Hobie Forums :: View topic - do you carry an anchor?

Most people will say that cruising on smaller cats isn't really feasible but I disagree. I sail the smallest and most weight sensitive of all the Hobies, the 14T. But me and my friend spent two weeks sailing from Chorpus Christie to Galveston and back. We could have done it alot faster but we were being lazy and only sailing for about five hours a day.

I didn't carry an anchor, but the 14 is so light I can pull it up any bank for storage. Me and my friend took different approachs to the gear storage. I used a net truck bed cover folded into a triangle which I then attahced to the furler and the forward pylons creating a forward tramp. All my gear was very light, ( 4 pound tent, 1/2 lbs stove, and very few cloths. The heaviest thing I had was water. I took a five gallon container. That weight out front made the 14 a little more hairy to sail because it wanted to play the submarine game. My budy stored everything forward on the tramp or under the sidebars. He suffered from drag when the stuff on the side hit the water. So in all we both had to be careful. Since you are sailing a bigger boat, you will have an easier time carrying gear.

I know this was a little off topic, but I just thought I would add my comments about distance cruising.

Author:	Gringo [ Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:47 am ]
Post subject:	do you carry an anchor?
Looking for a Getaway to use between islands, with thought of some overnight camping. Was curious as to whether anyone carries a small anchor on their cats, and where they keep it secured?

Author:	OLD SCHOOL 18 [ Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:	I have for years.
I carry mine just above my belt line. But more to your question; no, it's just as easy to pull ashore.

Author:	xavier [ Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:
Same as OLD SCHOOL 18, I don't carry an anchor. I keep a long mooring line so that I can tie the boat to a tree up the beach if I stop somewhere for lunch (as I have seen my boat float away when the tide came up and I wasn't paying attention ). Have fun with your Getaway!

Author:	Gringo [ Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:42 am ]
Post subject:
well, I was actually thinking more along the lines of sleeping on the boat on the hook. Keeps the bugs away.

Author:	xavier [ Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:35 am ]
Post subject:
The boat is light so you don't need a big anchor. Yet, if you plan on sleeping on the boat at anchor, you'll probably want something a little better than a lunch hook or grapnel. For ease of storage, you may want to go with something that folds reasonably flat such as a Danforth or Fortress type anchor. The CQR or Bruce type of anchor are very good in mud and weed but are quite bulky. You may be able to arrange a small harness for your anchor under the front crossbar so that it stays out of the way when you sail.

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Author:	bphendri12 [ Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:
If you are talking about anchoring on anything but a lake to sleep on over night, I think the common wisdom is not to do it. The shrouds would take a beating, or the boat could ride over the anchorline (as they don't slip sideways very well), and end up pitchpoling. It would be the same as if you moored the cat. Best bet would be to pull it up on shore.

Author:	Gringo [ Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:
well, we have lots ( about 40) little islands and cays here. Can always get in the lee, which is just about always on the SW side, and shallow. 40-50 yards off the land, there are usually no bugs. I was thinking of rigging a bridle to the bows with anchor line in the middle, similar to cruising cats. I dont see why the shrouds would have any more problem with that than they would with the hulls on the sand. Just an idea, but we are looking at ways to sail to some of the islands here that are too far to make it there and back in one day. If you look up the TCI on Google Earth, see the distance between say, Providenciales and French Cay is about 40 miles,for one destination with an overnight camp. And excellent diving.

Author:	gree2056 [ Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:
Most people will say that cruising on smaller cats isn't really feasible but I disagree. I sail the smallest and most weight sensitive of all the Hobies, the 14T. But me and my friend spent two weeks sailing from Chorpus Christie to Galveston and back. We could have done it alot faster but we were being lazy and only sailing for about five hours a day. I didn't carry an anchor, but the 14 is so light I can pull it up any bank for storage. Me and my friend took different approachs to the gear storage. I used a net truck bed cover folded into a triangle which I then attahced to the furler and the forward pylons creating a forward tramp. All my gear was very light, ( 4 pound tent, 1/2 lbs stove, and very few cloths. The heaviest thing I had was water. I took a five gallon container. That weight out front made the 14 a little more hairy to sail because it wanted to play the submarine game. My budy stored everything forward on the tramp or under the sidebars. He suffered from drag when the stuff on the side hit the water. So in all we both had to be careful. Since you are sailing a bigger boat, you will have an easier time carrying gear. I know this was a little off topic, but I just thought I would add my comments about distance cruising.

