T&T: Gear for Stern Anchor

[William Brewer]

	Having put off a dedicated stern anchor for a number of years, I was 
inspired by some recent postings to go ahead and finish the job.
	First, I found a 600' spool of 5/8" three-strand polypro at Peak 
Trading for $84, plus $25 shipping. Then I scouted around among the 
hose reels at Home Depot and found a a reel, made by Suncast, enclosed 
in a beige plastic box about 2 feet square.  It makes a nice coffee 
table or seat in the aft cockpit. And, to my surprise, the reel held - 
barely - the entire 600' of line. It is about as convenient a rig as 
one can imagine.
	The line is also readily available as a dinghy towing line or a shore 
line - looped around the famous NW tree.
	Choice of anchor is another matter which has been thoroughly covered 
and need not be further discussed. As a matter of information, mud and 
sand are the usual bottoms here on the Chesapeake, and we use a 
Fortress FX-23 (15 lbs) as the stern anchor. But other places, other 
anchors.

Bill Brewer
Covey Island 46
Lying Galesville, MD

	


William Brewer
Box 289
Galesville MD 20765
periwin@comcast.net