Hello All,

We are planning on spending some nights "on the hook" around the Erie Islands this summer. I'm a bit embarrassed that in 20 years of owning a boat I have never anchored out overnight. But with my family all older and better able to swim than dad, we are commited to try anchoring out.

I have a new Fortress F16 with 5/8 rode and 4 foot chain leader. As a spare I have a 30lb steel anchor with 5/8 rode that holds well in the mud that we are accustomed to up here. I have a 2000 watt inverter, so power and battery bank are not an issue. We always check the weather thoroughly (old pilot habit). With all this in mind, why am I still chicken.

What have I missed? Any tips or words of encouragement would be of great help.

Wating for summer, but digging out of 20 inches of snow from this past weekend.
Scott

Scott,

Diffidently follow Karl’s good advice on setting the drift alarm on your GPS even if U moor
to a mooring buoy. W/M catalog have a good write on the proper way to moor a vessel at least in
it’s 2007 haven’t had chance to view the 08 one yet. But if I where U I’d volunteer for anchor
watch the way I’d do it sit in the cockpit area with at least KOOOOler full of SUDS that make it
legal & the wife can’t witch at you (spelt with a B) for imbibing. One word of caution on the last
statement Navel law states U can be shot for sleeping or passing out on duty

Norm,

BIGs Live On

Scott, I think you'll love it & want to do it all the time. I just enjoy the quiet & nature sounds. Watching the sun go down the stars come out then the sunrise is beautiful. We are covered up with sounds all day It's good to enjoy the night. I just find a cove where I will be out of the way of thase 100 mph bass boats that come out at 5 am. Wayne

..."It is probally the finest cruising grounds in the world. I have heard that only the Greek Islands can come close."

AFTER the Chesapeake Bay!

Jeff

Scott,

As I said before West Marine has a great write up on pg 242 all about anchoring what size rope to
etc. rather long for a one fingered pecker to peck away @ the key board. But ifin U ain’t got W/M
a catalogue. On your ? It all depends on the size of the boat, weather etc. they recommend a chain rode
for the bow anchor but not necessary if U don’t mind chafing the nylon main rode stern anchor
don’t need a chain rode Anchor rode or not to Anchor rode

Norm,

OK why hasn't anyone mentioned SCOPE on the anchor!!! As most of us know this is VERY inportant,so as to wake up next morning, where you strarted the night!! Which when I was young I sometimes didnt DO!! But the tree branches that came threw my window did WAKE ME UP!! ALWAYS use the one to ten rule, if you are in ten feet of water throw out 100 feet on line!! Worked in the Islands pretty well.I can't count all the times I have anchored out for various reasons, runout of gas,run into fog,(next morning still fogged in, coulnt find marina entrance, saw a mother duck with babbies and knew they were heading to marina for hand outs, followed her into entrance!!!)Had too many brewskies, eng. problems, wimmen problems, romancing wimmen problems,run up in the mud and had to jump in the next morning and swim in the mud back to the river problems,bent prop,lost prop,moving boat and couldnt afford slip fee,lost one eng and couldnt get into marina on one eng problems,lost steering on single eng problems,caught fire problems,filled boat hull with gas problems(not at the same time caught on fire, thnak goodness)and then there are the times when I just wanted to be alone and enjoy the quite times listening to my music and drinking. My most memorable setting the hook time was in the Bahamas with my son,before he passed away, we had caught 60 some lobster that day and anchored in a deserted cove, the stars in the Islands are BRILLANT as there is no pollution, you can see Gallaxys. We coulnt see another human on the planet. I dropped some left over lobster in the clear water, then rigged a light over the side and watched the fish start to come in, they got bigger and bigger, then we saw a large dark shadow pass thru about 6 feet across. The shadow stopped about 5 feet from my transom, about 2 feet down, it was an octopus!! we sat all nite and watch him sweep his tenacles thew the swarming fish and feeding!!! DONT BE CHICKEN!!!!!! Half the FUN is anchoring out and grilling!! Plan a raft up with your friends to get started!! You will love it!!Sorrydog

Sorrydog,
man, you just described about every aspect of every day dream ive ever had about getting out on the water......well, minus the fire and fuel, lol, i dont wanna even think of those !
but the stars and the fish watching nearly brought a tear to my eye :) (in a manly john wayne sorta way mind ya) lol
i am soooo looking forward to moments like that, but im trying to dream real enough that i know i'll have to take the good with the bad (ie: weather, breakdowns, etc...)

i need to go out to the boat today !



see pics of my project girl at TheBoaters.com
http://theboaters.com/bo...te/express/1964/MHYZHEN
44 years old and soon to be back in the saddle once again !!

West End, Grand Bahama Island about 8 years ago on the old Sorrydog!! A buddy told me to go over there on my boat and find a couple of Bahamians Killer and Frankie. Give them 100 bucks and they would take me out to catch BUGS!! So I went!! If you go to the Bahamas you will notice they dont have car hoods or trunk lids on their cars, THATS the first thing they pull of and take offshore and wiegh down with concrete blocks on the botom of the ocean in about 20 ft of water!!! They call them HOTELS!!! Lobster like to hide and collect up under them. They are also very curious!! All you have to do is dive down to the hotel, take your spear and tap on the car hood. They run out to see WHOS KNOCIN ON DA DOOR MON!! Some of these we gave to the local villagers along with the Conch for food. We ANCHORED about 2o miles north and 110 miles east of Fl. by Memory Rock. I still have site in gps, but dont visit it without the owner!!! They will line up two Islands to find hotel and search. Notice the smile on the Bahamians face, Frankie,You will never find a mental ward in the Out Islands!! They live on ISLAND TIME MON and dont HARASS THEMSELVES!! If you ever want to go, contact me, youcan also fly in if you cant make the boat trip. Thanks for the help on the pics Fastjeff. Sorrydog

I hear MSU is working on a genetically engineered bug. Plan on them getting rid of the Zebra Mussels and then we only have the bugs left to deal with.

I also echo the sentiments that the north channel is a wonderful place to boat. Since it so rocky there, the water is clear. I had the impression that Canada must have some strict trash laws because there was no trash scattered around. Maybe because it is so beautiful, that people just naturally take care of it. There is an area called the Le cheneauxs which is between Makinac island and Detour, Mi. which is also quite picturesque. What is unique about that area is that there are literally hundreds of original wooden Chris Craft boats still in use. You can see them in boat houses as you traverse the Le Cheneaux. Going east from the north channel, you enter Georgian Bay , the north shore is made up of thousands of islands, creeks, and waterways , still rocky and clean water. I envy anyone who is able to boat up in that area year after year because you could spend years and still not explore it all. Just so one doesn't get to complacent, when night falls and there is no wind, the mosquitos come out and will move your boat if you don't dig the anchor in just right. I had to throw this in because :d/ is an anchoring thread. Just so the east coast owners dont get too jelous, the Chesapeake Bay is also a very interesting area to gunk hole around in. We were injoying a quiet evening anchoring in a little bay some where around St Michaels. I was sitting in the cockpit(we had a sailboat at that time)reading and a fly buzzed around my head and I swatted at it and knocked my glasses off into the drink. The water is so cloudy that I had no hope of recovering them. Went to Baltimore inner harbor and docked at a marina(thoroughly enjoyable stay) and got new glasses. Thus my appreciation of clear water.