AZ2Loop
Senior Member
The OP's boat is a 34' Double Cabin. Assuming decent health and ground tackle appropriate for the boat, it will not be a problem getting that anchor back on the boat by hand. We have a windlass, but I almost never use it. Our Rocna is 55lbs and there is 75' of chain and a couple hundred feet of line line. It is very manageable and likely more substantial than the OP's vessel would require.
Until you are directly over the anchor, there is very little weight. In our case anchored in, say 15' to 20' of water, I usually have 100 to 120 feet of rode out. From the bridge, my wife bumps the boat into forward gear a couple of times and I pull the line in as we float toward the anchor. As the line coming on board turns to chain it's still easy to pull aboard. I usually wear gloves. The chain is heavier, but at any given time I am lifting very little of it as the boat works its way to the anchor. Picture the curved chain in the water from the bow roller to the anchor on the bottom and imagine what you are lifting at any given time -- it is very little weight. Once directly above the anchor, I have the 55lb anchor and maybe another 15lbs of chain (estimate). Keep in mind, that is all in the water, and comes aboard over a bow roller, making it easier to pull. The roller helps so much. It is surprisingly easy to pull on board. When really muddy, it is much heavier, but still not bad and the mud washes off with a little forward or reverse momentum.
The windlass works fine, but I just like the challenge and knowing I can pull the anchor in if the windlass was not working. To the OP, have you tried it yet? You may find it is easier than you think.
Having said all of that, there is NO WAY I would ever attempt to lift all of the weight of the chain, line, and anchor at one time. Thankfully, that is not the task at hand when it comes to getting the anchor back on board.
Also, with many of the larger boats on this forum I would never try it, nor would I do this if I had hundreds of feet of chain out in deep water. In the depths we anchor, my 49' boat's ground tackle is manageable by hand, and I suspect the OP's 34' boat's appropriate ground tackle would be as well.
If you have back issues, maybe do not try this. However, you may find this is much easier than you think. I am not particularly strong, just an average guy, and this is not difficult with our ground tackle.
Until you are directly over the anchor, there is very little weight. In our case anchored in, say 15' to 20' of water, I usually have 100 to 120 feet of rode out. From the bridge, my wife bumps the boat into forward gear a couple of times and I pull the line in as we float toward the anchor. As the line coming on board turns to chain it's still easy to pull aboard. I usually wear gloves. The chain is heavier, but at any given time I am lifting very little of it as the boat works its way to the anchor. Picture the curved chain in the water from the bow roller to the anchor on the bottom and imagine what you are lifting at any given time -- it is very little weight. Once directly above the anchor, I have the 55lb anchor and maybe another 15lbs of chain (estimate). Keep in mind, that is all in the water, and comes aboard over a bow roller, making it easier to pull. The roller helps so much. It is surprisingly easy to pull on board. When really muddy, it is much heavier, but still not bad and the mud washes off with a little forward or reverse momentum.
The windlass works fine, but I just like the challenge and knowing I can pull the anchor in if the windlass was not working. To the OP, have you tried it yet? You may find it is easier than you think.
Having said all of that, there is NO WAY I would ever attempt to lift all of the weight of the chain, line, and anchor at one time. Thankfully, that is not the task at hand when it comes to getting the anchor back on board.
Also, with many of the larger boats on this forum I would never try it, nor would I do this if I had hundreds of feet of chain out in deep water. In the depths we anchor, my 49' boat's ground tackle is manageable by hand, and I suspect the OP's 34' boat's appropriate ground tackle would be as well.
If you have back issues, maybe do not try this. However, you may find this is much easier than you think. I am not particularly strong, just an average guy, and this is not difficult with our ground tackle.
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