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03-27-2017, 05:56 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Chesapeake, VA
Vessel Name: Grace
Vessel Model: 1982 Grand Banks Motoryacht
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 134
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Finding Anchoring Spots, How do you do it?
Gonna be moving our new GB 42 north from Port Canaveral, FL to Norfolk VA in April/May time frame. Probably in 2 steps, Up to Myrtle beach in April, and Myrtle beach to Norfolk in May.
I have always spent my nights in a marina when on the ICW, but really want to try anchoring some nights. I have anchoring experience sailing in the Keys, so it is not the mechanics of anchoring, but the best way to find anchoring spots along the way.
What system do you use to find your anchoring spots?
Thanks in advance for all the help everyone has provided in our boat search.
-Kurt
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03-27-2017, 06:12 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Full Time Cruising East Coast
Vessel Name: Meridian
Vessel Model: Krogen-42
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,014
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Active Captain or just find a protected area off the channel and drop your hook
__________________
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Terry
Meridian
KK-42097
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03-27-2017, 06:19 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meridian
Active Captain or just find a protected area off the channel and drop your hook
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Yup.
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John
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03-27-2017, 06:32 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,076
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In that area, Waterways guide. Also just look for marked anchorages on your charts.
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
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03-27-2017, 06:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: New Tazewell
Vessel Name: Saoirse
Vessel Model: 1983 Nauticat 44 Ketch
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 151
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I understand Skipper Bob is a worthwhile resource for the ICW mile by mile.
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03-27-2017, 06:46 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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And just a little bit of advice, Kurt, based upon a lot of trips up and down that ditch.
1. Don't pick just one anchoring spot to stop for the night. Pick at least two, because it is not much fun trying to navigate around in a very crowded anchorage.
2. Pick an anchoring spot which will get you there early. You want to be completely anchored in time to have a sundowner while you watch the sun go down.
3. Invite some of your neighbors over to have a glass of wine (or whatever). You'd be surprised how many lifelong friends you meet that way. Some of them sailboaters.
__________________
John
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03-27-2017, 06:47 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Quebec
Vessel Name: Bleuvet
Vessel Model: Custom Built
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,374
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With my limited experience I took the navigation chart, looked at some coves or bays, checked the depth to anchor in shallow water, but not too shallow that I would risk to go aground and keep note of them. I also check the satellite view on google map to ensure I will not anchor in front of the windows of a big nice house, for the owner peace and certainly for my own peace as seek solitude when I am at anchor more than anything else.
The day I want to anchor I check the wind forecast to ensure the spot I choose will offer protection from the forecast wind.
I also found some spot by passing by and see some boat anchored.
First night at the anchor was a bit stressful as it was not only the first night but also the first time I dropped the anchor so I was waking up every 2h to check that I was still in place. But this stopped when I pulled the anchor with pain and saw this heavy thick mud on it, I understood I would not move an inch when anchoring in that bay
L.
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03-27-2017, 07:32 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,869
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Active Captain for me. Waterway Guide and other cruising guides as well. You might find some on your own, but it's likely that the good ones are already on Active Captain or the books.
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03-27-2017, 07:41 PM
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#9
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Veteran Member
City: Siesta Key FL
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 55
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The best I found is the Great Book of Anchorages. Several in the series covering the east coast. https://www.tgboa.com/
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03-27-2017, 07:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: North Port, FL
Vessel Name: Seven Tenths (sold)
Vessel Model: Mirage / Great Harbour 47
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 477
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Skipper Bob and Active Captain are great resources. The Waterway Guide in some areas is very helpful. And then figure out how far you want to run that day, the timing of any bridges and enjoy the trip.
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03-27-2017, 08:10 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,738
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I surf on Navamatics and before that I surfed on my chart plotter .. and before that on charts. Much faster and easier on the i-pad and Navamatics. I surf for the anchorage of the night all day if need be. Of course I do have a general idea where I'm going and often know exactly where I'm going.
But I zoom in to look at all the elements of the anchorage but mostly the bottom. I wish there were more notes on bottom types as usually you don't know unless there's some of the bottom on the anchor in the morning.
