GL: Stern Anchoring

[Rich Gano]

"Having boated on the Mississippi River for most of my life I have one piece
of advice. Try never to get into a situation where you need to back against
the current when retrieving a stern anchor by hand. It can be difficult
fighting the current and pulling in that anchor, especially if single
handing. I would always drop my bow anchor, then let the boat drift down
river a bit, then drop the aft anchor. Then, as someone already stated, when
ready to leave, pull in the aft anchor first by drifting down on it. I know
this may seem obvious to some, but this advice may be helpful to those who
are used to boating only in lakes, the gulf, or even the ICW and are heading
off to the various river systems for the first time."

All quite true and good advice.  Just remember the reversing current
situation where the former downstream stern anchor can become the UPSTREAM
stern anchor.  Yes, a Bahama moor is probably preferred here, but there have
been situations where I have had to anchor from both bow and stern in
reversing currents and retrieve anchors in the reversed current .  Your best
approach in retrieving an upstream stern anchor may be to take the bow
anchor in first and then run the bitter end of the stern anchor rode to the
bow before releasing the stern anchor rode from the stern cleat.

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB-42 #295)
Southport, FL (near Panama City)