Dinghy anchor options

   Planning for post lock down! What options are there for temporarily holding a single-hander whilst dealing with the trolley? I occasionally sail in a place with a shallow beach / mud flat where it can take a few minutes to walk from low-water to high-water so if you launch or recover at low tide you need someone to hold your boat whilst you go get the trolley. Has anyone tried one of those small SUP grapple hooks that weigh around 0.7kg - might be a good way to "anchor" the dinghy for a few mins whilst you sort out the trolley. Other options?

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H2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 750	Post Options Post Reply Quote H2 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Dinghy anchor options Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 1:20pm
	Planning for post lock down! What options are there for temporarily holding a single-hander whilst dealing with the trolley? I occasionally sail in a place with a shallow beach / mud flat where it can take a few minutes to walk from low-water to high-water so if you launch or recover at low tide you need someone to hold your boat whilst you go get the trolley. Has anyone tried one of those small SUP grapple hooks that weigh around 0.7kg - might be a good way to "anchor" the dinghy for a few mins whilst you sort out the trolley. Other options?
	H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082

Chris_H Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 13 May 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 237	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chris_H Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 1:27pm
	When I had my Miracle, I used a "mushroom" type anchor. They are well designed for dinghy use though any anchor is a bit of a weight to carry around whilst sailing. Force 4 do them

H2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 750	Post Options Post Reply Quote H2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 2:00pm
	Thanks Chris - with the advent of SUPs there is a wide range now. The smallest are grapple four arm things that are 18cm long and weigh 0.4kg which should be ok if you can push it into the mud with your foot I would thought for a few mins whilst you run to get a trolley! (https://www.amazon.co.uk/BSOL-Folding-sailing-accessories-equipment/dp/B07ZDBT7LL/ref=sr_1_22?adgrpid=48657333770&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6t6ABhDMARIsAONIYyxmEu_lgVs-6EOqtM6R-iANOxlQKj8Lo0Ymu_bN1zuPwf-isCxKqT8aAn8mEALw_wcB&hvadid=259058729160&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006886&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14125078953196155197&hvtargid=kwd-300623903960&hydadcr=13282_1748158&keywords=sup+anchor&qid=1612186035&sr=8-22&tag=googhydr-21)
	H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082

H2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 750	Post Options Post Reply Quote H2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 2:02pm
	Did the mushroom version work well Chris?
	H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 2:46pm
	Suspect the tiny anchors will struggle in waves, but OK otherwise. Picturing in my head a grappling anchor with just two prongs, not four, which you step on to push in but there are no sharp sticking up bits for the boat or feet to hit.
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H2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 750	Post Options Post Reply Quote H2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 3:12pm
	Thanks Rupert, the spot I launch is sheltered in an estuary hence the long walk from HW mark! Its basically a better alternative to pulling the boat onto the mud for a few mins which over time will result in scratches to the gelcoat. The ones I am looking at have four prongs.
	H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082

Gordon 1430 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Jun 17 Location: Lee on Solent Online Status: Offline Posts: 310	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gordon 1430 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 4:57pm
	I have a small Bruce Anchor and about 2m chain, which I leave in while sailing which has resulted in the odd swim to retrieve when the tide has come in. it works fine apart from in a strong on onshore breeze when one of the isues is getting it deep enough when wading in. At lee a few of us were using similar bits of kit to launch and recover and I did take mine with me and use to form a course for a bit of racing with rabbit starts or practice mark rounding etc.
	Gordon Phantom 1430

ColPrice2002 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222	Post Options Post Reply Quote ColPrice2002 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 5:09pm
	My Wanderer came with a folding 4 prong grapnel. I used to have a Bruce (many years' ago!) and I found that it was very effective, but a pain to store in the dinghy - you really need the specialist deck blocks. The big problem I see is that most anchors are designed to bite into the seabed, of catch on things - exactly what you don't want to have loose in a dinghy. Same thing with a mud weight/mushroom. Try a lightweight folding grapnel - with a mesh bag to keep it from chipping the gel coat. Colin

Do Different Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do Different Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 6:29pm
	How far from launch point up to safe trolley? Would it be possible to go at it from the other direction? Stamp an anchor in at your predicted safe trolley location, then take a line down with you to take a bight on while you run the trolley up. That way there's no need to have a muddy anchor to safely stow onboard your nice dinghy.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Feb 21 at 7:25pm
	Just wondering if you can put an "outhaul" on the trolley going up the beach, and you simply pull the line and the trolley goes up the beach. Trouble is, you are left with a long, dangly line as a trip hazard.
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