Anchorage etiquette

Pretty new to the trawler lifestyle. I've read about problems between sailors and trawlers and other power boats in anchorages. We haven't experienced it (yet?). What is the difference in swing trawler vs sailboat? And what's the right way anchor a trawler with sailboats in a congested Anchorage? I've been researching and other than a few isolated instances not much to read. I've seen the butterfly arms with closed fists on the hip sign language. But knowing basic etiquette would be helpful. I don't want to talk in their backswing. Thank you for the guidance.

I'm a neophyte at anchoring in tight spaces, but I've learned a few things. One of them is that there are so many variables that it's hard to generalize to rules that will always apply.

But a few I've learned that usually apply: Respect the space of others already in the anchorage whether power or sail. Use the shortest rode you're comfortable with, and if you suspect your rode may be longer than others due to being heavier than some of the lighter boats already there, give them more room. Consider what will happen if the wind shifts 180-deg, how the circles might cross, and what might happen if your anchor needs a few feet to reset, and adjust your circle appropriately. If the last to arrive and you see that you're closer than you or others are comfortable with, fess up and be the first to move. It happens, and it'll be appreciated.

I'm sure I've just scratched the surface. It's a great topic, and I'll bet that it's been addressed several times. A new look wouldn't hurt.

Greg

First, don't anchor in crowded anchorages, find another spot.
Second, anchor like you're the only one there. Simply, don't ever shorten your scope beyond normal to accommodate others. Your first obligation is to the safety of your passengers and vessel. If someone shows up after you're anchored and doesn't have enough room, that's their problem and they need to move.
Beyond that, be considerate of others and polite. Think of them as a new neighbor next door that's building a new house. You want to get along and live in harmony, but there are separation requirements from the property line and your house. It's their obligation to conform.

Ted

Power and sail hulls lay differently to wind and current. If those forces oppose, they could swing in opposite directions. Likewise in very light wind and current conditions, where the boats just move around randomly. Unless each is well inside a non-overlapping swing circle, they could hit each other.

My approach, where possible, is to seek out the shallower parts of the anchorage. Sail boats avoid those. Otherwise, it's simply estimating the swing circle radius of each boat and keeping out of it.

There are, of course, exceptions. Steady winds or currents will force all boats to lay the same way, and allow tighter spacing. There are even places where a bow and stern anchor, or stern line to a tree, are required. Local knowledge helps a lot.

Don't be a slave to anchorage books or guides.


While they are well known anchorages that are suitable...there are usually many more nearby...not always, but often enough to not even waste your energy going where everyone else is.

trawler vs sailboat .. no difference, its always scope dependent.


often powerboats are more wind sensitive, keel sailboats current sensitive.


The most critical is to watch any boat that has a long scope rope rode out.


HOLLYWOOD

Don’t anchor upwind or current from a boat already anchored.
Also if you see an anchored boat start putting out fenders port and starboard maybe you should check your under sized ground tackle and short scope.

Do not be the guy that creates a situation where you are uncomfortably close to another boat that was already there.

If you find yourself in that situation don’t tough it out, immediately move.

psneeld said:

While they are well known anchorages that are suitable...there are usually many more nearby...not always, but often enough to not even waste your energy going where everyone else is.

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Not if you boat in New England/Long Island sound area. Anchorages are often very crowded.
Picking a good anchoring hole takes practice. You have to first be able to judge your circle, then you have to get the anchor to set where you want it.
And of course you need the proper ground tackle but that's a whole other subject I won't get into since it's been discussed to death here.

Trawlers with a full keel usually ride the current when the wind dies, but there are exceptions.

One place I anchor often (Napatree/Watch Hill, RI) when the wind dies off to say 5 knots and the current is running opposite my boat hangs sideways or sometimes stern to the wind. I might be directly over my anchor with 100 feet of chain not doing much. Sailboats will be with the current and the sea rays will be into the light wind.
This scenario can last a while.
That's the time I hope no one even thinks about anchoring near me.

