Anchor Rope Tied to Bow

[Gopher]

Fortunately I'm going to be fishing Mille Lacs some this year. I'm still confused as to how to tie the anchor off on the bow eye without leaning over the boat when retreiving the anchor. I found REW's post in the archives (thanks REW), but I'm not sure I get it. Is this it?

Attach snap (on 5' rope)to bow eye - do this at the dock?
Attach other end of 5' rope to cleat - doesn't the slack get pulled into the water when motoring?
tie anchor to loop 3' from snap
drop anchor
Is this enough line so the spot where the anchor rope is attached is in front of the bow eye when the anchor line goes tight?

Can somebody help? Thanks!

I 2nd the posts about having cleats on both sides of the bow, so that you can work a big area, by just reanchoring. I do that all of the time.
However, in big waves, and wind - I want the boat - pointed straight into the wind. It simply takes the big water better.
I do as many folks do on mille lacs.

Take about a 5 foot rope - and put a snap on the end of it.
Put a loop in the other end, and loop over the cleat.

Then about 3 foot from the snap - put another loop - and tie your anchor to this loop.

The idea is that you drop your anchor - in very windy weather - tied to the loop - that is hooked to the bow eye on your boat.
The anchor will pull straight - and you will nicely weather vane into the wind.

However, you really don't want to have to reach down to the bow eye to get the anchor. You simply tug on the rope that attached to the cleat - this will let you get to the end of your anchor rope - and you pull in the anchor.

Easy - pulls straight - and you don't have to worry about falling over - by reaching over the bow

[REW]

Close -
Basically you want the pull of the anchor - directly to the bow eye.
So, I hook the anchor to the bow eye.

5 feet from the snap on the anchor rope going to the anchor, I put a loop -- in this loop - I attach a short rope that I hook to a side cleat.

Then, whenever, you need to pull up the anchor, grab the short rope that is attached to the side cleat and anchor rope -- pull the short rope, until the anchor rope is in your hand -- then pull the anchor up.

If you don't want to unhook the anchor rope - when moving - I pull the anchor rope tight - and hook it over the side cleat -- this keeps the anchor rope from catching in the water when under way.

Take care
REW

[Andy K]

What do you guys think about the "elastic" type anchor rope? Would you use them in a situation of "big" water to keep the bow from being overtaken by a large wave?

[Jack G]

REW

When using the method you describe, which seems to be popular on Mille Lacs, you have to predetermine how much anchor line you want out before you drop the anchor.

How much anchor rope do you plan to have out? I like the idea but I don't think I want to have multiple loops in my anchor line for different conditions.

Comments please.

Thanks

Jack

[Pitts]

I think Rew is refering to using all of your anchor rope. If the waves are not all that big you can just hook up short to a cleat on either side and if you would like to change positions hook to the other side and plane out that direction.
When I'm anchored in 35' of water with 5'to 6' waves bottom of trough to crest measure, I need every bit of 100' of line + 5' chain with my 25# Richter to hold just off the flat and throw a slip bobber on the edge.
So there will only be 1 loop about 5' out from the clip in the bow eye.


Pitts

[mmillelacs]

i have found that the elastic rope attached at the end of my anchor rope is a big help. i believe it has made the difference at times between holding position and not. I use a 28 pound anchor, 6 feet of chain, 6 feet of elastic rope, and 150 feet of rope. It has held me when other boats around me were doing the "anchor drift"

[REW]

Pitts -
Exactly --

The other thing that I will often do -- is to use multiple anchor ropes -- each with an anchor clevis.

As I have said before - I typically carry 5-50' ropes, all with a loop spliced in both ends. If I expect to need more than 50 feet, I will simply use an anchor clevis through the two loops of the end of one rope and the beginning of another rope to extend my anchor rope in 50' increments.

That way - if I choose to use the cleat tie off method with a loop - I only need a loop on the first rope off the boat.

Then, if, on a really bad day - I will have all 4-50 foot sections out - with 200' total - but only the first rope having the pull loop near the boat.

Take care
REW

[REW]

Elastic rope??

Rather than using an "elastic rope section", I will typically use 3/8" nylon rope -- a 50 foot section will stretch a good bit. In general, this is certainly adequate. With a 100 foot section, you will get twice the stretch. The nylon rope is soft and easy on your hands -- particularly nice if you have had your hands wet a lot, and your hands have become softened due to the wet exposure.

Also, the nylon does not float - so that you don't get any anchor floating effect from the rope.

Then, if you use the 3-strand nylon, it is easy to braid loops into the end of the rope.

Take care
REW