Dingy Anchoring

[EmergencyExit]

Got this in an email from Active Captain, and thought I'd pass it along; neat way to anchor a dinghy offshore without having to wade in after, or to wade out to get it..

>>> Dinghy Anchoring >>>

We first wrote about a great way to anchor your dinghy at a beach nearly
four years ago. It was one of the most followed newsletter segments that
year and gave the idea to thousands of cruising boaters.

Then we realized that there are almost three times as many users of
ActiveCaptain today as then. So we figured it was worth describing once more.
It's the perfect little project to complete right now if you'll be cruising
along beaches this winter. Or even if you're thinking about putting your boat
away for the season, here's a nice, small project to get ready for next year.

The issue happens most any time you want to bring your dinghy to the beach.
Dragging the dinghy up onto the sand and rocks is damaging. Add a little
tide to the landing and it can present tough challenges, if not a situation
where your dinghy is floating off while you're walking along the beach.

We used to keep the dinghy at the water's edge with a 50 foot line tied
around a rock or a stake in the sand. The result was always watching the
dinghy turn sideways and beaching itself, often crashing against the sand over
and over until we returned.

Our native Maine friend Larry had the perfect solution - remote anchoring.
Here's what you need...

Get a small, foldable, grappling type of anchor appropriate for the size of
your dinghy. This is the one we use:
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?id=162381

Size the anchor to your particular dinghy. You can also get packages that
combine the anchor with 50 or 100 feet or line. We don't suggest doing that.
Instead, get 5 feet of chain (appropriately sized for the anchor) and 10 feet
of anchor rode - 3/8 or 1/2 inch depending on the anchor size again. You now
have a preset anchor for 5:1 scope in 3 feet of water - perfect for beach
settings.

You'll also need about 100 feet of 1/4 inch line. We wrap ours around a spool
to stop it from getting all tangled up.

The anchor rode is attached to the bow of the dinghy, hopefully at an eye in
the bow if one exists. The 1/4 inch line is attached to the bottom of the
anchor and acts like a trip line.

The idea is to land your dinghy at the beach, set up the anchor on the bow,
push the dinghy back into 3 feet of water, and use the trip line to remotely
deploy the anchor. Then tie the trip line onto the beach and use it to
retrieve the anchor when you're ready to leave.

This is all much easier to show than explain so here are two videos showing it
all. First, deploying the anchor:
http://youtu.be/_TpWMg3Xpig

And then retrieving the dinghy:
http://youtu.be/gI2zFmppy4o

Obviously, conditions determine whether this is the right thing for your landing.
We've used this dozens of times over the last 4 years with wonderful success. It
solves all the problems we used to have. It's also a good idea to be able to
extend the rode length in case you need an emergency anchor in the dinghy - we
see far too few dinghies with anchors. Every dinghy should have an anchor for
safety reasons.

[Chrysler20%26]

Now that is just a GREAT IDEA, Thank you EE

[CaptainScott]

I like the idea also! I might adapt it to my process going forward.

We use a 10 lb mushroom on a 50' poly line. Just drag the anchor up the beach beyound hi tide and let her be!




Scott