Bottom line is you have too know your boat. And that takes time

Do not be the guy that creates a situation where you are uncomfortably close to another boat that was already there.

If you find yourself in that situation don’t tough it out, immediately move.

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Yes what he said.

LIFO Last In First Out. If you are the last one trying to squeeze in and conditions change, you’re the first one that needs to move. Like others said, I won’t anchor where I might need to move. So if someone comes in subsequent that causes a problem that is on them.

Selidster said:

I've seen the butterfly arms with closed fists on the hip sign language.

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^^^ Bitch wings. Anchoring 101.



Start with your ground tackle. If it's robust, good. If it's marginal, make it robust. We started with a knockoff claw and a Delta Quickset. They both sucked. Some sailboter now has the claw, the Delta is still hanging in the #2 spot, used it twice in 11 yrs. The claw was replaced with a Rocna 33 kg. Best money we ever spent. 400 ft of 3/8" chain. Bigger IS better. Comfortable anchoring starts with confidence in your tackle.



Anchor with adequate scope - as if you might have a 40 kt squall. Nothing beats trying to re-set an anchor in a surprise thunderstorm at 3 in the morning because you didn't do it right the 1st time.



Set an anchor perimeter or an anchor watch on a chartplotter. I like to set a boundary circle in Coastal Explorer that's 10 or 20 ft. beyond my anchor scope. It's a good reference point if it gets blowy and things seem to be moving. It will be valid even in tidal swings as long as you center it on the anchor.



Don't anchor in front of another boat, unless there's adequate room. Prefer to anchor astern of them. Be mindful of the other vessels' scope. Ask them if you can't be sure. A friendly "how much scope do you have out?" shows you're courteous and careful, and helps to remove some of that territorial posturing. Smile, and "thanks!!"



It's very disarming to a boater who's doing the bitch wings when you approach them with a smile and ask for advice. They were a newbie too. And maybe more recently than you might imagine.



Avoid anchoring near the "harbor sweeper"- the guy in 10 ft of water with 200 ft of chain out. There's no salvation for that guy, just go elsewhere and let him yank some other boater's anchor out.



Leave EARLY in the morning. Arrive at the next anchorage early, then YOU can get a perfect spot then stand on the bow and do the bitch wings as the stragglers come in and try to crowd you!

psneeld said:

Don't be a slave to anchorage books or guides.


While they are well known anchorages that are suitable...there are usually many more nearby...not always, but often enough to not even waste your energy going where everyone else is.

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I like this one best! Unless the anchorage is the only protection from the weather, don't anchor where everyone else is. Use your depth finder to locate a bottom (depth and angle of the bottom) that is acceptable to you to anchor in. I have many favorite anchorages not in the books, some I am quite confident will not be occupied even in the busiest season.

I understand Jay's point about limited and crowded anchorages in New England.


But.... in many places where "protected anchorages" are discussed in pubs...


Often if just anchoring for a night or two...all you need is a lee...sometimes they can be found and you can avoid a strong or reversing current as a plus as opposed to going with the crowd.





The point is...published anchorages have been refined over the years for all around protection, usefulness.... they aren't the only places you can safely anchor though.


Learn what is necessary for safety and a good nights sleep....that's what it is all about other than if you are looking for something special...not just a nights stop.

Having plenty of rode length can help keep you out of the crowds as well.

As an example, in one of the local bays here, it's common to see tons of boats anchored for the day in a spot that's 10 - 15 feet deep. Move 1000 feet along the shore from them and there are almost no boats, maybe 1 because it's 25 - 30 feet deep. So that's where I'd go. And if that's full, there's a nice little cove further up the bay that's usually open unless someone my size or bigger has taken a spot in there, as it's around 45 feet deep (and maintains that depth until you're close enough to shore to worry about swinging into land).

I also find going shallower than the crowd as an advantage, especially as it shortens your swing.


I have a full keel so anchoring where there are tide swings and most cruisers worry about bumping bottom, I don't.


