Non slip deck & Pulling up anchor

[SeaLady]

I have recently repainted the deck on "Sea Lady" a Mark 2. Came up well and I put non slip bead / sand on as well.
However I have the problem that it is still slippery, especially after washing with guarranteed 'non slip' deck wash. Hmmm The places are are non slippery, where I walk a lot. e.g. the cockpit seem to grab and hold dirt incredibly well.

I also am having difficulty lifting / weighing anchor when in a deep ancorage.
Being a solo female, without burly muscles, I need to try and find a good chain to line ratio that reduces the weight yet still allows good holding.

Any ideas?

p.s. It was washing off the foredeck after mud from the anchor that has made my non slip deck, washed with non slip detergent. Like skating on wet glass.

Diana
"Sea Lady"

[Miker]

Hi Diana,
Hopefully you are sitting on the deck behind the anchor locker with your feet braced on the bow rail supports? That's the way I do it, and it seems to make it quite a lot easier to bring the anchor up and mines a 30lb manson. It's so big it doesn't fit in the locker and has to be stowed below when we're not using it, it's too big to put on the roller all the time.

The other thing you could try is wash the deck with a mix of fanta and water.... seems odd, but it works on dance floors...

Michael

[Dolphin]

G'Day Diana,
have you considered another option, you can use lighter chain and run a 5kg or 10kg weight down the anchor rode and keep it say a few meters from the end of the chain. This has the effect of lowering the angle of pull on the anchor rode (which is what the chain does anyway). The weight can be attached with a snatch block, one that opens to allow it to be connected onto the rode and a 10mm silver rope used for recovery.
The advantage will be that if you are in light conditions and/or only want a lunch stop you can do without the weight. The weight can be stowed low in the boat in the centre and thus not weigh down the bow.
Pouring Fanta on the deck? I thought that would bring ants.
Greg.

[Marinka]

what chain are you using at the moment and what size anchor? I am looking to buy a new anchor chain and rode but do like to have 8mm at least and about 50 ft of chian - I am not sure if that will fit into the locker but will see. Cheers Peter

[Swift]

Hi Diana

I just noticed that Whitworths have the latest Manson Racer anchor in stock. It's a lightweight Aluminium design and for a boat up to 25 ft the recommended size weighs an amazingly low 1.4 KG. It's a Danforth style anchor which appears similar in proportions to a Fortress anchor which routinely, in tests, has proved to have the highest holding power of any anchor. Looks and performance are two different things and unfortunately as it's new there's no tests on the Racer yet. However, as it is claimed that Manson did a very good copy/adaption of the Rocna I see no reason why they would not also do a good adaption of the Fortress.

I note that the Racer has something I have never seen before on any anchor and that is plastic balls at the end of the balance bar which are claimed to produce faster setting, better stability and avoid deck damage. Also it enables the width of the balance bar to be reduced for better storage. Easy to ahndle and light weigth, just the thing for those who do not have a muscley crew. The only downside I could see is that Aluminium anchors sometimes have problems in weed (but then again so does my plough) and as with all Danforth types, wind or current reversal may be a problem.

Anyway, best of all, if you were to get one for a lunch hook only you could get the 1.4Kg for a very modest price of $169 or if you wanted one for your main anchor it may be better to go up a size to the still very light weight 3.1KG which is recommended for boats up to 30 ft and its not exactly expensive at $189.

Cheers
Keith