anchoring setup

A photo of a person outside in a marina, looking very pleased while holding a Rocna anchor

We carry 2 anchors onboard. We used to carry 3, but gave our Bruce 10 kg (22 lb) to a good friend.

We anchor using a snubber to lighten the load on our chain stopper. Our boat doesn't have a windlass, we haul the anchor up by hand. The chain stopper helps catch the chain so it is easier to hoist back up.

Pino's main gear

Rocna Anchor 15 kg (33 lb)
30 m (100 ft) chain 8 mm (5/16 in)
60 m (200 ft) 12.7 mm (1/2 in) nylon rode
Maxwell 8 mm chain stopper

Pino's spare gear

Rocna Anchor 10 kg (22 lb)
12 m (40 ft) galvanized chain 7.9 mm (5/16 in) (spare)
60 m (200 ft) 12.7 mm (1/2 in) nylon rode (spare)
30 m (100 ft) chain 8 mm (5/16 in)
90 m (300 ft) 12.7 mm (1/2 in) nylon rode
90 m (300 ft) floating rode

no windlass

a hand drawn graphic showing how boat chain is pulled up using a cockpit winch, with closeups

We haul the anchor up by hand most times, but when anchored in thick mud or deeper waters we like to lead a line back to the cockpit and to use the above method to haul up the anchor rode and anchor. It is easy to get hurt when there is a lot of mud on the fluke of the anchor.

We can only heave up a short length of chain at a time. When the chain hook is near the block amidships, we engage the chain stopper, loosen the line at the winch, then move the hook forward, then pull some more, and repeat.