I feel confident enough in my calculations to ease into better protected areas and escape the crowd.

Observe the pack but don’t follow them. Do the work to know your vessels reported depth against the actual depth and your true keel depth. Take the time to know the forecasted weather, wind direction and tides, both for the time you arrive and clear through to late morning. Use the current depth to forecast the chain length of the boats already in the anchorage and then imagine corresponding circles of the proper size around their anchors (and don’t anchor there).

Start with these principles and you will already be ahead of a very significant section of the population.

I've found that avoiding crowded anchorages in the peak of summer is not possible. It's easy to say anchor somewhere else, much less so to actually do it. As pointed out elsewhere, in general sailboats are more current sesitive while power boats are more wind sensitive, but this is not a hard and fast rule since many trawlers have deep keels that make them sensitive to both wind and current.

If possible try to arrive at an anchorage during the high season by early afternoon, at least in the PNW they fill up rapidly after 3pm. I've had people anchor uncomfortably close to me, sometimes I've had to move because I ended up too close to someone. I've had people anchor a bit close, I don't like it but as long as we don't hit or they don
t snag my anchor there's not much to say. If you're trying to squeeze in, be willing to relocate a couple times. Its hard to predict exactly where you'll end up when you drop the hook.

I disagree with people who say ignore everyone else and let out tons of scope. Unless it's going to blow that's a bit selfish. In a croweded anchorage we try to limit our scope if the weather will permit it. You may have to take in or let line out with tides, but everyone is trying to have a good time so try to work together.

Some good info above. One of the BEST tools I have found while anchoring is a ranger finder. My admiral got me one this past summer.

while I agree don't be a ridiculous scope hog...


having someone squeeze into a prime spot versus a secondary one doesn't mean I have to shorten or worry about telling them I am 5:1 and they are too close.


having been run into in anchorages in the middle of the night by others sailing on their scope and having the late comers try and lecture me on anchoring, tides, weather and safety..... elevated the mood from helping to ...well forrtunately it only went to slightly agitated...

Arrive at the anchorage at a time that it's not crowded which is usually late morning when boats have started leaving but new boats haven't started arriving in droves yet.

Each anchorage has certain times when boats begin to pick their anchors up and others start to arrive. Day of the week, proximity to narrows, passes and marinas, wind direction, holidays, etc all determine the best time to arrive. We usually stay at anchorages for 4 to 6 days and observe the coming and goings of boats every day and try to guesstimate the time when that anchorage is the least crowded.

As others have recommended, arrive before the anchorage fills up, find a large enough open spot, put out the correct scope for depth and condition, back down with enough RPM after the anchor sets to bury it deep.

After I put the riding chain stopper on and shut everything off, my wife and I sit in the cockpit and wait for the "stupid boaters anchoring show" to start.

We've never dragged so I don't do any sort of anchor watching on the plotter. My wife uses shore references to estimate swing for her own satisfaction.

My wife will give boats anchoring too close her withering look.

Our generator is too quiet so I'll run the shop vac in the cockpit or crank up the stereo with AC/DC if they are close and stubborn.

The PNW is a crowded place during prime summer months and the number of new boaters seem to be increasing every year. Poor anchoring skills, lack of etiquett and no seamanship is prevalant.

Don't leave the boat immediately after setting the hook. Wait until you are sure the anchor's set.

We've had several occasions to raft just anchored boats alongside our boat until the owners returned when they drifted to close to us.

I've gotten aboard just anchored boats to let out more scope to stop the boat dragging towards our boat or others.

CaptTom said:

There are even places where a bow and stern anchor, or stern line to a tree, are required.

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Lots of spots like that here in the PNW. Whenever we plan a trip to The Gulf Islands or north (Prideaux Haven, Desolation Sound et al) we pack the stern line. Ours is home-made & portable; 600' of floating poly line on a plastic spool, all held by a PVC frame I made with a handle to crank it all back up. You will see permanently mounted ones of all types on vessels up here. Lots of anchorages have permanent chains, with loops on the ends, mounted into the rocks/shore for this purpose. Or just use a tree.

