I have a less conventional approach to anchoring - especially if the conditions are mild. I keep the anchor in the lazarette in a pail with the rode and chain coiled. I prefer to keep the bow pulpit uncluttered.  The bitter end of the line is tied to the pail handle. As I approach my anchoring location I put the pail on the cockpit seat and take the bitter end of the rode from the pail handle and tie it to a stern cleat. 

I then approach my anchoring spot going downwind slowly and when I reach the spot where I want the anchor to hold I toss it overboard, put the motor in neutral and coast downwind while I play out the line for the scope that I want and then tie it off again while the anchor grabs. I then put the motor in gear and power forward enough to ensure that the anchor has a good hold. 

If I am planning to stay only a few hours I will leave the boat pointing down wind. In that position any wind passes over the cockpit - which is usually more comfortable. When the time comes to leave I start the motor and leave it in neutral and then  tie the bitter end of the rode to the pail handle, release the line form the cleat and pull in the anchor while coiling the rode into the pail. Once the anchor is retrieved I put it on top of the coiled line and put the pail into the lazarette and then just power off. 

If I plan to stay overnight or if the winds become more substantial I take the unused portion of the rode to the bow and tie it off in the usual manner. I then release the line on the stern cleat and the boat will come around on its own to face into the wind. All the while I am within reach of the helm and motor  controls.

This approach is especially convenient as it allows you to easily set and retrieve the anchor and control the boat on your own. Setting the anchor in the traditional way usually requires that one person be at the bow to release the anchor while another puts the motor in reverse and back up to set the anchor. Raising the anchor over the bow is also difficult at times and inherently less safe than standing in the cockpit - especially if you are alone.

Graham

Graham Stewart
Agile 1976 Rhodes 22
Kingston Ontario

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Peter Nyberg
Sent: Saturday, November 2, 2019 5:12 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Rhodes didn’t come with an anchor

Allyn,

My boat came out of the General Boats ‘Recycle’ program with a Fortress FX7.  It hangs from the bow pulpit, and the end of the shaft is pinned to a U bracket at the very tip of the bow.      It’s an elegant storage solution, but a bit tricky to implement as the length of the hangers plus the length of the anchor have to be right with a pretty close tolerance to get the hole at the end of the anchor shaft to line up with the pin at the bow.  If you want to take this approach, I’d suggest you contact General Boats and see if they can supply you with appropriate hardware.

But, as much as I thought that location for the anchor was clever, it never seemed very convenient. I’ve never anchored with the Fortress.  

I use a 15 lb Manson Supreme.  Prior to this season (now behind us, alas),  I’ve kept this in a Rubbermaid tub in the lazarette along with its rode.  The rode is 10’ of 1/4” chain and 200’ of 3/8” three strand nylon.  The rode is coiled in a 2.5 gallon bucket from the Home Depot paint department.  When I’m approaching an anchorage, I’ll take the tub from the lazarette, carry it through the cockpit and the cabin and place it on the forward cabin roof (I almost always have the pop-top up when underway).  When I’m ready to anchor, I’ll walk up to the bow and and throw the anchor over.

Last winter I added a bow sprit and a bow roller, so now the Manson lives on the bow full time.

Peter Nyberg
Coventry, CT
s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)

> On Nov 2, 2019, at 9:07 AM, Allyn Baskerville <allynb at adsne.com> wrote:
> 
> I’ll soon be needing an anchor, but I’m not sure if the best way to set this up. I’ve read the posts about rope/chain, so I’m good there. I’ve seen the anchor on Rhodes in the pictures hanging up front. How do you secure the anchor? Also, what’s the best way to store the anchor rode? There is a leaking deck plate I’ll be fixing ASAP, but without cutting a hole, there is no way to put the ride in there. I thought maybe I’ll have to disconnect the anchor each time. Thanks
> 
> Sent from my iPhone