What to do when someone anchors too close

[psneeld]

Solving the too close boat problem is easy...

Go take a shower.

Dry off on the foredeck.

Problem solved.

Not if they turn to stone and can't move....

Figure I will name the next boat Medusa.

 

[sjisailor]

One useful tool is a laser rangefinder, commonly used in golf. This tells you exactly how far you are away. It is often not easy to judge with accuracy. Another useful tool is bagpipes. If someone comes milling around close looking like they they are going to drop closer than you want, get out the bagpipes and start piping on the foredeck. Most people will find someone else to bother.

Thank you! I have been looking for the motivation to take up bagpipes again and this might be just the thing to tip that over.

Also agree about golf rangefinder, have one that works great (also for things like distance to shore). It was not very expensive on Amazon.

 

[Dougcole]

Last month we were anchored at Allen's Pensacola in the Abacos, which has famously poor holding in most of the anchorage. We have anchored there many, many times and have found a few sandy spots with very good holding, but (even more so than most Bahamian anchorages) if you drop in the grass you are almost assured to drag in anything other than dead calm conditions.


We well set in our favorite spot and rode out three or four strong squalls, one with registered 45 knot gusts. The first day we were there three other boats were in the anchorage and all three of them drug toward the lee shore. We were the only boat there for the second night.


On day three we took the tender around to the beach on the other side of the island and hung out for a few hours. When we got back, two boats that appeared to be traveling together had come into the anchorage and both dropped directly upwind of us, the closer one about 70' away. Both set in the grass. I strongly considered going over to have a discussion with them, both for the safety of their boats and ours, but I really was not in the mood for a confrontation. Plus, I'd had two beers and I figured if it got vocal I might lose my temper. So we put the tender on the davits, picked up and moved to the other side of the island. It was nicer over there anyway.

 

[Hippocampus]

All to often “you can’t fix stupid”

Many times have gone someplace, looked around, said oh no this could be trouble so left.

Big advantage in eastern Caribbean and Bahamas is you can see the bottom. Put one of us out on the bow so you can drop at the far end of the patch of sand and have a set before you run out of sand.

 

[Blissboat]

All to often “you can’t fix stupid”

Yep. Ignorance can be fixed, but stupid is indeed unrepairable.

Many times I have anchored in a comfortable, deserted spot, with lots of room all around and not another boat in sight. Got the hook well-set, settled down in the shade with my first, frosty, end-of-the-day beer, only to watch the next arrival make a beeline for me and anchor as close upwind as possible. I guess they calculated that, since I was there first, I must have chosen the ideal spot, and so anchoring close to me would save them the trouble of figuring it out themselves. Sigh.

A new arrival inclined to compound their offense would crank up their generator so that I could enjoy its exhaust gas as well as its cheerful buzz. No choice then but to down my beer, trudge up to the bow, pull up the hook and relocate within the anchorage at a civilized distance. The newcomers probably asked themselves, "Huh - I wonder why he moved? Maybe we should move too!"

I'm as sociable as the next person, but c'mon - get a clue.

 

[Osprey69]

I had (what looked like) a chartered (guests?) pretty schooner anchor IN THE MOORING FIELD in Vineyard Haven, MA. After a loud "really?" and a Bast*rd stare, he grumbled and moved to ANOTHER spot in the mooring field. WTF!. "You cannot anchor in a designated mooring field (in a you "a**hole" tone). He left but I think he was really embarrassed in front of his guests regarding his incompetence and finally figured out you anchor amongst the other anchored boats IN THE ANCHORAGE. Scary if he was a paid captain. Pretty boat. I hope she survived his stupidity thereafter.

I have no problem with asking someone after I anchor if they are comfortable. Never had a no, but would move if I did. Conversely I have informed folks of the "first in time" rule and I am not comfortable. You may stay, but pictures will be taken along with copious log entries.

I liken anchoring atop another person in an empty anchorage to some POS parking next to your favorite classic car parked in the middle of nowhere (not at an angle). Lemmings.

 

[CaptTom]

A new arrival inclined to compound their offense would crank up their generator so that I could enjoy its exhaust gas as well as its cheerful buzz.

