[PUP] Anchoring experience, building confidence!

[Williamson]

Hi Scott,
Good to hear from you.  We also have a Bushnell Range Finder on board.  It's 
also helpful to detect if you  are drifting on your anchor by taking a read 
off the shore.  Keep us posted on your travels south.
best regards.,
Neil, Elaine and Cody
M/V Senjero
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <catdoctor at earthlink.net>
To: "Passagemaking Under Power List" 
<passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [PUP] Anchoring experience, building confidence!


> -----Original Message-----
>>From: "Scott E. Bulger" <scottebulger at gmail.com>
>>Sent: Feb 3, 2008 5:48 AM
>>To: 'Passagemaking Under Power List' 
>><passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
>>Subject: [PUP] Anchoring experience, building confidence!
>>
>>What I wanted to share was an experience we had coming down to Acapulco.
>>There was an anchorage, Caleta de Compos, where we tucked behind some 
>>rocks
>>and secured a really nice location.  The waves were predictable, wrapping
>>around the rocks, into the cove and onto the beach.  I'd guess we were 
>>maybe
>>300 yards from the shoreline and 100 yards to the rocks.  Oh, note:  It's
>>really, really hard to judge distance on the water.  Over and over I've 
>>been
>>shocked just how much room there is between boats when I get on the dingy
>>and motor away from Alanui.  On the boat it looks like 50' to the other
>>boat, but once away from the boat the distance becomes 300'.  I guess in
>>time I'll develop that skill to estimate the distance.  Anyway, what I 
>>found
>>very interesting was an occasional GOOD SIZE wave would wrap around the
>>rocks.  You would feel the boat begin to pull against the anchor rode and
>>the bow would dip, then the whole boat would start to rise, perhaps 4 or 5
>>feet.  As the wave rolled under the boat I'd look out the stern toward the
>>beach and watch the wave continue to pile up to the point it would foam on
>>top, then crash on the beach.  I'd guess the wave was actually breaking
>>about 200 yards aft of Alanui.  Well after a day and a night of this I
>>became reasonably comfortable that all was good and a "BIG ONE" wasn't 
>>going
>>to come around the corner and break on us.
>
> REPLY:
>
> Scott,
>
> I have the same problem judging distance from our boat. I solved that by 
> buying a handheld range finder. I have the Bushnell Range Finder. It is 
> the size of a small set of binoculars and sells for less than $200. They 
> are made for golfers and hunters. Simply look thru the view finder and 
> push the button when the X is on whatever your target is and the range is 
> immediately displayed. I bought mine at Sport Chalet but they are widely 
> available. The only problem I have found is that it does not work well in 
> fog. I assume the infrared beam it uses is confused by all the water 
> droplets in the air in those conditions. I find it very comforting to know 
> that those rocks that are surely 50 feet away are really 300 yards 
> distant.
>
> Stan Creighton
> Pax Nautica
> Selene 53
> Ventura, CA
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