Finding Anchoring Spots, How do you do it?

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kurt.reynolds

kurt.reynolds

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Messages
134
Location
USA
Vessel Name
Grace
Vessel Make
1982 Grand Banks Motoryacht
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
 
Active Captain or just find a protected area off the channel and drop your hook
 
In that area, Waterways guide. Also just look for marked anchorages on your charts.
 
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. :)
 
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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 :D

L.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Lou_tribal said:
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 :D

L.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
We ran aground just off the icw with the chartplotter boat icon on top of a "6". It happens.
 
I suggested Active Captain and the Waterway Guides. Someone mentioned the Great Book of Anchorages. This and some other anchorage guides are also good resources. Sometimes a good anchorage is missed by one resource or the other.


The Anchorage guides I am thinking of have symbols for shore access and access to shopping as well as tidal and current ranges.


You might pick out an anchorage on your own, one not in the guides, and it might be great. Or, it might be in the path of shrimp or fishing boats or gambling or cruise boats. There might be a reason it's not as good as it looks at first. These hazards are usually mentioned in anchoring guide books.
 
Active Captain.
And Ihave found that in the USA if there seems to be a good anchorage, but it's not listed in Active Captain, it isn't a good anchorage.

I've tried more than a half dozen times. Now if you don't mind not sleeping...


On another note, since getting my Delta 3 years ago, I have only dragged anchor once, and I'm not even sure I did.

So I don't set anchor alarm anymore becuase that keeps me up more than reality.
 
Wxx3 said:
Active Captain.
And Ihave found that in the USA if there seems to be a good anchorage, but it's not listed in Active Captain, it isn't a good anchorage.

I've tried more than a half dozen times. Now if you don't mind not sleeping...


On another note, since getting my Delta 3 years ago, I have only dragged anchor once, and I'm not even sure I did.

So I don't set anchor alarm anymore becuase that keeps me up more than reality.
Click to expand...

Yep. We have anchored in more good places than I can count, that we would have never tried to enter (or even found) on our own without reviews from other Active captain users who went in with the same or deeper draft than us.

It's like having local knowledge everywhere you go.
 
Well, I guess what is the definition of a good anchorage?

I agree good long term anchorages have been found by thousands before me.

But a good place to anchor for the night doesn't have to be what I think some are referring to an anchorage.

On fact, most of the nights we have anchored this winters trip have not been in published anchorages.

And I would say for the most part have been better. More wind shelter, less current, less traffic and much less dingy traffic, less road noise, etc, etc than the close by "published" anchorage....

But, while they were perfect for the one or two nights, they may have been Lee shores in a day or two, or larger tides would have made them inaccessible, etc, etc.

So while great anchorages might be published, they may be full or not suitable for you or your situation, but that doest mean there aren't plenty of places close by that aren't great places to anchor.
 
I have used all the resources listed in this post and have many trips up and down the ICW from Miami to Norfolk. However sometimes I find myself creating my own anchorage. As long as I have depth, protection, and it feels right. Don't be afraid to try this if it looks good.
Enjoy!!
 
Don't fight over the shallowest water. Have plenty of robe and go deeper and further from the crowd if you must.

This is one area in which sonar can really be helpful too.
 
So far in my travels, most anchor in the published spots and are afraid to tuck in close, out if the wind in shallower spots.

In the Keys, most spots have such little tide, if you can get into the spot, there isn't much to fear except strong winds for a bit lowering water past the astronomical prediction.

I draw a bit over 4 feet and spent dozens of night at anchor in 5 foot depths by depthsounder, not charted depth.

I usually look for the shallowest anchorage close to wind protection instead of going for deeper water.
 
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