Anchor release and setup

jaymasta

Member
Hey guys, so I have managed to get most supplies I need to anchor for halibut, I have a single length of 600ft of rope, an anchor, 15ft of chain a large Buoy. A small buoy. A galvanized welded ring for the large buoy to lift the anchor. I think I have gathered most of what I need to put it all together I just have a few questions?
What is used for the "quick release" mechanism for the anchor line, I've been doing some reading and its mostly unclear but it seems that it is a "quick release snap shackle" that is used? And where abouts do you locate it on your boat. It seems like it could be placed at several different places on the boat for releasing.
How to you determine the length between your large Buoy and your boat if it is one seamless piece of rope from your chain to buoy to boat and how do you control it. Thanks guys iam a noob to anchoring, but I have read 100s of posts on here about it, watched youtube videos and researched it on the Internet.
I do not know anybody that has a proper anchor setup to show me these things, so I will have to figure it out myself and teach myself slowly how to anchor safely and properly.
Thanks in advance.
 
Get a bow to stern line on your boat then snap the caribbeaner onto it...have knife nearby then all you have to do is cut the line at the stern and you are free...when anchored secure the caribeanner to the bow via the bow stern line (usually by putting the bow to stern line on other side of cleat).
 
15 feet of chain is not enough. The chain has to weigh more than the anchor or the anchor will head back to the bottom when you kill your power and turn back to haul in the slack line. I use 40 ft and my 600 feet of rope is two lengths, a 200 and a 400 with a removable clasp joining the two when I want 600 feet. The clasp allows the ring to pass over it when retrieving the anchor. When fishing shallower depths i use the 200 foot section only, anything between 100 and 160-170 the 400 foot chunk and all 600 feet deeper. Run you bow to stern line from the front bow eye to a rear side cleat, preferably on the starboard or helm side of the boat. Makes it easier to see the rope in the water when you retrieve so you don"t run over it and get it into the prop...which is the worst thing that can happen.
 
Ok my anchor is 6lbs Danforth style I believe I think the chain is heavier but I will double check it. So u guys just rely on cutting the bow to stern rope as an emergency release then? My boat is only 14ft I was told to get chain the length of the boat LoL. Pro fisher how do u set the distance between your Scotsman and your boat? That is one thing that has me confused if the rope is just one continuous length from bow to anchor wouldn't the boat just end up at the large Scotsman?
 
Ok my anchor is 6lbs Danforth style I believe I think the chain is heavier but I will double check it. So u guys just rely on cutting the bow to stern rope as an emergency release then? My boat is only 14ft I was told to get chain the length of the boat LoL. Pro fisher how do u set the distance between your Scotsman and your boat? That is one thing that has me confused if the rope is just one continuous length from bow to anchor wouldn't the boat just end up at the large Scotsman?

I suspect that is a small boat for deep water anchoring. Why not see if someone will go with you who has a lot of experience at it to learn from and then only in perfect calm weather and light current. My understanding is that when things go wrong it can be fast and ugly and you don't have much free board. Hope it is not a light tinny.
 
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14ft DE pretty heavy boat, probably one of the more seaworthy boats in 14ft class...I can only see myself anchoring in the best conditions on nice days. I would suspect if I get it setup and learn how to do it properly and safely I'd only anchor a half dozen times a year at most...
 
14ft DE pretty heavy boat, probably one of the more seaworthy boats in 14ft class...I can only see myself anchoring in the best conditions on nice days. I would suspect if I get it setup and learn how to do it properly and safely I'd only anchor a half dozen times a year at most...

Double Eagles are indeed good boats. Have a fishing buddy who has a lot of experience safely deep water anchoring in a 16 DE. He is however, very good at it, very selective on days and times and very careful.
 
There is no one length of intermediate line. I use around 75 feet of rope from the ball to the boat, i would say longer is better than shorter. The boat end of the main anchor line has a shackle in place through a thimble lined loop in the rope. You also put a spare slider ring the same size as the one used on your scotsman in that shackle as well. This achieves 2 things...is a stop for the ring on your scotsman so that is where it settles to once everything is deployed and gives you a spare ring if you need it.
 
Trotac is using about 5\16 to 1/2 yellow poly floating line for the intermediate line, a small gill net type float near the boat end is there to make it easier to grab if you disconnect and then want to hook back up. I use stainless carabiners to connect the main to the intermediate and also from intermediate to the bow to stern line. I use a threaded locking carabiner on the scotsman to the slider ring...I had the non locking open up in rough water which meant the slider ring went down to the anchor. Had to pull the whole thing in rough water by hand...not fun. By the time I got the anchor aboard my ball had blown about a mile away from me in the wind. It was blowing SE at Jordon River so it put me one mile further in the wrong direction and added 1 mile of pounding to get home.
 
Ok thanks guys, yes I defiantly understand that my anchoring capabilities are limited, that's why I have put together this anchor gear by trading and selling off other gear to get it. I wasn't about to go to trotac and drop $500 on a new setup (ill save that for my next boat). General consensus seems to be ill need more chain. So I'll kick it up to 25'-30' I have the danforth, I also have a 10lb navy anchor which seems similar sort of style to the danforth only shorter, stalkier and beefier looking. Are these useful anchors? I'll most likely only anchor in oakbay and possibly Sidney/James island area. I'll try to attach a picture of a full setup that I have in my head to be a ready to go setup.
Any comments and corrections are appreciated. I would love to be able to hire a guide to watch/show me how to do it unfortunately that's not in the cards right now. And I don't really know anyone that actually anchors properly and safely.
 

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You have a shackle being used to attach to bow to stern...use a stainless carabiner snap instead.
 
Profisher, sounds good I haven't bought any of that stuff yet, I need to get another ring, a few carabiner snaps and more chain and I think I'll be good to go at that point.
 
Sounds good ill probably go to trotac for the final items needed, other then the chain everything has been acquired either trading or purchased used.
 
1.5 kts in a little boat is too strong go below 1 kt please just to be on safe side or slacks till you get it right....

GOOD LUCK WOLF
 
Hey wolf, sounds good to me. I'm definitely one of the smaller boats out there most of the time. The only ones smaller are the occasional tinny that makes it out there. I have to base most of my fishing around the weather being in such a small boat. And I know that anchoring is no joke. I'll take it slow and easy, and hopefully worse case that ill run into is not being able to retrieve the thing or having to leave it behind if things get rocky. I appreciate all the advice and concern.

1.5 kts in a little boat is too strong go below 1 kt please just to be on safe side or slacks till you get it right....

GOOD LUCK WOLF
 
Those are a nice little boat,jaymasta.A buddy of mine has the same D.E. with a 30 hp. Nissan and a 6hp evinrude
kicker. Great on gas and a good "fair weather" boat for off Victoria/Sooke.He anchors for hali in it as well,but is very
careful to pick his weather and tides.
 
Those are a nice little boat,jaymasta.A buddy of mine has the same D.E. with a 30 hp. Nissan and a 6hp evinrude
kicker. Great on gas and a good "fair weather" boat for off Victoria/Sooke.He anchors for hali in it as well,but is very
careful to pick his weather and tides.

Ya it's good for me, easy to tow with my Mazda truck fully loaded with camping gear or whatever else. Has enough get up and go to pull 2 tubes with 2 passengers on board with a bit of persuasion, or 3 ppl on board towing 1 tube. Although I couldn't imagine it with only a 30hp. Although iam usually loaded up pretty good with either passengers and water sports gear or else, down riggers, kicker motor fishing gear 2 batts etc...The fuel consumption is great on it as well.
 
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