View Single Post
Old 04-25-2010, 01:46 PM   #37
Bendit
Senior Member
 
Bendit's Avatar
 
City: Auckland
Vessel Name: Pioneer
Vessel Model: Westcoaster 53 converted to pleasure
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 323
RE: Getting Used to Fear

A fast setting anchor certainly removes a lot of stress.

We used to have a CQR 60 (copy) and I was never confident that it was set. Quite rightly as it turned out on several occasions. It would plow on and eventually come to a*gentle stop.

Now we have a Delta 55 which sets instantly and will cause the windlass to creep (hydraulic) when backing down at idle.*There is*no doubt*any more. Idle revs should be more than enough to set the anchor - or even the wind if there's 10kn or more.

I am not a fan of two anchors, even in a blow.
I have tried this a couple of times and it's fine until another boat drags down and snags one or both of your anchors. Then you will spend the rest of the night, in a howling gale, trying to untangle the mess and not ding the topsides too*much.

A properly sized single anchor with an extra weight if necessary, like an anchor buddy, is much easier to manage.

Bigger is better and an all-chain rode is also a stress reliever.

However, I do agree with FF re the SOC meter, it takes the guess work out of battery management.

Cheers,
Bendit is offline   Reply With Quote