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The purpose is to share succinct posts about lessons learned, or things we use or do that work [or don't...] that are common to most of us boaters.
The goal is to garner feedback from those of you having first-hand experience with a better approach/ solution/ product...
We never assume what we are sharing is the ideal or only; it just seems to best suit our needs [and/or habits and/or budget] from our experiences thus far...
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Many of the places we anchor in SE Alaska have mud bottoms. Often it is glacial ooze— which is really sticky stuff....
Following is what we have found to be successful [for the least amount of effort...] for removing mud from our all [galvanized] chain anchor rode before it goes into the anchor locker: [Remember we typically anchor in 50-80 ft depths, so there can be a lot of chain with mud on it...]
- Gently jerk the chain off the bottom by backing the boat until the chain is taut. This action typically causes most of the mud fall off underwater.
- Repeat as necessary as the rode is retrieved...
- Salt water wash— as rode is hauled in over the bow roller
- Using either a pressure wand [which last ~2-3 years] or a a salt water rated spray nozzle; both on a short water hose originating in the anchor locker.
- This keeps the mess off the deck and out of the anchor locker...
- We are considering installing built-in spray nozzles at the bow roller.
- We have used a purpose made brush on a pole in times past. We are too lazy for that...
- Rinse the chain in fresh water after flaking in anchor locker to help improve service life.
- Our washdown hoses have Y-valves so we can select fresh or raw [salt in our case] water...
- Washdown Pumps:
- Minimum pump recommended [from my experience on several boats...]
- High end pump option
- Practical Sailor pump evaluation
Do you have a better/easier approach that we can all learn from? [Besides replacing our galvanized chain with stainless, or not anchoring in muddy places...]
Having spent the last two summers in Alaska, nothing irked me more than seeing that fine Alaska mud dirtying up my British Columbian foredeck! (It happens in BC too.). My solution was once I found mud on my foredeck I would freewheel 25 feet of a chain out then bring it back in again. that would wash off some of the chain. Repeat as needed when more mud appeared.
ReplyDeleteStan
S/V Arbutus Beach
P.S. Doesn’t it irk you when you read boating forums and they talk about dealing with 8 to 15 foot anchoring depths?
Thanks for your feedback, Stan.
DeleteUsing gravity for mud removal is a good approach. Swishing the muddy chain in the water helps a lot. That is what our 'jerk the chain' method accomplishes- sometimes combined with slowly motoring for a bit with the last x feet of chain [and anchor] dangling in the water to thoroughly rinse the stubborn gunk off...
RE: Shallow water anchoring: I'm not too sure I get off much easier in shallow anchorages...
Sure, in deeper water we have more chain out, but less scope is required compared to that necessary in shallow water. [e.g., 4:1 vs. 7+/1]
As I think this through, I don't have much less muddy chain to clean if I anchor in 15' of water @ 8:1 scope [160' rode - 20' from bottom to bow (i.e., chain that never touched the bottom) = 140' of chain to clean]
Compare that to anchoring in 60' of water at 4:1 [240' - 65' off bottom to bow- i.e., clean chain = 175' of chain to clean; 35' more than anchoring in 15' of water...]
Therefore, the shallow water anchorages with dirty bottoms [when requisite scope is deployed] don't let us off all that easily...
Thanks again.
Cheers! Bill
PS: I apologize for my delayed response. I recently returned from some extensive travel where my time was not my own...