Re: TWL: anchoring
Jeff Nicholas wrote: " I think floating objects have some kind of magnetic
attraction..."
How right you are, often I have anchored 5 miles or so off shore in the
calm gulf waters, to see a boat come steaming out of the the pass in the far
distance. Watch it make a graceful arc towards my boat as if drawn by
magic, and feel my butt start to tighten as I realize he is coming straight
at me without another boat in sight. At the last minute he cuts hard and
shoots off at a 45 degree angle and out over the horizon. Never realized it
was magnetism before, thanks for the explanation.
David
Why is it that some people feel that in an anchorage that they MUST drop the
hook right next to you, in front of you or right in back of you. You let
them know how much scope you have out and still they pull up and drop. Do
some folks not think that the currents and wind will move them around? You
know what I mean!
Just a thought on a beautiful morning off St Augustine, Fl with a cat less
than a boat lenght in front us!!
Boatbums
=
=Why is it that some people feel that in an anchorage that they
=MUST drop the hook right next to you,
'Tis a mystery. I've always suspected that they think you know something
they don't (sometimes it's a lack of confidence thing). But also because
there are choice spots and not so good spots--a bit more protected, etc.
Still, it's annoying. It's particularly annoying to wake up to find that
during the night someone has snuck in and anchored right on top of you.
What I've don't understood is how people won't account for the underbody of
their neighbor's boat when they anchor. Deep keeled boats--most sail and
larger trawler types--shift more with the current while lighter powerboats
and boats with flatter bottoms shift more with the wind. If everybody is
shifting together (like when there's not much wind) then it sort of works
out. But when wind and current oppose one another, you can get a tangled
mess when the two kinds of boats scatter out in different directions.
You can't be shy about saying something to people who anchor too close. If
you say something, you're in better legal standing if there is a collision.
I've known people to blare music during anchoring hours (4 to 6, say) but
while it does ward off some, it draws the party crowd closer in.
Rick
Rick the Mouseherder - nh2f
Westsail 32 Xapic, Hull #438
Cabo San Juan, Puerto Rico
A small boat and a suitcase full of money
beats a 40 footer tied to the Bank.
Visit our Westsail 32 Xapic
http://www.mouseherder.com/xapic
The Westsail Owners Assn. Homepage
http://www.westsail.org
To discourage the herd instinct in anchoring, I sunbathe nude on the bow. It
works so well that my ego suffers.
Bob
R C Smith Jr
M/V Susan Marie
Hatteras 58 LRC
Chesapeake Bay
From: "Rick Kennerly" rick@mouseherder.com
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 07:54:25 -0400
To: NPRIMEPILOT@cs.com, trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Subject: RE: TWL: anchoring
I've known people to blare music during anchoring hours (4 to 6, say) but
while it does ward off some, it draws the party crowd closer in.
This is a subject I have often pondered.
I think floating objects have some kind of magnetic attraction. You
see a crab trap float or a buoy way up ahead. If you do not make a
specific conscious effort to avoid the object, it will invariably
attract your vessel. This object could be 4 miles away, 30 off your
heading, and, by golly somehow when you get up that way you've got to
do a 'hard over' to keep from running into it. Boats in an anchorage
are no different. As you approach, you're first drawn into the
magnetic aura of all the boats in the anchorage. Then as you jockey
for position, you're magnetically drawn to individual boats...large
boats have stronger attracting powers than small ones. But I also
notice that as I weave my way through the anchorage, looking for MY
spot, I disrupt the magnetic equilibrium of the entire anchorage. I'm
attracted to a boat close by...it swings ever so subtly toward
me...it's movement may effect one or two or three other boats..pretty
soon the anchorage is mayhem.
This magnetic attraction is a strange animal. It's a nuisance to be
sure, but without it there's a void. You find a nice secluded
anchorage. You drop the hook. As you settle in there's this
recognition of a lack of the magnetic force. It would be nice to have
one more boat in the anchorage -- over there about 300 yds. But as
soon as that other boat does come and normalize the void, it doubles
the magnetic force. You may be able to tolerate, even enjoy one more
boat, but more than two others and the feeling turns from a void to an
overabundance. The 4th boat in the anchorage is an aggravation.