Yes, the choice spots get that full in the summer.

Don't clutter the prime anchorage spots with your crab and prawn traps. I saw this several times this summer. An early boat puts traps all over the place and no one else can anchor. I guess some would say it's their right as they were there first, I say it's rude. You're entitled to your spot, not the whole bay. Had one guy drop a trap well within my swinging circle as I watched. He begrudgingly moved it when I complained.

I second the usefulness of a range finder. Water is big space, and your sense of distance is easily distorted. Often a boat that looks way too close is really 100 yards away.

If someone appears to be anchoring too close, firing up the bagpipes on the foredeck often discourages them.

You can also actually chat with the boats close to you--ask them if they are comfortable with the distances between boats.

Every time anchored, it has been alone or nearly so. (Bless the San Francisco estuary, and avoiding Fourth-of-July congregations.) Most typical, however, is staying at a guest dock/berth and eating at onshore restaurants. On sunken Mildred Island:

If the anchorage is really tight or the holding ground is “iffy” or if bad weather is suspected or predicted I have no problem setting a second anchor off the bow. It rigged and ready so better to be safe.
Block Island comes to mind as it is almost always overcrowded and it’s sandy bottom in the 6 foot area is crappy. And letting out my normal 100 ft of chain is not playing nice.

sailboats tend to be influenced more by current, power boats tend to be more influenced by wind. I don't find this is enough of an issue to avoid or seek one or the other.

I find anchor rode makes a bigger difference. I have all chain and seek out others with chain. I try to avoid a cluster of boats with all line, unless I have a decent amount distance.

When air gets light, I'll siton the weight of chain swinging in a tight radius. The swing radius for all line rode is much greater under the same conditions. I've had to use the dinghy to pull the boat back on it's chain to give space to power boats that swing 180 degrees under light air and slack tide conditions.

A little off subject...
We anchored right off Chesapeake bay in Willoughby bay for the night. There was only two other boats at anchor, both sailboats, one with crew and one unoccupied. During a late night storm with reported 50 mph winds we watch the unoccupied boat slide back about 1000 feet. Of course in the confusion of the rain and wind and us being in a new to us boat we were not totally sure who was moving us or the other boat. Luckily I had downloaded an anchor app on my tablet and had set a circle of comfort that showed we were not moving. The sailboat was still floating in the morning but I am sure the owners were surprised to find it in a much different spot when they returned to it.

Maerin said:

^^^ Bitch wings. Anchoring 101...

Leave EARLY in the morning. Arrive at the next anchorage early, then YOU can get a perfect spot then stand on the bow and do the bitch wings as the stragglers come in and try to crowd you!

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Bitch wings... I love it.

I'm glad this thread came up. I haven't anchored my boat yet, so I'm happy to have this lesson. I can't wait to get my 6 lb mushroom anchor wet!

On a slightly less silly note, how common is it to mark your anchor location with a buoy or float of some sort? Seems like that might help others to know where not to be. It also seems like a pain in the arse to set and retrieve, and one extra thing for someone else to get fouled on.

DDW said:

Don't clutter the prime anchorage spots with your crab and prawn traps. I saw this several times this summer. An early boat puts traps all over the place and no one else can anchor. I guess some would say it's their right as they were there first, I say it's rude. You're entitled to your spot, not the whole bay. Had one guy drop a trap well within my swinging circle as I watched. He begrudgingly moved it when I complained.

I second the usefulness of a range finder. Water is big space, and your sense of distance is easily distorted. Often a boat that looks way too close is really 100 yards away.

If someone appears to be anchoring too close, firing up the bagpipes on the foredeck often discourages them.

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If you want to crab or prawn in an anchorage & I come in late, & tired, you just might have my 132 lb hook making sure that your trap doesn't float away on you

I just might have to learn to play bagpipes