And the truly accommodating new arrival would do you the honor of playing all their favorite music, loud enough so you could enjoy every note, even if you were down in the bilge.

 

[mvweebles]

I've been casually following this thread. The question I have is how often does this happen? Outside of chartering in the BVI, just hasn't happened much to me, maybe a couple times in 35 years.

What I do find amazing is if I'm the only boat in a huge open anchorage (thinking Drakes Bay north of SF) and another boat comes in, it will invariably anchor close to me. Not dangerously close, but not a half mile away.

Peter

 

[rslifkin]

I've been casually following this thread. The question I have is how often does this happen? Outside of chartering in the BVI, just hasn't happened much to me, maybe a couple times in 35 years.

What I do find amazing is if I'm the only boat in a huge open anchorage (thinking Drakes Bay north of SF) and another boat comes in, it will invariably anchor close to me. Not dangerously close, but not a half mile away.

Peter

It's the "oh, that must be the good spot!" effect.

 

[tiltrider1]

I motored into a little harbor just south of Cape Caution. There was a boat already anchored in the harbor. It was dead center. I had to laugh, no matter where I dropped anchor it was going to look like I parked next to him.

Luckly, there was lots of room and I even put out a 6 to 1 scope. Usually I'm lucky to have enough room for 4 to 1 scope. Now, even with that much scope we never got close enough to read each others boat name.

As Simi said, I try to stay away from crowed anchorages. When I can't I stern tie to shore, this parks your boat in one place and there is no discussion on who's boat is moving.

 

[slowgoesit]

I spoke to a guy back East who said he recorded about 4 hours of a construction type, open frame generator running. He has an awesome sound system on his fly bridge, and if all else fails, he has been known to play the sound of the generator running on his fly bridge sound system. He says he generally tries to do it before the people set their anchor, but in a few cases, has done it after he's come back to the boat and found that people anchored on top of his boat while he was away . . . in a wide open anchorage. Every time, the other boat has moved within an hour or so. He claims he can position the speakers so he can't really even hear the "generator" when he's inside the boat. . . . It's a technique . . .

 

[hollywood8118]

As the OP posted about Catalina, bumper boats happen there most weekends. Used to spend time there and it was a zoo, party,peep show, and an amazing line up of boats all at the same time. The mooring field boats are packed so tight it looks like you could walk deck to deck. It was always fun but VERY stressful for the skipper.
Was hard to figure which had more body work done.. the boats or those onboard.
Ah the days of youth.
Hollywood

 

[BruceK]

The reverse harassment in post 41 is about as acceptable as someone "anchoring in your water". Probably retaliation later on by the deafened.I doubt all of us, all of the time, are blessed with anchoring judgement infallibility.
I have anchored too close at least once and responded to a skipper on the foredeck with folded arms, by moving. I`ve been the recipient, finally telling a fellow Club member who anchored in front that if their dinghy hit my boat the third time I would cut the painter. A sailboater, anchoring, seeing me watching, simply said " I`m too close, we`ll go again".
Nice if possible to have a sensible chat about mutual safety which leads to a good outcome for all. But, I`m not getting into a fist fight or exposing my boat to danger by "enforcing my rights".

 

[bowball]

You must have an impressively smooth delivery if this works for you. I can tell you if someone did this to me, our relationship would not go in a positive direction.

I don’t know block island, but trying to teach or enforce good anchoring practices in White’s would be an exercise in frustration. Much better to avoid it at busy times if the chaos is too much. Pull out your rangefinder, camera, and insurance company threats there and you won’t like how it goes.

Ha! I felt the same way, that it was rather hostile versus just asking me what scope I had out, do I think (we collectively) there will be a problem, what to do if there is, etc etc..

 

[Hippocampus]

Ha! I felt the same way, that it was rather hostile versus just asking me what scope I had out, do I think (we collectively) there will be a problem, what to do if there is, etc etc..

