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Old 04-24-2010, 07:41 AM   #29
hollywood8118
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City: Port Townsend Washington
Vessel Name: " OTTER "
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander Europa 40
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,378
RE: Getting Used to Fear

If everything is set up close to the way it should there should be no way to hurt the windless... you should be able to plow the anchorage first. Our boat weighs in at 66000lbs and we turn a 38" prop so trying to set the hook with much above idle without a snubber in place will either dig new rather large trenches for the crabs to play in , or my windless will eventually reverse itself and run out more chain( this is a bad thing, I can not help but think it is WAY too much strain for its associated parts). We have a built in chain snubber that the admiral locks down prior to setting the hook, but a couple times anchoring in a lot of current has caused the above thing to happen. The key to setting the hook is to get the appropriate scope out and SLOWLY back down until she stops and the chain looks ready to walk down.* We are all chain(400' X 3/8" ) and a 90lb bruce and the setup is so heavy it sinks into the bottom on its own... well not quite. I know a lot of folks prefer the Rockna anchor, I have had Bruce's for over 20 years and they work great if you are gentle to start, before really loading them up** ( they should of had a female name... a lot of similarities ! ).* My final thought is this. It appeared the original poster had a lot of broad fears, if it is not just boating related there are other ways of helping one cope with stress/fear. My main reason to do boats is to LESSEN my stress level in life!. A perfect day is 80 deg, anchored in a secluded spot, a great boating book or magazine, a perfectly blended margarita, while watching the kids wakeboard behind the tender! ( insert deep sign of contentment.... )
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