But let's look at it from the other perspective. A strong magnetic
force brings you to a teeming anchorage at just about sundown (the
force is particularly strong at sundown after a long day). You analyze
the positions and orientation of the 8 boats in the anchorage. The
magnetic force tells you there's room for one more. The more boats
there are, and the closer they are, the stronger the magnetic
attraction and the more likely you are to succumb to the 'there's
always room for one more' philosophy. So, you become 'one more', much
to the chagrin of the others. And as soon you have the hook down,
guess what? The, 'there's always room for one more' philosophy
immediately changes, 'cause this place is slam full! Don't feel bad,
it happens to each of the 12 successive boats making their way into
the anchorage. But hey, it's not like back home landside when the
neighbor is too close, you don't have to stay do you?
Nick in Spartanburg, SC
----- Original Message -----
From: NPRIMEPILOT@cs.com
To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2001 6:24 AM
Subject: Re: TWL: anchoring
Why is it that some people feel that in an anchorage that they MUST
drop the
hook right next to you, in front of you or right in back of you.
You let
them know how much scope you have out and still they pull up and
drop. Do
some folks not think that the currents and wind will move them
around? You
know what I mean!
Just a thought on a beautiful morning off St Augustine, Fl with a
cat less
than a boat lenght in front us!!
Boatbums
Whenever that happens to me, I politely advise the skipper that I don't
consider them to be at a safe distance away and suggest that they move.
Invariably, they move. I suppose if they didn't and I remained concerned,
my next discussion with them would be to advise them about just how
expensive they would find repairing a damaged plank in a 1970 Alaskan -
assuming they survived the beating.
Shaun Sweeney
aboard Rana III
GB 46' Alaskan #27
Lying Nanaimo Harbour
BC Canada
Listees,
Does anyone know a easy way or even a slightly easier way to loosen hoses
off the barbs and fittings? It took me hours to remove the two inch raw
water hoses off the babies (engines). I then spent several hours on the air
conditioning hoses finally cutting them. I've sprayed them with release
fluids of all kinds and enough pulling that my hands are very sore.
I have so many more to go . . .
Thanks
Skooch - Hatteras 42 LRC
Worton Creek, Md.
Just stand out on the deck with a baseball bat in hand and watch them move
away.
((:O)
docmoss
nip> Whenever that happens to me, I politely advise the skipper that I
don't
consider them to be at a safe distance away and suggest that they move.
jefferyn@home.com writes:
I think floating objects have some kind of magnetic attraction.
Not only floating objects. Years ago when I was young and beautiful
and did downhill skiing, I noticed that a single tree or bush on an
otherwise clean slope would have a similar attraction for shussing
skiers. Have a few scars and a once broken leg to prove my theory....
George
I think the "too close" metric has grown over time. I remember
anchoring in Cuttyhunk MA before the moorings were put in. Everyone put
fenders out and all worked together when the squalls came through. In
short, everyone seemed to have a sense of humor.
Lately I've seen "pilgrims" come to New Harbor Block Island, drop the
hook in 8 feet of water, let out 200' of rode, then shriek at anyone who
comes within a half mile of them.
Personally, if I'm entering a tight anchorage and I see a boat with way
too much nylon showing, I'll drop my all chain rode and anchor off his
stern and fall back without worry or guilt.
I guess what we're really lamenting is the demise of basic seamanship
and courtesy.
Fortunately, cruising is somewhat self selecting in that people who
don't acquire the skills have such miserable experiences boating that
they get out it. Unfortunately their actions raise premiums for all of
us.
Regards....
Phil Rosch
Old Harbor Consulting
M/V "Curmudgeon" Marine Trader 44 TC
Currently Moored in West Palm Beach FL