Anchor buddy

[Johno99]

We regularly use our rib to access beaches around Chichester harbour, for instance on East Head at Wittering. I’m constantly up and down moving the boat in and out due to the tide. I’ve recently been dropping a large anchor into the deep water from the bow and a smaller anchor onto the beach. Not perfect but better than using a single anchor. I’ve seen a few YouTube videos of people using anchor buddies which pull the boat toward the main anchor and you can pull the boat back when required.
Any thoughts on this please? Anyone any experience of using one please?thanks

[Kristoff]

I wouldn't bother personally. You still end up having to move it, slightly less but still enough to be a pain. I prefer to drop off, then motor out and anchor in deeper water and paddle back in on an inflatable.

[Johno99]

Agree, but not much room for another inflatable on my 5m rib. ��

[Peter_C]

Anchor Buddies that allow the boat to come to the beach, also let the boat come to the beach on it's own if the wind comes up. Seen it in person.

Instead rig your anchor with a float and a pulley system that has enough line so you can pull it in and out. You'll have two lines running to the beach. How you tie it off on the beach is critical, meaning a failure is not optional. Do tie a knot on the bitter end so the line can't pass thru the pulley just in case though.

Another option is to just anchor and use an inflatable boat or paddle board to ferry.

The easiest way is to don a drysuit over your street clothes and put fins on, then swim on your back to and from shore, using a dry bag for shoes, etc. if needed.

[jonp]

I sues a similar setup to this when I head away to remote locations. I don't have an option to wade or swim to the boat in those areas due to crocodiles and sharks etc and my boat is to small and heavily loaded with gear to take a kayak or second inflatable.

I use the main anchor on my boat (sarca) which I undo from the shackle where the chain joins the rope. The shore anchor is a light Cooper anchor which are amazing little anchors with surprising holding power. The coopers are plastic with a lead weighted front which turn the anchor into a fast grabbing action, the plastic has been better to handle around rib tubes in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63ShKwldmUg

[Gazzago]

I’ve used anchor buddies with success but you’ll need two of them joined together. They’re not perfect but they are quick once you get used to it.
Pulley system is better but can get tangled up with the surf and also no good when anchored close to others as you need a lot of room to try to keep the lines separate.
Just my experiences ����.

[Steve509926]

I agree with Gary, I've used an anchor buddy without any problems. Admittedly wth a 3.6 sib and only for 3 hrs when the tide was falling.

[Roflhat]

I've used anchor buddies for years, very handy. You can tie a normal rope onto them obviously to make it longer for less steep beaches etc

[Johno99]

I think I’ll give it a go, they’re not that expensive. If it doesn’t work it can go into my garage with all the other ‘good ideas’ I’ve had over the years! Now to choose one, there are quite a few all with various good and bad reviews.

[Steve509926]

This is what I use. As I said not often but it works fine for a few hours on the beach or in a bar having lunch.

https://boatworld.co.uk/products/boa...-anchor-bungee

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

The easiest way is to don a drysuit over your street clothes and put fins on, then swim on your back to and from shore, using a dry bag for shoes, etc. if needed.

I'm not sure I'd call donning a drysuit "easy", but even so, I like the way you're thinking. Very James Bond.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Matt

I'm not sure I'd call donning a drysuit "easy", but even so, I like the way you're thinking. Very James Bond.

Built on soles like DUI Turbofeet, and a cross chest zip, means less than 1 minute to sealed up. Harder to get out than in though. Dry gloves can take a few more seconds. I kinda like Viking dry glove rings for speed. Biggest problem is what to do with a salty wet drysuit?

The DUI I use for surface adventures is Gortex, and is camo and meant for Special Forces. It was gifted to me as the seals had failed like they all do every couple of years. Mostly it is used for whitewater kayaking and for that it is awesome with superior flexibility and quick donning and doffing.

[The Black Pig]

They were designed in the states for the lakes, but with tides they just buy you a bit more time wherapon you have to keep an eye on them to save getting stranded, I have messed about a few times with it, got laughed at, so now Use a paddleboard kept on the beach

[Johno99]

I’ve now ordered one from Boatworld but I think it’ll be a waste of money.
We went out to East Head at West Wittering, Chichester 2 days ago and the tide was coming in. I went to the shore, dropped off picnic, chairs and wife, dropped my small anchor on the sandy shore with a long rope, motored out a few meters and dropped my main anchor in deepish water. Pulled myself in to shore and pushed the boat out. Great but I still needed to often check I could pull the boat to shore. From nowhere the wind picked up, boat stayed off the shore great but the smaller grapple anchor started to move. Not sure how strong these Anchor Buddies core rope is but I’d be upset if it parted and I lost my main anchor and the small anchor slipped before I noticed. Oh well it’s arriving soon so I’ll try it. It might be better with a falling tide.
I think if you are lucky enough to live where there are no tides (bliss) or a lake these would be great, not sure for me but I’ll let you know.

[willk]

I ordered one of these out of curiosity and because I foresaw a use on calm still waters. The product I received is fairly poor quality but I suspect not unlike the majority. It's a light woven outer line, possibly polyprop., with a light elastic inner core. Neither part inspires any confidence as regards strength or durability, but I've set it up ashore and when it is extended, it does exert quite a decent constant pull. I wouldn't consider leaving it unattended or with ANY wave action. I'm sure any fresh breeze would act on the boat to stretch it. In use, you'd want to set your anchor offshore first and then motor in to shore. It might make sense to use a short length of normal rope to attach to the anchor to assist setting and extend range, to keep a small boat out of shore waves.

[Orwell boy]

Personally i think the system seems to work fairly well ,i did buy one myself but hav,nt tried my own ,(my first thoughts were two linked may be a better option )
A useful photo and discussion on a previous thread by the Smallribber shows what is my 19ft rib and his 4.2m rib drone shot while a ripping tide at a place called stone point running out from the walton backwaters .......function was perfect on this day
https://www.rib.net/forum/f8/anchor-...ood-79422.html

[Johno99]

Thanks for that Orwell Boy, sounds a bit more positive. I haven’t received mine yet (with Evri apparently) so I can’t inspect it yet. I only intend using it on fairly calm conditions so should be okay, if conditions change I can always change the set up or up sticks and go home. I notice from the drone shot that the Buddy and the retrieval rope are both on the bow. I’ll try both bow and stern. One problem I foresee is if it’s busy another boat could foul their prop on the Anchor Buddy, not sure if anyone here has been to East Head but it can get very busy in the height of the summer. I once counted 35 ribs on the beach during lockdown when we were allowed to enjoy recreational boating! If it looks too busy I won’t use the system.my wife has just said‘you’ve used a single anchor for years without problems’ I replied‘it’s progress’. She didn’t look convinced.