But pouring over what passes for charts these days is the way to find anchorages.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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03-27-2017, 08:19 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lou_tribal
With my limited experience I took the navigation chart, looked at some coves or bays, checked the depth to anchor in shallow water, but not too shallow that I would risk to go aground and keep note of them. I also check the satellite view on google map to ensure I will not anchor in front of the windows of a big nice house, for the owner peace and certainly for my own peace as seek solitude when I am at anchor more than anything else.
The day I want to anchor I check the wind forecast to ensure the spot I choose will offer protection from the forecast wind.
I also found some spot by passing by and see some boat anchored.
First night at the anchor was a bit stressful as it was not only the first night but also the first time I dropped the anchor so I was waking up every 2h to check that I was still in place. But this stopped when I pulled the anchor with pain and saw this heavy thick mud on it, I understood I would not move an inch when anchoring in that bay
L.
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I tend to follow Lou's concept.
Deep enough water far enough away from a channel that will give me protection from the forecast wind.
I find about 50 percent of the published anchorages OK, but there are so many even better spots given the forecast winds I usually find my own anchorage spot.
The places with no tidal current are easy, but as I become more trusting of my groucd tackle, even creeks with good tidal currents aren't as worry some anymore.
I find what a lot of boaters say about current and depth to be only as accurate as their limited post or writing is. Especially depth because a few meters right or left can be much different. Also, most boaters greatly exaggerate current.
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03-27-2017, 08:34 PM
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#13
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Veteran Member
City: Florida
Vessel Name: Briney Bug
Vessel Model: Custom 34' sail-assisted trawler, wood, built 2005
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 26
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Another thought about the tide...don't forget to factor in the 7-8 foot tides you can get around GA. Also, look at the lay-out of any crab traps in your anchor swing room. Those can foul your rode or wrap on your prop.
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03-28-2017, 09:57 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Alexandria, VA
Vessel Model: 2000 Wellcraft
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,467
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meridian
Active Captain or just find a protected area off the channel and drop your hook
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Active Captain, best invention since canned beer!
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03-29-2017, 04:16 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: Miami
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 800
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Since the difference between a good anchorage and a bad one is often related to the weather that's the first chart to study. Next would be the nautical chart for the cruise area as it relates to the wind and tides. Third would be active captain. The problem with active captain is that it is crowd sourced data as opposed to survey data which is datum referenced. Even survey data can be problematic during king and spring cycles if you are draft challenged. So in summary trust and verify all three.
__________________
Via iOS.
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03-29-2017, 05:21 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
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Mostly Active Captain, some Waterway Guide, some from friends, and a few from just looking at the charts. Keep a log or map of the anchorages you've been in. Ideally having one every 10 to 20 miles on the ICW, that you have verified, would be nice. As others have mentioned, most anchorages improve or degrade based on wind speed and direction. I use the Intellicast.com weather app for the nearest city to predict winds over night. Seems to work real well.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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03-29-2017, 06:34 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,947
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Adding that when you leave the channel for an anchorage, do so at idle speed! When you find the chart wrong then with some luck no damage happens
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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03-29-2017, 06:42 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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The guides are a good start. And they can be a good start for where not to anchor.
Because most people seem to only anchor where a guide has suggested. So those anchorages fill up first.
As others have noted, use the charts to find your own spots that might be less crowded.
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03-29-2017, 06:47 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
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Good point...in just 4 years the charts between my chartplotter (which are just 4 year old raster charts from NOAA) and their new ones on my laptop for behind Cumberland Island, GA were significsnt.
The newer ones seemed right on and had me in 20 feet of water while the old ones had me in very shallow water and vice versa.
This was not isolated but for much of the time from the sub base to Jeckyll Island.
So be careful with even chart data....I have to go back and look up the soundings data for dates and see how current the 2 sets were just for grins.
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03-29-2017, 08:14 AM
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#20
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiestaG
The best I found is the Great Book of Anchorages. Several in the series covering the east coast. https://www.tgboa.com/
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We have used the Hampton Roads and Virgina to Florida Keys book. With a dog onboard and wanting to get to shore, it has a lot of good info such as shore access, holding, wind protection plus a comments section. We paid less than $25.
https://www.tgboa.com/images/ICW-cover.jpg
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