Anchoring/Mooring

In the last chapter, I specified the perfect offshore voyaging boat anchor roller and how existing rollers can be improved. But what happens if we need to scrap the piece of junk the builder saddled us with and start over?

Also, are there any benefits to having two rollers? And, if so, how should they be designed to work well together?

There are few pieces of gear on many voyaging boats that are as poorly designed as the anchor roller. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

When an anchor that thousands of sailors rely on seems to have a dangerous flaw, we need to write about that…and we do. Also, some thoughts on the new Vulcan anchor.

We sailors love to talk about anchor tests, and yes, they are useful, but never forget that they are all fundamentally flawed.

After we have bought our best bower (primary anchor) and kedge, what should our third anchor be? The logical answer will surprise you…as it did me.

The second most important anchor on our boats after the best bower is the kedge. What type should it be and how big? We make it simple.

In the last chapter we covered the best anchor types for your primary anchor. In this chapter we move on to size and material—even tricker things to decide on. But not to worry, we make it simple.

There are so many anchors and so many conflicting claims it’s hard to know what to buy. In this chapter we cut through the fog with clear recommendations of the anchors that work and a warning list of those that we don’t trust.

Learn why this Online Book is worth your time and will change your cruising life for the better.

Does your boat swing violently back and forth at anchor when the wind is up? Colin has a solution that is simple, inexpensive, and easy to rig.

  Want to save a bunch of money…no, I mean really big money. Buy and install a really good deck washdown pump. “Huh? OK, now John really has lost his marbles”, I can hear you say. But read on, this piece of gear could save you thousands of dollars, Pounds, or Euros every year. The reason [...]

You can have the best anchors and associated gear available, but if you don’t use that gear properly you won’t get anchored and stay anchored. In this post we carry on from Part 1 with some tips for techniques to help make you a happy anchorer.

In the last chapter on chain we looked at the three grades of chain normally used for anchor rodes on cruising sailboats. In this chapter we carry on from that base and examine the trade-offs between the grades and the things that you need to know when selecting the right anchor chain and gauge for your boat.

Not a lot more to say really. Thanks to Glen Applebaum, who took the shot and Drummer Dave who sent it to us.