[Rhodes22-list] Anchoring -- Phuzzy Physics

[Herb Parsons]

Bill,

You're doing what I see a lot of people do when they try to argue a point that they believe passionately about - you're mis-stating your "opposition's" position, then attacking that position. It's called a straw-man attack.

No one believes for a minute that an anchor needs "helper metal" to sink. However, there can be an argument made that Danforth style and Bruce style anchors are designed to be set by being pulled at a certain angle. Even by your own admission and description of how you use your anchoring system, an all rope rode would pull the anchor at a different angle than a chain rode would. Or at least, it would if the two systems were of equal length.

Now, I don't anchor my boat often enough to really have much input on this one. Because I don't anchor my boat very often, I choose to go with the widely accepted practice of using chain for my system. You may very well be right in your assessment, but please don't obfuscate the debate by inserting nonsense like below. Keep in mind that if someone new to sailing believes what you're saying, and acts on it, they are then possibly putting their boat, and even their lives, on the line. That alone means the discussion is worthy of real discussion, not nonsense like "metal doesn't need help sinking, if you don't believe me try this experiment..."


Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
1976 O'Day 25
Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
1971 Coronado 35
Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast


>>> bill at effros.com 1/12/2006 8:40:27 am >>>
All metal anchors sink.  No metal anchor requires "helper metal" in the 
form of chain to drag it down to the bottom.  Anyone who seriously 
doubts this should try this little experiment:  Remove your anchor from 
your chain rode, and throw the anchor overboard.  If it floats, be sure 
to take a picture--there could be a Nobel Prize in your future.

Bill Effros