fortnight at sea?

[AndrewUkR6]

Hi, looking forwards to my annual Cornwall holiday (and the real reason i brought the SIB at all!), im looking into how to keep my lil boat secure at sea.

For anchoring purposes i was thinking of a 6kg Delta type anchor; 5m 8mm chain and 30m of 12mm rope. The boat is a 3.8m Zodia Ventura SIB / 40hp.

Im hoping to leave it moored at sea for 2 weeks while in cornwall this year. Their is a fixed eyelet in the rock which i saw a RIB use last year. When at highwater this area is completely submerged and 20-30 metres from land. When low water, the eyelet is above ground by some metres - although still surrounded by water (and some jutting out rocks here and their). I guess you would want to take precauitions against becoming grounded or rubbing against these very craggy rocks!


Would the correct technique be to anchor away from this point wit hthe Delta, and then run a fixed line to the eyelet as a precaution? I've attatched a pic showing its rough location, the tide is about midway.

How much anchor line would you pay out, if i were to use all 30metres would that not leave it vulnerable to the surroundings at low tide - unless it was anchored at least 30 metres from any obstacles.

Also at what point would you guys bring it back onto land in case of bad weather - i can imagine being quite nervous leaving it at sea.


Any info would be appreicated, i realise im a complete novice but i dont want to learn by a destroyed SIB or one that vanishes overnight!

[AndrewUkR6]

[Trickdog]

Andrew

As well as the method of anchoring your boat, you also need to consider the insurance implications. I would be very surprised if your insurance permits your boat being left on on anything other than a professionally laid mooring.

[Trickdog]

PS. Your proposed anchor set up is bit overkill. A Delta style is a great anchor and I presume 6kg is the smallest you can get hold of. However I would definitely reduce the chain to 6mm and the rope to 10mm, to save weight and space in your boat. A small SIB puts negligible strain on an anchor.

[Hightower]

I wouldn't like to leave it tied to any rock, too many unknowns like damaged boat against the same rock, or chaffed line resulting in the boat drifting away.

If you really wanted to anchor or moor for a two week stay then might I suggest either finding a propper bouyed line or even sinking one yourself (if this is possible??), all you need is a tyre, some concrete mix, an eye and bouy this would at least keep you away from the rocks. Make sure you make the anchor line removable so that at the end of the two weeks you just leave the tyre ballast (unless you want to remove this too).

[AndrewUkR6]

thanks for replies. Your right 6mm/10mm is what i was looking at last year...

Perhaps it is best to avoid mooring to the rock afterall. I only thought it was sensible as i saw a rib out their for a couple of weeks last year.

I'll look into making a boyued line, I take it leaving just at anchor is a real no-no then?

[Hightower]

I wouldn't like to leave my boat at all secured by just the anchor unless the weather was excellent and wouldn't be happy leaving any boat overnight on just an anchor, unless I was aboard. I would be opting for something altogether more substantial. The other reson for the mooring was to move the SIB away from those menancing looking rocks. Is there no chance of removing the SIB at the end of each day?

[Trickdog]

Leaving your boat at anchor is not a complete no-no, but it is certainly less than ideal. You at least need a sheltered location over sand rather than rocks. However your boat it as risk of damage or theft if left anchored and unattended, which is why your insurance will not cover you.

You could add a second kedge anchor off the back of the boat to stop it swinging in the tide, and to offer some security if the main anchor failed.

But I agree with Hightower; best to use a proper mooring or take the boat out of the water.

[AndrewUkR6]

thanks for advice. It really is a desolate location... their is a beach on one side and a rocky cove on the other. A freind leaves his lazer in the cove... however it is only accessable at high tide and their are quite a few half submerged rocks to avoid. Also may be difficult hauling the sib in but i'll give it some more thought!

[JABS]

If the cove is sheltered, why not use the concrete filled tyre placed well out as a basis for a running mooring?

Place a block on the tyre and run a loop of line through the block and back to shore.

Tie the boat to the loop of line and pull it out so that it sits way off shore so is safe.

Also that is accessable at all states of the tide.

You could use your Delta for the 'shore end' of the loop.

If anything parts you have two lines, anchored at two places.