gadget on the boat
>& it is even sometimes genuinely useful in my shoal waters.  Stan mounted it
>thru the laz.; so it reads and graphs the depth under the entire boat and 20
>feet forward of the bow.  I don't think West Marine handles it anymore, but
>you can probably check out newer models @ www.echopilot.com.
>BobF.
>__________________________________________________
>To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
>http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>
>For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives go to
>http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>__________________________________________________
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>To subscribe/unsubscribe go to 
>http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>
>For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and 
>archives go to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>__________________________________________________
>
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.93/2544 - Release Date: 
>12/04/09 02:32:00