Delta & Bay Anchors-Rode

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boater3500

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Joined
Feb 2, 2008
RO Number
29346
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What's the best anchor for both the Delta and Bay? (35 ft boat).

What type rode and amount?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
I am surely no expert but I know what I feel safe with. I have a 24 ft boat and use a large Danforth anchor. I carry 250 feet of 1/2 inch rode with 16 feet of chain attached to the anchor. With a boat my size someone recommend eight feet of chain, well I doubled it as I want that anchor chain and rode laying on the bottom and the rope running almost horizontally back up to the boat. A general rule is take the depth of the water you are in and if it calm use 3 to 1 for the amount of rode let out.....in other words if you are in 20 feet of water, I would let out at least 60 feet of rode. If the wind is up and it a bit rough, I would go a minimum of 5 to 1 on the rode. This is what I do and it may not be correct but it has worked for me. Any worse wind or weather and I go home.

DBH
 
Danforth-type and plow anchors are big favorites in this area. There are many approaches to ground tackle that work well, so expect a variety of answers to this question.

I anchor out overnight in Delta rivers and sloughs. My 26' wooden classic has no roller or windlass and is anchored by hand.

Danforth Standard anchor 16 lbs. (not a Danforth knock-off)
35' ACCO BBB chain 5/16"
150' 1/2" 3-strand Samson Pro-Set anchor line
ACCO Anchor rode swivel
Rode markers on anchor line

At full scope (8 to 1) this set-up is solid in 35 MPH gusts. I reduce swing by adding a smaller Danforth for a stern anchor when the anchorage is crowded. I'm very happy with 4 to 1 to 6 to 1 scope in calm conditions or for a lunch hook. Prevailing wind and current conditions must be accounted for when choosing an overnight anchorage.
 
I always found my Danforth to be an excellent anchor in the Delta except if the bottom is grassy. Then it will never hold. I had a depthfinder/fishfinder which gave me good indication of the bottom type. I just would not anchor in grass, even for a lunch break or a bit of fishing! If anchoring overnight, I always did a "Delta Tie Up" using my main Danforth off of the bow and my smaller "lunch hook" off of the stern. This allowed me to keep the O/D in 4 ft or move of depth, but have the bow up close to the bank which is needed on the narrow sloughs of the Delta. One one occasion my bow anchor dragged, but my stern anchor kept the boat from going down the slough with the current as I slept! I was rather surprised when I awoke the next morning!

I have never anchored in the bay, so I cannot speak to those conditions.
 
the potential problem with danforth style anchors is resetting when current changes. If you anchor somewhere like China Camp when you swing with the current change it could, not will, pull the anchor out. Assuming the usual sticky mud clod on the end of the anchor, it may not reset. I've personally talked to one person this has happened to at China Camp, they woke up near the Brothers.
 
I have a 40' Harbormaster houseboat. I also have no windlass, and consider a 22lb danforth to be as much as I want to drag up. I am sure that I am going to be rich some day. I'll keep the boat, but I sure want a 22 lb fortress. A boat builder from New Zealand (Grant Senior of Formula Cruisers) once advised me to get a boat length and a half of chain. I never followed that advice, but I believe in it.
 
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