skipperdude wrote:
Ok.*
I know these things can happen. (can and DO)
I just don't have enough experience with other than my home waters.*
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With the greatest respect for your opinion and experience, I think your logic is flawed. Something like, I don't need a life jacket because I'm a good swimmer.
First, having spent time in the sound I can tell you that no anchorage is bomb proof at all times.* In advance of a predicted blow, we anchored in Snug harbor.* The guide books recommended it, and the name makes you think it's a good place to weather a storm.* Well, after two days of 60 knot winds, a lee shore only about 100 yards away, and two sleepless nights I was ready to get the heck out of there.* I was totally thankfull for our 350feet of all chain rode, shakeled to an oversized anchor, attached to the boat with two snubbers.* It was a wild ride.
Having anchored hundreds of times here in Alaska (where it stays light seemingly all night) I can tell you that when the anchor alarm goes off, it'll probably be in the two hours of darkness.* Trying to determine which way to move the boat into deeper water at night can reduce your life span by a few hours.* The GPS is useless in determining your direction of travel until you actually begin to move in one direction for a bit, and it always lags behind a couple seconds. Seconds you might not have on a lee shore.* If there is ANY question about the security of the anchorage, the weather or anything else, I leave the radar on standby (after having studied the picture to etch in my mind where the exit is) the GPS on, the plotter on, the depth sounder on, and the spotlight ready to go.* Often times, I'll even sleep on the bridge.
Believe me, it's total confusion when you wake in the dark and you have no idea where you are.* Traveling in the wrong direction for even 30 seconds* can put you on the rocks.
If the swivel breaks, now you have to attach another anchor, but first you have to remove yourself from harms way, and in a big blow of the type that come up in the sound, you will really have your hands full quickly.
You said,* "I am not going to loose my boat because I loose an anchor."
I hope this is true, but I'm unwilling to take an unnecessary chances, and swivels have proven to be a weak link.
In my opinion, loosing your anchor is the least of your worries. What about your life? Having stout ground tackle, properly rigged, with a minimum of weak points is the best insurance in my book.
Having said all that, I still respect other opinions and anchoring methods, but must go with what my experience as a professional mariner tells me, simple, stout and free of weak links....................................Arctic Traveller
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