Bahamiun mooring

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bg5w
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Bahamiun mooring

Post by bg5w »

As a new owner, I found myself several weeks ago on the Savannah River, where most, due to the change in currents, use a bahamiun mooring. I could do this readily with my monohull with the full keel, simply by running both rodes through the same bow roller, and setting the the second one off the stern.

I now have an anchor from the roller on each hull. First question - how do you set them from the forward rollers without getting horrendous twisting? Second question - when the boat swings, can the spade rudder catch the rode coming forward?

I ended up staying with the boat to make sure I didn't swing into anyone while my friends went ashore for fun and games. Prefer not to have to do that again.

Thanks,

Bob Gruber
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thinwater
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Re: Bahamiun mooring

Post by thinwater »

Really, anchoring straight from the rollers on a PDQ 32 is a really bad idea. The boat will sail around the anchor and there will be chafe on the rope (or noise and wear on the roller if all chain. Additionally, make certain you take the load off the windlass Either to a cleat or use a chain stopper. But the bridle will do this.

First, always use a bridle. You can attach to the chain or rope with a rolling hitch, hook, or one of these:
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/ ... arans.html
My bridle has 2 ~ 6-foot legs with eyes on both ends and chafe gear where it goes in the chocks.

Second, the post below describes what I have found to be the best way to use 2 anchors. Fore-aft is generally just asking for high strains if the wind hits you on the beam. As for 2 anchors on the bow, it looks good but makes very little practical sense. I keep my second anchor in the stern locker, as it is MUCH easier to deploy from there. If you lay 2 anchors from rollers, there is no way to avoid a terrible twist... so don't do it that way. I believe if I had 2 rollers I would remove one and re-task the chain locker.
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2011/ ... nchor.html
I've tried fore-aft a few times and always ended up moving both to the bow bridle. Perhaps in a very narrow, very protected spot. Even then, I think I would use 2 bridles (the aft bridle would be a dock line attached to the stern rode with a rolling hitch and tied to the opposing cleat).

Nope, never snagged on the rudders. However, you need some mass at the apex of the bridle to make certain the rope goes down when the tide is shifting. Certainly a snag is not impossible and I believe some PDQ owners have had that problem. Additionally, if one of the rodes is chain, join them low enough that they both stay on the bottom. I often do it that way. A little more swing, but safe.
Writing full time since 2014.
"Rigging Modern Anchors,"Seaworthy Press, https://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Modern-A ... 1948494078
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mikeandrebecca
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Re: Bahamiun mooring

Post by mikeandrebecca »

I have nothing really to add to the original question because we've never found it necessary to Bahamian moor. Just to comment on Drew's post, we have been forced to use a stern anchor on a few occasions to stop us from swinging where the water was too skinny or there were other hazards.

We also keep a second anchor on the bow and although this has not happened to us, feel that it would be valuable in two situations:

1. We're dragging and we aren't on the boat. When people get on board to try to stop the boat from dragging they will commonly dump all the primary rode and if there is another anchor set and ready to go, deploy it as well. This happened to a friend of ours last season during a big squall.
2. If we had to cast off our primary anchor due to some sort of drama, having the second anchor ready to go would be a big asset.

I also have found no reason to deploy both bow anchors at the same time though.

Mike
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thinwater
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Re: Bahamiun mooring

Post by thinwater »

I would not have thought of point "1." Probably a less common circumstance here in the Chesapeake. A good reason to keep the second roller. Thanks.

I should note that our stern anchor and rode are in a dedicated "slot" in the stern locker and can be extracted in seconds. Buried under a pile is not an answer, for Mike's reasons!

Before I got the 3-pound Manson Supreme I had a 25-pound Delta, and while it is a good design, in soft mud it was too small and occasionally needed help.
Writing full time since 2014.
"Rigging Modern Anchors,"Seaworthy Press, https://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Modern-A ... 1948494078
Book Store. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2017/ ... store.html
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