Anchoring with the Alderney Ring

[@raveljames2532]

Finally someone has explained it properly with drawings that help. Thanks Matey. I'm going to start using mine instead of busting my self hauling the anchor in by hand.

[@ArfordSalar]

Glad it helps! Have a go somewhere where you have plenty of room, not too deep, not much tide and things nearby that you can keep an eye on so you can maintain the right sense of direction. With a couple of lifts to practice, you will gain the confidence to do it for real. If you don’t keep an eye on your heading it is easy to go round in half a circle which won’t help! Good luck. It will save your back.

[@TuffyLife]

This is hands down the best video on this subject! Thank you!

[@ArfordSalar]

Thank you! There are also some troubleshooting tips on my website here www.boat-angling.co.uk/trouble-shooting-alderney-ring-method/

[@SuperMrcat]

I use a very similar ring here in NZ, I have a 7 meter alloy Southern Boat with a 225hp on the back which is capable of 52 knots, these are the best system to retrieve the anchor and chain, and as my anchor well is in the cockpit and not up the front its easy to just lift the rope, then chain then anchor with buoy over the side. I don't circle around, just motor forward at a angle and once the buoy is past the back of the boat I do about 6 knots and it all comes to the surface. Very easy on the back and I can also lift crayfish pots with the ring and buoy as well, using a short lanyard.

[@littlegoobie]

don't use it much now since there's a hydraulic windlass, but when we didn't, we ran the boat in reverse beside the anchor point and could see the line and buoy without looking back. most people in the area did it the same way.

[@mrlickalotopuss3761]

We've been doing this for about 25 years but a lot more heavy duty and in 100 meters water depth. Our sea bed is lime stone so we we use a 16mm 6 prong grapel with only 2 meters of chain & 14mm anchor rope. Holds well in 20knot winds & 4 - 5 meter swell. For retrieval we're using an A4 buoy and a heavy stainless steel ring as the chaser. The one you have pictured would get torn up bad. When we pull, we just drive off into the weather with the buoy passing down stbd side until the anchor is caught in the SS ring. Retrieval is done with following seas. For safety the operation is done with out anyone leaving leaving the deck.

[@ArfordSalar]

Mr Lickalotopuss thanks for your comment, glad you are having success with the method. You mentioned that you thought the steel ring needed to be heavier for larger floats. The ring never has to take any more strain than what is necessary to float the anchor, or slightly more actually because of the additional drag as you motor uptide, so you don’t need much strength in that part of the setup. I now have a larger boat than the one in the video. I use 12mm rope, 7.5kg plough anchor and 12 metres of chain. The standard rings available from suppliers work fine.

[@mrlickalotopuss3761]

@@ArfordSalar We need the heavy duty gear because the grapel hooks into the bottom, ledges and holes etc, driving of we have to rip the grapel off bottom straightening a few 16mm prongs. Once the grapel is on deck I use long piece of pipe to bend the prongs back. I'd post some pics if I could and sounder shots of the bottom.

[@ascentlearning5107]

@@mrlickalotopuss3761 OK, I agree you need heavy duty rope, chain and grapnel in your area. The actual Alderney Ring float and ring needs to be large enough to float your heavy-duty gear but it won't take any more strain than usual so the standard ring should be sufficient - but if it gives more confidence to go heavier, then that is a good reason to do it!

[@beval7591]

hi there im quite new to boating, i have a shetland 570, and anchoring is something that ive been struggling with, this is an excellent video, clear and concise, cheers mate, alan, brighton

[@robertmckinnon5548]

Little clarification on some of the comments. Yes, you must have a section of chain heavier than the weight of the anchor to hold the anchor at the ring. Many people recommend a length of chain equal to the length of the boat to avoid drifting in rough water.

[@officialWWM]

I use a one way clip, that stops at the chain.

[@lesdunn736]

2021 A quality video Sir. Thank you for your clear presentation. Essex. ENGLAND.

[@ArfordSalar]

Thank you. It's not a sophisticated video by modern standards but I'm glad it still does the job!

[@peteranddorothybowles5428]

explained to a tee Thanks for such good graphics

[@petethewrist]

Great trick,, when used in the river Severn and it's strong tides,, it the only way to retreive every time. But get rope caughtt on back of boat at full food and your boat would be going down like a kite on a string,,, Cheers, Pete

[@officialWWM]

This is great for deploying or retrieving your bouy from the rear of the boat if, like me, you have a boat that makes it dangerous to climb on the bow.

[@Hisslave1]

If you pull anchor off the stern, be very careful. If your anchor hangs in the bottom while running ahead, it can pull the transom under the water and sink you in a flash.

