T&T: Another thought on anchors, windlasses and washdown systems

[Robert Deering]

Marty,

Here in SE Alaska we have deep anchorages as well, though they're not
crowded (and no wonder, what with the incessant rain, swarms of
blood-sucking insects, hostile locals, and price gouging for everything -
only idiots would want to boat up here!  Stay home!).

I installed a drum-type hydraulic windlass on my new boat, like you see on
commercial fishing boats.  It comes up FAST!  I'm still getting used to it.
The first time I reeled in the anchor a week or so ago I was marveling at
how effortlessly it was winding it up and I lost track of how much had come
in (no chain markings yet...).  When the 44# Bruce hit the bow roller at
warp speed it pivoted over it like it was being swung like an axe.  The only
thing that prevented the Bruce from setting its flukes in my head was the
beefy bow railing. 

I've filed that one in the 'careful what you wish for' category.

Bob Deering
Juneau, Alaska  


On 6/1/09 6:00 AM, "Marty Campanella" <baypelican at earthlink.net> wrote:

> I have followed with interest the comments on the anchors, and washdown
> systems over the last few days.  I have put it all in perspective of the
> open shallow anchorages we had when we were on the east coast of the US and
> Canada.  If you are planning on coming to the Caribbean you have another
> factor to consider.  The anchorages are crowded (shocking by US standards)
> and deep (by east coast standards). We are in Le Marin Martinique and there
> are a couple of hundred boats anchored and 700 in the marina.  Frequently 25
> to 45 feet of water with boats fore and aft and on the sides at distances as
> small as 70 feet.  You get use to the crowding although it is not unusual to
> take three attempts to anchor correctly.