Anchoring in raritan

[floggingfluke]

Got a twenty foot cc and always have trouble holding in raritan. Is it my set up or the bottom I am on. Always can feel it dragging along bottom. Try to set it and nothing. Any tips or set up recommended would be appreciated. I had aluminum spade anchor but lost it last time out because it grabbed while backing boat trying to make it catch. Long story. Any help appreciated.

[bigal427]

A good Danforth fluke anchor 8 to 10pounds with a least 10 feet of chain should do it. Never liked the aluminum anchor I think a good steel anchor grabs faster.

[Bass Specialist]

For a 20ft boat you probably want a 10-15lb anchor with atleast a 4 foot chain. Sometimes that won't even be enough depending on the conditions. Just let out more rope and you should be fine.

[stugots]

By the book you should have the length of the boat in chain and let out 4x the length of line then the depth of the water ex: 25ft of water 100ft of line. If you're dragging on the bottom, generally not letting out enough line or your chain isn't long enough.

[PortlyRedhead]

Let's merge all of the good ideas above.

Invest in a steel Danforth anchor as it weighs more and stays down.

Invest in at least 10 feet of chain between your anchor and your anchor rode. The chain's weight keeps the anchor pulling parallel to the bottom and not up towards your boat.

If you broke your anchor off, invest in a new &/or stronger anchor rode.

Pay out at least 3X water depth in anchor rode - 4X + is better - although you'll swing more with the additional scope.

[BobbyK]

20 feet of chain

[1captainron]

You lost your anchor because you "Floated it" by backing down, probably too hard and chances are it's too light. I see this all the time. Naturally, you have to get momentum backing up but you don't have to make 5 knots doing it, let the current take you back so the anchor catches and digs in naturally.
Another thing I see guys do all the time, you don't have to stand there pulling on the line to see if it's in...tie the line off when you have enough scope out, watch when it gets tight, if it jumps and goes slack, it's not set.

[Gerry Zagorski]

2 most common mistakes people make is not having enough chain and trying to set the anchor in a stiff current with too little scope.

General rule on chain is have to have a minimum of half the length of your boat. 20 foot boat 10 feet of chain.

Like Captain Ron said, You see lot of people up on the bow throw the anchor and immediately put tention on it and all it does is skip across the bottom.

To set the anchor let it free fall with little to no tention on it. When you feel you have enough scope (2 to 3 times depth) that's when you put tension on it to get it to set. If you don't grab, pick up, try it again, this time with more scope before you try and set it.

[Capt Sal]

Years ago when Flynns Knoll was the place to get your slot fish there were many problems anchoring. We were on the anchor in 23' and bailing bass. A boat pulled in front of us and tried to drop his aqnchor on ours. I went on the loud speaker and at him not to do that. I said drop along side of us not on top of us.He moved over 100' and dropped in front of another charter boat and his 10lb. anchor and 5' of chain did not hold.His anchor wrapped around the charter boat and put them a drift taking twenty boats with him in a 4 knot current. Anchor line wrapped around twin screws and the tangled mess going toward Roamer Shoals. Sea tow, cut anchor lines and a total disaster! Moral of the story is go overkill on the anchor and chain!

[bowhunter]

I had a 20 grady and had trouble on the knoll with the 8lb that came with the boat.I bought a 14lb and never had a problem again. Several boats later I learned that if You want to anchor in heavy current use the size larger than the one recommended for Your size boat.

[bender]

you can get away with a lighter anchor if you pay out more rope while setting. once you are dug in, retrieve scope to desired position.

[Charlie B]

you can get away with a lighter anchor if you pay out more rope while setting. once you are dug in, retrieve scope to desired position.That and 10 or 15 feet of heavy chain 5/16 or 3/8 and you should be good to go...Charlie

[BCinerie]

Can never have too much chain!!!! 15 lb. anchor and 15-20 feet chain and you can anchor almost anywhere!!!