Author:	bphendri12 [ Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:
" I dont see why the shrouds would have any more problem with that than they would with the hulls on the sand." Very different forces involved here. With the mast up on the sand in a storm. the forces are typically only in one direction, and they are not aplified by the mast being rocked back and forth beyond it's horizontal axis, or being amplified by the boat moviing underneath it. With a boat at anchor or in a moring, once in motion, it tends to stay in motion, without some sort of dampening device. It puts ALLOT of wear on the rigging, and the boat and is not recommended. As everyone is saying, plan on having to pull the boat up on the beach. Something to consider would be getting some fenders to roll the boat up on, to make it easier and to save the hulls.

Author:	Hammond [ Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:
Two small anchors, with even a modest amount of chain will hold a Hobie as the boat is light and has little windage when derigged. The chain is the key, that and enough scope to keep from pulling the anchor and chain off the bottom. It would be very bad to wake up somewhere off shore. It sounds like you are planning to anchor quite close to shore, could you tie a light line to something solid on shore and use the anchor just to keep you off the beach? By the way, the bridle off the bow is important as it will allow the boat to pull directly into the wind if it shifts while you sleep. Carry a small float (a spare throw cushion will do)in case you get hung up on the bottom and/or need to drop the anchor quick for any reason. It is easier to find the float than having to scour the bottom for an anchor line. Just place the anchor and rode in a padded bag and lash it to the tramp just behind the mast. The bag and padding will protect you and the boat.

Author:	Gringo [ Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:46 am ]
Post subject:
I am very familiar with anchors and anchoring techniques. I was even thinking about a small mushroom anchor, but like the light weight of some of the small aluminum anchors better. The Danforth style holds well. If I tied a line to the shore ( 100 yards of 1/4 inch poly?) it would be a big rats nest of line to deal with. And too much scope on the line, I could end up with aground. I was just interested to know if anyone knew of a Hobie-friendly little anchor ideal for carrying. I would think one might be useful in other situations, such as wanting to stop the boat from drifting onto a reef if someone had to sort out some rigging problems or similar.

Author:	hobie1616 [ Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:49 pm ]
Post subject:
Murray's has a folding anchor with storage bag.

Author:	xavier [ Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:
Canibul's suggestion to tie a line to a tree on land and use the anchor to kedge off and keep the boat away from shore is right on. While the hobie is light, it has enormous windage compared to its weted surface and is therefore highly suseptible to sudden wind gusts. On the other hand, aving the boat tied fore and aft (i.e. anchor and line to shore) means that if the wind veers, you'll be broadside which can result in the anchor dragging. You must also make sure that whatever line you have between you boat and the shore is obvious as you don't want a PWC coming throught at full speed and rippnig it out! For security, I would stick to anchors such as the Danforth or Fortress. I would be leery of going to sleep with the boat anchored only to a grapnel (afterall they're also called "lunch hook" for good reasons!)

Author:	Gringo [ Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:54 am ]
Post subject:
Thanks for all the advice, but tying to a tree ashore is really not an option for me. I think using two anchors to a bridle is the answer. No PWCs anywhere near where we are. Just the tourons on guided tours around one island. Miles away.

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Author:	cyrano138 [ Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:
gree2056 wrote: Most people will say that cruising on smaller cats isn't really feasible but I disagree. I sail the smallest and most weight sensitive of all the Hobies, the 14T. But me and my friend spent two weeks sailing from Chorpus Christie to Galveston and back. We could have done it alot faster but we were being lazy and only sailing for about five hours a day. I didn't carry an anchor, but the 14 is so light I can pull it up any bank for storage. Me and my friend took different approachs to the gear storage. I used a net truck bed cover folded into a triangle which I then attahced to the furler and the forward pylons creating a forward tramp. All my gear was very light, ( 4 pound tent, 1/2 lbs stove, and very few cloths. The heaviest thing I had was water. I took a five gallon container. That weight out front made the 14 a little more hairy to sail because it wanted to play the submarine game. My budy stored everything forward on the tramp or under the sidebars. He suffered from drag when the stuff on the side hit the water. So in all we both had to be careful. Since you are sailing a bigger boat, you will have an easier time carrying gear. I know this was a little off topic, but I just thought I would add my comments about distance cruising. this is very exciting stuff, my kind of sailing. i'm just getting into it and i'm hoping to find adventure (sounds corny, right?), not stuffed shirts sailing in expensive regattas, which is not to say anything about the rest of the folks here. it's just nice to hear there are other folks out there who've done things i'd love to do. i'm in florida and i'm hoping to buy my first boat tomorrow, a 87 hobie 16. maybe i can take a camping trip down the coast, or up the coast; it doesn't really matter which direction. i'm also excited to strap my surfboard to the trampoline and take it out during a swell to see if i can't find any secret breaks that aren't accessible by road.