T&T: Anchor Size Recommendations

[R C Smith Jr]

"Nosy 34" wrote:

> Applying the "2 lb per ft of boat +10%" rule would give us a 130-lb
> anchor. What a nightmare it would be to try and retrieve that
> manually.

My windlass motor pooped out last year, requiring manual operation. Ground
tackle is 90 lb SuperMax with 300 ft 3/8 BBB chain.

Pulling all up by hand was not that bad...and we did not forestall anchoring
just because of the dead motor. I could pull the chain hand-over-hand until
I got to the anchor (assuming no wind, current or really deep water). My
horizontal windlass has a rudimentary manual crank, which then took over to
pull up the anchor...s  l  o  w  l  y, but without too much effort.

My point is only that you need not buy too light an anchor just because you
may need to retrieve it manually someday. Check out the manual operation of
your windlass now, when you do not need it.

Bob
________________
Robert Calhoun Smith Jr in DC
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
Lying South River
Annapolis, MD