[NoLimit]

Chain Chain Chain...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHeqFxHSVfA

[Capt Sal]

you can get away with a lighter anchor if you pay out more rope while setting. once you are dug in, retrieve scope to desired position.
This is true if you are in the middle of the bay in the mud with almost no current. What do you do if want to anchor close to the Verrazano Bridge,Roamer Shoals,Flynns Koll or many other good spots with current? Not only is it dangerous for yourself but also to others anchored in the area.With out starting a shit storm i think it is not in his best interest to use a lighter anchor.
We were anchored up on the Keyport flats catching winter flounder in April. The wind was stiff out of the west but flat seas. The 18' boat up wind from us broke loose ahis anchor rode up our anchor line and put him in a broach position. His anchor hopped over our pulpit and almost came thru our windshield.Heavy anchor and lots of ''heavy'' chain. My little brother used a 25lb. anchor on his 25' Parker and never had a problem. Go heavy and you can anchor anywhere you want and you will be safe!

[bigal427]

15 pounds is a over kill for 20 foot boat. Like what was said before put out your scope before you start to tighten up on your line. I use a 13 pound anchor on a 28' boat with about 20' foot of chain and have no problems.

[bender]

This is true if you are in the middle of the bay in the mud with almost no current. What do you do if want to anchor close to the Verrazano Bridge,Roamer Shoals,Flynns Koll or many other good spots with current? Not only is it dangerous for yourself but also to others anchored in the area.With out starting a shit storm i think it is not in his best interest to use a lighter anchor.
We were anchored up on the Keyport flats catching winter flounder in April. The wind was stiff out of the west but flat seas. The 18' boat up wind from us broke loose ahis anchor rode up our anchor line and put him in a broach position. His anchor hopped over our pulpit and almost came thru our windshield.Heavy anchor and lots of ''heavy'' chain. My little brother used a 25lb. anchor on his 25' Parker and never had a problem. Go heavy and you can anchor anywhere you want and you will be safe!

very good point Capt.
I was only offering general solution.
One must exercise common sense..... safety first

[Capt Sal]

When anchoring for stripers in Raritan Bay the average depth is 20-25'. If you have a boat in the 18-25 range you will put out the same amount of scope each time. Here is a trick we used when we fished the 25' Parker. Anchor the boat with the proper amount of scope and mark the spot on your line were you tied off to the cleat on the pulpit. When you get back to port take a 1/4'' piece of rope and splice it in 25' from your mark. Next trip anchor up andtie off on your mark and tie the 1/4'' rope off on the gunnel midship. When it is time to go just pull up the 1/4''rope and get the main anchor line in your hand with out having to go to the bow. Put the anchor and rode in a basket and leave it out. Next trip just throw the anchor over from mid ship it is already tied up front. Simple and great if you are alone or do not want to go to the bow in snotty conditions.

[Gerry Zagorski]

When anchoring for stripers in Raritan Bay the average depth is 20-25'. If you have a boat in the 18-25 range you will put out the same amount of scope each time. Here is a trick we used when we fished the 25' Parker. Anchor the boat with the proper amount of scope and mark the spot on your line were you tied off to the cleat on the pulpit. When you get back to port take a 1/4'' piece of rope and splice it in 25' from your mark. Next trip anchor up andtie off on your mark and tie the 1/4'' rope off on the gunnel midship. When it is time to go just pull up the 1/4''rope and get the main anchor line in your hand with out having to go to the bow. Put the anchor and rode in a basket and leave it out. Next trip just throw the anchor over from mid ship it is already tied up front. Simple and great if you are alone or do not want to go to the bow in snotty conditions.

This is a great solution for boats where it's hard and sometimes dangerous due to conditions to go up on the bow. Thanks for Sharing it here Sal...

Before we got a windlass this would have come in very handy. Been up on the bow more then a few times when it was rough... Not fun and not too safe, especially for someone as clumsy as me.

[Treebeard63]

Lots of good advice here as usual.. A good steel danforth and adequate chain and scope.. and you'll be fine.. If you need to buy an anchor, go steel this time.. My Scout came with a fancy aluminum anchor.. IMO it's a silly material to make anchors out of.. it worked.. but it needed about 20' of chain to hold it down.. so there goes any weight savings.. and it bent easy.. they look nice.. but seems to me, that's all you get for the extra cost,