T&T: Stern Anchor

[William Brewer]

   	Before setting up a stern anchor and rode, it is not a bad idea to 
think about how it is to be used.
	
	1.	It isn't a substitute for the main working anchor or the storm 
anchor.  Most of us don't have anchor winches on the stern and, at a 
certain age, a big anchor is hard to deal with. Sometimes you will be 
wrestling it in and out of a dinghy.
	2. Most of the time a stern anchor is used in tight spots to keep the 
boat from swinging. Both bow and stern rodes are reasonably taut; 
otherwise the purpose is defeated.
	3. It is not used in a hard blow.  In that case one wants the boat to 
swing from the working anchor.
	4. Why polypro? Getting bow and stern anchors back on board inevitably 
requires some backing down. Maybe you are single-handed.  It is SO easy 
to wind that stern rode around a prop. Same problem with a dinghy tow 
line, when you forget to shorten up as you come in - or am I the only 
one?

	Here on the Chesapeake, we have a foot or two of normal tide, and 
generally anchor in six or eight feet of water.  Bottom is nice juicy 
mud.  Not exactly the Pacific Northwest!
	So...tailor your gear to what you really need.

Bill Brewer
NANCY LAKIN
Covey Island 46
Lying Galesville MD