Anchoring overnight rather than mooring ...

[BumbleAbout]

Apologies if this is a really stupid question, but I've searched around and can't see the answer anywhere obvious ...

In the last few years whilst down in Devon, I have either moored overnight at a pontoon or at a prebooked mooring. However, this year it would be more convenient to anchor overnight in a cove (no nasty signs forbidding anchors on the chart) which is part of the harbour area. There will be nobody on the SIB overnight (or at least I hope not !) and there will be an anchor light. I can't see anything in the harbour bye laws which forbid this, but just wondered if I'm missing something obvious which says you have to use the provided moorings rather than anchoring ?

[codprawn]

You are even allowed to anchor in the Thames so there shouldn't be a problem!!!

[BumbleAbout]

Fair enough - so the convenience of a mooring is the increased probability of your boat being there the next morning (and roughly in the same place) !

I've got a 6kg chinese copy Delta on order after reading the discussions here and a 1.4w eBay LED anchor light - so just the 5m of 6mm chain to get next.

[Observer]

I've left my 6m RIB at anchor (a 3kg folding anchor) in Salcombe Harbour on a number of occasions without any problems but only in settled weather. I'd guess a 6kg Delta will hold your 4m easily in stiffer conditions.

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by BumbleAbout

I've got a 6kg chinese copy Delta on order after reading the discussions here and a 1.4w eBay LED anchor light - so just the 5m of 6mm chain to get next.

I just bought one earlier today as well (5kg). The thing looks like it would dig it's way right back to China.

[BumbleAbout]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

I just bought one earlier today as well (5kg). The thing looks like it would dig it's way right back to China.

Perfect - I'd quite like the boat to be there in the morning ! Although I'm going to over-engineer the solution and also use the folding grapnel on another warp in shallow water so that I can hopefully pull the boat towards shore without too much swimming.

[SeaSkills]

Originally Posted by BumbleAbout

:I can hopefully pull the boat towards shore without too much swimming.

Sounds like a running mooring would be a good idea, and cut out swimming altogether??

[BumbleAbout]

Thanks - "running mooring" - that's what I should have called it !

For security, I intend to leave the shore side anchor under a foot of water at low tide so that it is not too obviously a pulley system to retrieve the boat (more paddling than swimming hopefully).

[prairie tuber]

I don't have to deal with tides where I am, but I came across this site which shows a very clever (yet simple and cheap) system.


http://www.neilmoomey.com/howtos/anchor_buoy/

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

I don't have to deal with tides where I am, but I came across this site which shows a very clever (yet simple and cheap) system.


http://www.neilmoomey.com/howtos/anchor_buoy/

Obviously put some thought into that one, but a simpler solution and one that will annoy harbour masters a lot less is a trip anchor - balance anchor on nose of boat and attach trip line to anchor - push boat out and pull anchor off bow with trip line - tie trip line to rock and pull anchor and boat in when you've had enough - KISS principle!