Remember the old joke about the talking donkey. How you needed to hit him with a 2x4 to catch his attention. Commonly around here people will set their anchor and disappear below or jump in the dinghy and leave. A knock on the hull gives no response. The picture taking circle around the boat seems a pretty much no fail attention getter. The subsequent conversation is opened in a non confrontational manner. As Mikey says “try it -you’ll like it”. Initially the new boat doesn’t know if you’re taking pictures because you admire the boat or what. It’s as confrontational as you make it.
Best time to get a resolution is before the boat coming in is all settled down. Easier for them to move and they’re up and about to do it.

I think Honda 2000 gas generators placed on deck are used obnoxiously by all too many. Although this boat has and prior had diesel generators in sound enclosures they aren’t used during sleeping hours. Current boats genset is silent given nature of exhaust. Not even the drip from fall of cooling water. It does go on in secluded anchorages.

While in Block a POS 30’er was anchored next to us. At 4 am the Honda with faulty muffler goes off. Asked it be turned off. Only wife on the boat who said needed to be run so they could take hot showers. Told she was alone as husband gone shore fishing and she didn’t know how to turn it off. Husband came back and gave me a ration. Screaming profanities and threatening. Went back to my boat and called harbormaster. He came out and escorted this jerk out of the anchorage to the applause of all the surrounding boats.

Another occasion a 60+’ charter cat with 8 people and 2 crew picked up the mooring ball next to me at the Bitter End. It was obvious he had no swing-too big.. I was on another boat bending elbows with friends. They pointed out the cat was swinging and hitting me. We jumped in to 2 dinghies and was able to push the cat away. Again afte the captain screaming “I’m a licensed captain don’t tell me ……” I called the harbormaster. She came out with a work boat and her boat. Captain refused to move. She cut the cats lines he was using to attach to the pendant and towed him out. All the while having the captain laying out verbal abuse.
Think if people are unreasonable just don’t deal with them. Call for support. Harbor masters deal with jerks every day as do the operators of paid mooring fields. They are better at it than you. Call them when all else fails and it’s starting to escalate.

 

[Osprey69]

Remember the old joke about the talking donkey. How you needed to hit him with a 2x4 to catch his attention. Commonly around here people will set their anchor and disappear below or jump in the dinghy and leave. A knock on the hull gives no response. The picture taking circle around the boat seems a pretty much no fail attention getter. The subsequent conversation is opened in a non confrontational manner. As Mikey says “try it -you’ll like it”. Initially the new boat doesn’t know if you’re taking pictures because you admire the boat or what. It’s as confrontational as you make it.
Best time to get a resolution is before the boat coming in is all settled down. Easier for them to move and they’re up and about to do it.

I think Honda 2000 gas generators placed on deck are used obnoxiously by all too many. Although this boat has and prior had diesel generators in sound enclosures they aren’t used during sleeping hours. Current boats genset is silent given nature of exhaust. Not even the drip from fall of cooling water. It does go on in secluded anchorages.

While in Block a POS 30’er was anchored next to us. At 4 am the Honda with faulty muffler goes off. Asked it be turned off. Only wife on the boat who said needed to be run so they could take hot showers. Told she was alone as husband gone shore fishing and she didn’t know how to turn it off. Husband came back and gave me a ration. Screaming profanities and threatening. Went back to my boat and called harbormaster. He came out and escorted this jerk out of the anchorage to the applause of all the surrounding boats.

Another occasion a 60+’ charter cat with 8 people and 2 crew picked up the mooring ball next to me at the Bitter End. It was obvious he had no swing-too big.. I was on another boat bending elbows with friends. They pointed out the cat was swinging and hitting me. We jumped in to 2 dinghies and was able to push the cat away. Again afte the captain screaming “I’m a licensed captain don’t tell me ……” I called the harbormaster. She came out with a work boat and her boat. Captain refused to move. She cut the cats lines he was using to attach to the pendant and towed him out. All the while having the captain laying out verbal abuse.
Think if people are unreasonable just don’t deal with them. Call for support. Harbor masters deal with jerks every day as do the operators of paid mooring fields. They are better at it than you. Call them when all else fails and it’s starting to escalate.

Calling the Harbormaster is great advice.

