Few questions set boaters off like "what is your choice of anchor". I think a lot of M15's are anchored with something like a 4# Lewmar claw. I'd use 10' or so of 1/4" chain and 150' of 3/8" 3 strand nylon and you would be good for 90% of your anchoring situations. Others might insist on the Fortress types, but these are all personal preference. On my M17, I carry two........a 9# Delta and smaller Fortress and two sets of rodes (anchor chain and line). I use the Delta as my primary as it will set easily and if the boat swings around and the pull is from a different direction, the Delta will turn to follow it and reset on it's own. The Fortress is used when I am assured the pull will be in a straight line and will not change directions (like when tied to shore and the anchor is used to hold the boat off shore a few feet. Once set, few anchors will hold as well as the Fortress types. But if you pull it from a different direction than it was set, it may just skim along the bottom a while before it resets....or not. Scope is the amount of line you need to let out and 100% (ALL) power boaters get this wrong. They use too little weight and too little scope. You want the pull on the anchor to be mostly horizontal.....not vertical. A sideways or horizontal pull will set the anchor in deeper as it pulls. The harder it pulls, the deeper it goes. Too little and it will drag or bounce along the bottom. In short.......not anchored but set free to roam about. (not good!) A minimum scope should be 5:1. Five feet of line for each 1' of depth to the point where the anchor is attached. 7:1 is better. Count the foot or two above the waterline to the cleat too, not just the depth of the water. 150' of line and chain should keep you "anchored" in up to 20' of water in most conditions. Worse that that, you need a heavier anchor and more line. On those waters, you should seldom encounter worse conditions. I've been under the knife for skin cancer 3 times. So I take sun protection serious. My hat of choice is this one: http://www.cabelas.com/mens-fishing-hats-columbia-wrangle-mountain-8482-fish... Wide brim, light weight, inexpensive. (I have a Tilley hat too). Whatever you get, make sure it has a chin strap and if the wind is honking, use it. Otherwise, you will be doing that man overboard drill and hoping to circle back before it sinks. On Dec 3, 2011, at 11:31 PM, V Gates wrote:
We are new to the email list.
We have owned our Montgomery 15 for three years. This is our first sailboat. It was love at first sight.
We live near Sacramento, California. We are approximately 20 minutes from Folsom Lake http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500, however our favorite place to sail is Loon Lake in the high Sierra about 2 hours from our home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loon_Lake_(California)
I am looking for ideas for a creative and fun Christmas gifts for my husband that are Montgomery 15 related. One not so creative idea is an anchor. What type do we need?
Also, I have looked for stylish sun hats to no avail. Any gift recommendations would be appreciated.
Valerie and Kerry Gates