penultimate sail of the season....dragging anchor....

[claymore]

Claymore, being a well mannered sort of a lady does not shear about or other such stuff. I wonder whether the wheelhouse has some effect?

In terms of Silkie being a fin or a long keel - I find the question irrelevant really. Its a wonder she sails at all with those great wooden posts sticking out in all directions. I suppose it would be handy though if , for example, you were to dry out in Cuan?

[Silkie]

Assuming you were lucky enough to dry out on a perfectly flat rock which, I understand, is not always the case.

[sahona]

Engine ran yesterday - 1st time since August
No guages though, so it's monitored by ear touch and smell.

[wully]

I've just invested in a Spade anchor - hope it copes with the west coast weed better than the CQR's I've been using.

I'm keeping a Fortress and a spare warp for it on board- that seems to cut through the weed quite well.

[Nick]

I've just invested in a Spade anchor - hope it copes with the west coast weed better than the CQR's I've been using.

I'm keeping a Fortress and a spare warp for it on board- that seems to cut through the weed quite well.

You'll love the Spade - nothing better than going into Canna on a windy evening, slinging the Spade over and having it set rock solid first try, then sitting in the cockpit having a dram watching people fishing for kelp!

[wully]

You'll love the Spade - nothing better than going into Canna on a windy evening, slinging the Spade over and having it set rock solid first try, then sitting in the cockpit having a dram watching people fishing for kelp!

Hmmm - that's a good suggestion for a wee test, had some excercise last time I was there right enough.

Then we ran out of gas but that's another story.

[cpedw]

We have been using a Spade for about 5 years. I'm often aghast at the quantity of weed that comes up with it when weighing anchor. Yet it sets first try almost every time.

While we're talking anchors, there is a report in the latest [whisper]RHYC[/whisper] Journal by John Knox (retired academic) of his methodical studies of anchor holding capacities. He's used CQR, Bruce, and several new generation anchors. The CQR and Bruce both performed very poorly compared to the new ones. He is also developing a new design of anchor and is looking for volunteers to test it, Silkie.
The main shortcoming of the survey is that only one type of ground, fairly hard sand at Longniddry, has been used. I suppose retirement is too short to cover many of the possibilities.

If anyone wants to see the article, let me know.

Derek

[Nick]

.
I've had the pleasure of experimenting with one of Prof. Knox's designs, a wee 7Kg jobbie that looked like nothing you have ever seen before. It held a Sigma 33 in 35 knots of breeze with the engine going full astern . . . but it was in hard sand. I do believe Prof. Knox might come up with a Spade-beating home grown anchor design soon.

[Mark]

You'll love the Spade - nothing better than going into Canna on a windy evening, slinging the Spade over and having it set rock solid first try, then sitting in the cockpit having a dram watching people fishing for kelp!

Only ever spent one night in Canna and it blew old boots.

Used a fisherman which was a first (and last) for me.

[Telo]

.
I've had the pleasure of experimenting with .....a wee 7Kg jobbie that looked like nothing you have ever seen before.

It really doesn't bear thinking about.

[wully]

Used a fisherman which was a first (and last) for me.

Toooooooooo much information.... this is a thread about anchoring.

[Silkie]

He is also developing a new design of anchor and is looking for volunteers to test it, Silkie.

I'm not sure that I've got room for any more anchors but I'd certainly like to read his report.

[Mark]

Used a fisherman which was a first (and last) for me.

Toooooooooo much information.... this is a thread about anchoring.

Surely sodimising a fisherman is all part of the fun of a night on the hook?

[little boy blue]

..............Surely sodimising a fisherman is all part of the fun of a night on the hook?

to the woods, my man,
bring a woman, if you can,
if you can`t bring a woman,
bring a hairy ar**d man

however - to return to the main thrust of the thread - 2011 i invested in a lofrans royal manual windlass and upsized to a 16kg manson + 40 metres of 8mm chain.
although we never experienced the wind strength of pd in 09 we did anchor in fairly strong winds in various places with no problems whatsoever.
i also managed to get to the bottom of the sheering about which had plagued us -
the culprit ....... the rutland 913 wind genny was acting as an airscrew in breezy conditions and driving the stern of the boat sideways. switching it off virtually eliminated the problem.

[cpedw]

I'm not sure that I've got room for any more anchors but I'd certainly like to read his report.

Dave,
I sent a PM I think - it's in my Outbox, not the Sent messages but I can't find another "Send" button - has it set off but not yet arrived?

Derek