 

[koliver]

In BVI, we were anchored close to shore in one of the busier small harbours. A 100+ footer with all the toys was anchored out near the end of the anchorage. A wind shift occurred late in the day, and the launch from the big guy came around to tell boats downwind of that boat to move, as they were dragging. We weren't directly downwind, so no issue. All settled and we went to bed. The wind died and we had a peaceful night.
I awoke at dawn to a light tapping noise. It proved to be one of the moved boats. Their bow was gently nudging our side. I gave it a gentle push and put on the coffee. Before anyone else was awake, on either boat, I had pushed that boat away several times. When the skipper came out, he expressed surprise that thay were that close. In the clarity of that water we could both see the two anchors, within a few feet of each other. In those conditions, there was no likelihood of any damage, so the situation was humourous, and nobody got excited. They moved away when enough crew were awake.

 

[shloots3]

So we spent most of a week at anchor at Catalina's White's cove. We got in on Thursday morning so plenty of room. Dropped the hook in 63' and put out 190' of chain. This is a very calm area, only light winds predicted. Later others started coming in. One 60'er dropped a bit too close to us by my estimation just to the NW. Then another 65'er dropped a bit too close to us so my SE. I kept a close nervous eye on them and as we swung around back and forth with the changes in wind and current we got close but that was all. Next morning the NW boat was maybe 15' right behind us. Way too close. So I took off in the dinghy to chat with both owners. SE boat, no one home. I told NW owner I was leaving for most of the day and was concerned about our position. He said he was in 50' with 150' of chain out. He was going to stay near for the day so I left it at that. Upon our return in the afternoon we watched both boats would swing close then much further depending on the winds shifting from Calm, to E, to NW, then S. Sunday morning I woke up to NW boat being maybe 10' behind me. Owner said he had let out 50' last night. No way. I pulled in about 10 feet which helped. SW boat owner could see my concern as they drifted close but never budged even when there was plenty of room for him to move to a safer location. (I should have said something then). Then NW boat left. Whew, one down. Monday morning SW boat was close with calm winds we were drifting in opposite directions. They were in the cockpit when we started swinging towards them and they us. I ran to the bow and pulled in some chain but we were straight over the top and I wasn't moving. Then I ran back just as my crew was able to prevent them from hitting me. SW owner was just a little slow to start is engines and slip away, but he didn't pull up chain and move further away. There was a quick "sorry" from the wife. We were leaving soon so I let it go. I know I should have told them to move to a safer location. We could have hit while we slept. Would they have moved? If not, what next?

I have been there…I move my boat.

 

[kmacdonald]

If someone anchors "too close to you" it's not "too close for them". That means YOU should move.

 

[psneeld]

If someone anchors "too close to you" it's not "too close for them". That means YOU should move.

I see it as they should move and be asked in a manner appropriate to the circumstances.

Then if they don't well then that's a decision that requires some thought.

Boating has become an "activity" for too many rather than a hobby or way of life of whatever you want to call something that's done occasionally and never studied beyond the basics. Thus customs and courtesies aren't even entering their minds let alone follow what serious boaters are at least aware of.

In almost every safety class, captain course or hands on training session, my students always thanked me for intertwining customs and courtesies when eve pressed to just get the meat across. Who knows whether any of it stuck though....

 

[RichHurst]

Annoying as hell, but true and increasingly common. Anchoring seems to be another of the boating skills on the "endangered" list.

I like the idea of golf rangefinder. Also use a chain hook to increase the relative scope

 

[Osprey69]

If someone anchors "too close to you" it's not "too close for them". That means YOU should move.

Never in the many decades of being on the waters from the Caribbean to Maine has anyone ever expressed that sentiment.

 

[RickyD]

If someone anchors "too close to you" it's not "too close for them". That means YOU should move.

That would be NO. I was there first and I anchored appropriately for the location. They impinged on my space and it is up to them to make it right once that became obvious. When you have a 60 Yacht and They have the same and they are only 10-15 feet away, it is obvious that they were anchored poorly. It was up to me to be more demanding when I felt concerned, and I was right. As mentioned earlier, the owner of the NW boat was very cordial. He probably would have moved if I asked him to. For most of the time the SE boat was unoccupied. They were comfortable right up to the time that we would have hit without intervention. I should have demanded that they move, and I would have been correct. Of course, last resort I move my boat.

