Kurt Reno asked... My boat is only 26 ft in length but seems like 28-30. I completely remanufactured the boat top to bottom two years ago and all the bugs are worked out of it so mechanically the boat is ready to go. I would like to have it ready in about 6 weeks and go launch them into Kentucky Lake to begin their journey. I have informed them that they may abandon at any time and I will come and pick the boat up. Since they are elderly and not that agile I feel I need to install a bow thruster and a windlass for the anchor. This boat can be a real bear in even a moderate blow since the keel angles down from the bow to the stern. Dennis replies... Hello Kurt! I'm pleased to hear your parents are well enough physically and young enough mentally to think about making this trip. Having seen your boat at a Trawler Fest in Manitowoc, as well as having put over 7,000 hours on our Sadie B (Albin 27 FC), a similar boat in terms of size and weight, I'll relate our experience on the Loop, most all of the inland rivers, as well as several trips up and down the east coast ICW. I am sure others will think myself foolhardy, but here goes. We used for several years a lightweight Fortress (I think 17 pounds) with 6-8 feet of chain and 200 feet of 1/2 nylon.After listening to Capt. Wil Andrews, former prolific and highly technical contributor to the predecessor of this list) quote Mr. Danforth himself (maker of the original Danforth anchor) as saying that his anchors set best with no chain (Wil was a proponent of wire rope), I eliminated the chain and much of the weight (and the mess on the foredeck) of the tackle, and did find that it set more quickly. Later, I was attracted by the reviews of the Bulwagga anchor in Practical Sailor, as well as its 100% satisfaction guarantee and your money back if not satisfied within a year. The one we have is 15 or 16 pounds and easily handled without any chain. It does set and reset way better than the Fortress in weeds, as well on a changing tidal current. We have a 200 foot 1/2 inch nylon rode, but I don't think I've ever anchored using more than 100 feet, and usually it's less than 50. With my 2.5 foot draft I can usually get into a lee shore way closer than most other boats. Right now I am anchored on northern Lake Champlain, 200 feet from a wooded lee shore in 4 foot deep gin clear water on a hard sandy bottom, with almost no weeds, with the tall trees blocking what's left of Ernesto. Twenty five 25 sailboats and a couple of go-fast boats are at least a quarter mile further offshore in a weedy and softer bottom in 8-12 feet. We don't try to pull the boat up to the anchor, rather we slowly proceed forward under power until the anchor rode is vertical, then without stopping the boat, take a turn on the sampson post and let the slight forward momentum break the anchor out. On the rare occasion this does not work, a little reverse pressure will certainly release it. My "Winch wench" sees no reason for a mechanical replacement. Our rode has been reversed a couple of times in the past five or so years, and shows no wear at all in literally 100's of nights anchored. To illustrate our use of marinas, we have been on the boat nearly 80 days on this cruise to date, and have been in a marina one night. I certainly understand the need for chain rodes and very heavy anchors in other situations. I've cruised perhaps 20,000 miles on trawlers and sailboats up to 57 feet equipped with very heavy tackle, and appreciated every pound of it in a big or even small blow off windward shores and less than great holding ground. Off the Galapagos we arrived at night, we used 200 feet of chain and another 200 feet of 1/2 nylon in around 80 feet of water, the best situation we could find at the time. Certainly a winch was mandatory! But, we are talking about the Loop, nearly all inland and near coastal, and with anchoring depths of mostly less than 10 feet, good holding, as well as lock walls, free docks, and many river towns with inexpensive marinas, often as little as $.50 per foot. As to the need for a thruster, I find a heavy hand on the throttle, combined with going bow-first into slips in windy conditions, in this size boat is, to my mind, an un-needed luxury. I often see boats both small and large entering locks using both bow and stern thrusters, and wonder if the helmsperson could get it to the wall if the unit failed. I'd give your folks the money needed to purchase and install the thruster, and suggest they use it to stay in a few more marinas in expensive places like Washington, DC, Annapolis, and New York City, where it's decidedly harder to see the sights from an anchorage. That's the view from the cheap seats! I've got my flack jacket at the ready. Lying Nichols Bay, northern Lake Champlain, at the tail end of Ernesto, pretty much of a non-event locally. I've had an invitation to act as guide and crew on a friend's new Defever 45 for a several day cruise around northeastern Lake Champlain's "Inland Sea", so we are hauling Sadie B on Tuesday. Small boats, while having lot's of attributes, begin to show their shortcomings when the water temperatures drop lower than 60 degrees, and the night temperatures approach 40 degrees. Of course, I could probably stick it out another several weeks if I was willing to put on "Big boy" (long) pants. Back to Florida by automobile in around 2 weeks. Dennis Dennis Bruckel, Cruising Editor Waterway Guide M/V Sadie B, Albin 27 Cell 407 414 0531 Website: www.debruckel.com A man who is not afraid of the sea will be drowned, for he'll be going out on a day when he shouldn't. The Arron Islands, J. M. Synge