April 13-19 Cruiser trip lessons learned

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Toohot2 said:
3. Strong winds 30-45 mph and waves coming across a bay directly at your stern will make it so you do
NOT choose to anchor in sandy shallows. It drove us into the beach and we had to call for Wahweap for tow off sand.
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Hello Toohot2, I also have a cruiser and may anchor as you did. Would you mind providing further details to help me avoid a similar fate? If I understand correctly you were bow toward the beach, but off the beach some distance, with an anchor off your stern into the bay and an anchor off your bow onto the beach. Is this correct? Could you provide details on your stern anchorage that came loose? How many anchors? What type anchor? What size? Chain or rope rode? How deep where the anchors were placed? What scope? Had you been anchored bow out would you have been okay?

Sorry to bother you with so many questions. Not doing it to criticize but to learn.
 
They beached the boat on a leeward shore, worst position in a storm. I don't know if they had options, but the shore where the wind in coming (weather shore) from has little wave height and there is the possibility of shelter. Also, safer for the boat because you can beach bow-in.
I did like to see had life jackets on and I think they did well when you consider the conditions.

To be clear, head for the direction the storm is coming from (weather shore) if you don't have far to go. Always seek shelter early especially if a safe harbor is not close and wait out the storm.

Oh, I have full face swim goggles on board because if you boat often enough you will need them.

That is a very good video showing what can happen, thanks for sharing!
 
ScottF said:
Hello Toohot2, I also have a cruiser and may anchor as you did. Would you mind providing further details to help me avoid a similar fate? If I understand correctly you were bow toward the beach, but off the beach some distance, with an anchor off your stern into the bay and an anchor off your bow onto the beach. Is this correct? Could you provide details on your stern anchorage that came loose? How many anchors? What type anchor? What size? Chain or rope rode? How deep where the anchors were placed? What scope? Had you been anchored bow out would you have been okay?

Sorry to bother you with so many questions. Not doing it to criticize but to learn.
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I had a large bow anchor and two side anchors...for a total of five. I was 8 feet from shore line. We expected light winds, but that changed quickly.

Next time, if I know prevailing wind direction and expect strong winds (check this often daily on VHF Wx) I would bow shore/ beach anchor into the wind ..but not on a sandy beach if possible (to prevent sandblasting my face not to mention getting in all my nooks and crannies) . I will avoid all those shallow nice looking beach areas that abound now, if I expect wind (or numerous wake boats). Would have been ok if I had a deeper drop off for the prop....but as soon as the 30-40 mph wind and waves caught the stern...and turned it sideways a bit....the prop met the beach/sand and it was wait till next day for the tow off (1122.00$...but thankfully insured).

Have tried bow anchoring into wind at LP in water close to shore ..but without knowing what surface your bow anchor is resting on...it's a crap shoot if it will hold in strong shifting winds.

NP
 
boatdaddy said:
They beached the boat on a leeward shore, worst position in a storm. I don't know if they had options, but the shore where the wind in coming (weather shore) from has little wave height and there is the possibility of shelter. Also, safer for the boat because you can beach bow-in.
I did like to see had life jackets on and I think they did well when you consider the conditions.

To be clear, head for the direction the storm is coming from (weather shore) if you don't have far to go. Always seek shelter early especially if a safe harbor is not close and wait out the storm.

Oh, I have full face swim goggles on board because if you boat often enough you will need them.

That is a very good video showing what can happen, thanks for sharing!
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This video at the almost sinking section, boat filling with water without a plug brought back vivid memories and cold sweats. Very luckily & thankfully they made it back to port for another trip.
 
Anchoring is never set and forget. Wind speed and direction often change. About 10 years ago we noticed a storm coming and we spent about an hour setting additional shoreline's just in case, 8-1" braided total. Around 1:00 am it hit our houseboat with incredible high wind and rain coming from the bow. The lines were so tight, and the boat began to move off the shore (line stretch). We started the engines and put them in gear to keep the boat from moving more. Everyone was up because the wind was howling. This was the 1st of 2 storms we experienced.

All our lines were wrapped around large boulders, thank God. We were lucky to have time to get ready and the next day we shared out fears and thoughts and laughs about the storm. Yes, LP does provide incredible memories, some are more vivid than others.
 
Toohot2 said:
Have tried bow anchoring into wind at LP in water close to shore ..but without knowing what surface your bow anchor is resting on...it's a crap shoot if it will hold in strong shifting winds.
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Has anyone had success at reading the bottom with your fish finder to determine whether it's sand or rock? I'm told this is possible but haven't figured it out yet myself.
 
ScottF said:
Has anyone had success at reading the bottom with your fish finder to determine whether it's sand or rock? I'm told this is possible but haven't figured it out yet myself.
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You can usually tell the difference between a soft bottom and rocks by the color of the return on the graph. It depends on how you have your sonar set up, but very dark returns on the top part of the "bottom" indicates a hard, reflective surface like rock. I would suggest going over areas that you know the substrate (sand) and compare it to areas you know are rock to get a feel for what your unit is showing. Messing with the sensitivity will make a big difference. If you are running it on a higher sensitivity setting, the image will all give a strong return, and you will have a difficult time telling the substrate. It definitely can be done, but it does take a bit of fiddling....
 
One week my husband dropped me and my seadoo and our Rinker 260 off in Mountain Sheep canyon. He went home because he had to work so I spent the week by myself. I knew a storm was coming so I started preparing. There were not enough big rocks so I took my seadoo and would load rocks on the back deck and then take them over to camp to use on top of the anchors. I had a nice slot I was anchored in. I was bow in. I had 5 anchors total. 2 out the back on each side then 3 in the front. They were big digger anchors. I set the ones in front the best I could then used sand anchor stakes through the ring to help hold them then plied on the rocks. The thunder was so loud as it boomed off the canyon walls. The boat shook with the gusts that hit the boat. I would peep out the windows the whole time watching the anchors. The storm lasted a little over an hour. A few rocks tumbled but the anchors held. I was pretty happy with myself and I think those sand stakes help support the anchors.
 
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