 

[FOADIAC]

I don't like leaving the boat when on the hook, I'd never relax and enjoy shore time. Give me a solid mooring ball any day.

 

[mdstrum]

Whites as shared about is tough area to anchor in summer, personally we have mooring down in Isthmus and will do a recp to whites, if not available, we go to other locations to avoid the nightmare, as other has shared, the visit your neighbor approach has not work for us on either side, we have been the first boat, had a guy come over tell us we to close, I quick explain we here first you should move...the rest of the conversation did not go well, and do not share any captain license or experience that just escalates the issue. Lastly we alway do the longest scoop possible in Catalina most of the areas are sloops and drop quickly so more is always better.

 

[markpierce]

Have a steel boat and let what may come. (You could warn your too-close neighbor.)

 

[FWT]

This issue can bring out the inner "Karen" in most of us.

Nothing like coming into an anchorage and from a hundred yards away and no spot yet selected you begin to get the evil eye from a deck Karen, hands on hips. I guess a friendly cocktail is off the to-do list.

 

[psneeld]

This issue can bring out the inner "Karen" in most of us.

Nothing like coming into an anchorage and from a hundred yards away and no spot yet selected you begin to get the evil eye from a deck Karen, hands on hips. I guess a friendly cocktail is off the to-do list.

Smile and "screw Karen" if you abide by simple courtesy and or local customs.

I guess when one gets enough experience to know what is acceptable and what's not.... dealing with the extremes at both ends is merely a chuckle.

Thus the get out there and get the experience to know better.

Some people with 5 minutes experience and a couple magazine articles under their belt and they think they are experts and old salts....

Heck a huge number of posts here on TF reflect the same.

 

[FWT]

Smile and "screw Karen" if you abide by simple courtesy and or local customs.

I guess when one gets enough experience to know what is acceptable and what's not.... dealing with the extremes at both ends is merely a chuckle.

Thus the get out there and get the experience to know better.

Some people with 5 minutes experience and a couple magazine articles under their belt and they think they are experts and old salts....

Heck a huge number of posts here on TF reflect the same.

Holy cow.

LOL

On the spectrum of things one can be on one end insensitive to the risks, one can be in the middle and be appropriate in the level of concern, and one can be hyper-sensitive to the risks as guided by facts.

Surely you can acknowledge the theoretical possibility of hyper-sensitivity?

Which was my only point. Don't be that guy, on either end of the scale.

If you want to take shots, I'll make a point of providing the fodder for your enjoyment! :lol: Because after 30 years of personal experience on the water, then 30 more off the water, I have no doubt I'll have my share of boneheaded errors. I'll try to remember to post those.

 

[psneeld]

Holy cow.

LOL

On the spectrum of things one can be on one end insensitive to the risks, one can be in the middle and be appropriate in the level of concern, and one can be hyper-sensitive to the risks as guided by facts.

Surely you can acknowledge the theoretical possibility of hyper-sensitivity?

Which was my only point. Don't be that guy, on either end of the scale.

If you want to take shots, I'll make a point of providing the fodder for your enjoyment! :lol: Because after 30 years of personal experience on the water, then 30 more off the water, I have no doubt I'll have my share of boneheaded errors. I'll try to remember to post those.

The last line was not about your post... just about the gang on the dock that have never been out of the harbor and feel the need to lecture you because you moved from your slip headed for the travel lift and being solo didn't pull up all your fenders.... you know the perfect types that read a magazine or two.

The same ones that in an anchorage think they own it when you are fine where you are but they think they have cruised to never-never land and own it all.

No, I am not hypersensitive or anything else but confident in my experience and sure that if people give me the evil eye in anything I do...they need a bigger mirror. I usually have a keen sense to what on the water is good or bad..... then again it's all about experience.

Sure I have made mistakes on the water.... and they immediately include a very sincere radio call or shout out apologizing profusely. Depending on what the mistake was (usually pretty minor), and the response back from the other vessel is what determines what is said/happens from there.