[@officialWWM]

@@Hisslave1 I have been doing it this way for years. If you use a retrieval bouy, it pulls the anchor from the stern, thats how they work! I run my anchor on an anchor trolley. The end of the warp connects to a rope that runs from bow to stern. The anchor can easily be lowered from the side of the boat and the warp works its way to the bow. Then when you pull away, the warp runs back to the side of the boat and you retrieve the anchor. Its very safe.

[@ArfordSalar]

I think you will find the world refers to this type of anchor retrieval method as the Alderney Ring whatever some individual has patented. The open-type rings are manufactured in the UK and readily available. There is no need for significant strength in the ring, it is not supporting anything other than the weight of anchor and chain under water.

[@officialWWM]

ArfordSalar I've never heard of it called that in Australia. We just call it a retrieval bouy.

[@lesdunn736]

@@officialWWM We call a Sausage A Sausage. I believe that you call them Snaggs. Ha Ho.

[@joepeverelle6845]

I used a 4inc rain cap clamp for diesel engine works like dream

[@gabethomas2633]

First class explanation, thank you

[@ArfordSalar]

Thank you. It's now a very old video but it's had lots of views so I'm glad it's still helping folk!

[@Jonny906]

Very clear and helpful. Thank you.

[@LovingAtlanta]

👍Thank you. 💝

[@TheQuest2quest]

Also have you tried going in reverse once you have pulled up the chain to the pull position? I am thinking this would help to avoid getting the rope in your wheel,

[@ArfordSalar]

No need to reverse, once you are in the pull position just swing the boat around so the bows point to the floating buoy and stop. Then the prop is out of the way and you have a straight pull to recover the rode.

[@TheQuest2quest]

Thanks Much

[@TheQuest2quest]

Also have a 38 foot sailboat. Looks very handy. My question is my top speed is 8 knots. Do you thing this will work?

[@ArfordSalar]

8 knots will be OK, just make sure you pull the anchor rode and chain right through the ring which means you will have to steam straight ahead for a while to make sure the buoy drags all the way down. For a boat that size you may have an anchor that is quite large compared to most small boats that use this method instead of a winch. You can always tru it with a bunch of fenders and a rope loop!

[@jhyacinth]

Any thoughts if method would work on sailboats with chain rodes and typically smaller engines than seen on powerboats. Can't see why it wouldn't, but curious to hear. Became more than a passing interest while on BVI sailboat charter last year. Powered windlass on 50 foot sailboat disintegrated, leaving us hand pulling rest of week. Thankfully winds at anchorage were mild, but would have been a chore if otherwise.

[@ArfordSalar]

A slow boat combined with a small buoy with low drag and a heavy anchor may not create enough friction in the water to slide the anchor rode through the ring. If you go faster, have a larger buoy or lighter anchor the chances of it working will increase! Worth experimenting - try it with a couple of fenders as floats and a large shackle or loop of rope.

[@frofront]

If used while anchoring next to a ship wreck while scuba diving, I would thing that it is possible for it to get hooked by the wreck. I wonder what would happen if the anchor does not release or get hooked on the wreck. Would your bow stay above water?

[@ascentlearning5107]

Hi Julian, good question. Whatever method you use to haul your anchor, as it breaks free of the seabed the tide will cause it to drag along and could snag. If it snags or is already snagged, when you motor up-tide you will notice that you are slowing to a stop and if you keep motoring the bow will dip and turn sideways in the direction of the achor (port or startboard). At that point you immediately slip into neutral and use your "snagged anchor" routine. I fish in the eastern Solent which is littered with wartime debris and snagging is a common occurrence. I rig my anchor to trip using a weak cord tie so all I have to do is tighten up the anchor rope to as near vertical as possible, take the rope off the bow roller (weak point), and use the engine to break out. The weak link will break and the anchor will come out backwards. See www.boat-angling.co.uk for details.

[@frofront]

Ascent Learning , thanks for the reply.

[@frofront]

Ascent Learning do you know if you can rig a fluke anchor this way. With the chain tied to the shank and shackled to the crown of the anchor. Not sure if the chain along the fluke would prevent the fins from flaring.

[@ascentlearning5107]

If by fluke anchor you mean the type with a swivelling head like Fortress or Danforth then no, that is the only type of anchor you cannot reliably trip with the breakout method. Standard Admiralty/Fishermen's anchor, plough, Bruce and grapnel anchors can all be rigged to trip.

[@seanyroche]

nice video but, 30cm is more like 12inches

[@johncald6049]

If you are using just rope, no chain , what stops the anchor from going back down?

[@ArfordSalar]

John Cald if you are not using chain it would go straight down again. However you need chain to set the anchor, add weight and take the abrasion from the seabed. I would always recommend using at least a boat length of chain.

[@johncald6049]

@@ArfordSalar Thank you very much for your reply. I am hoping to adapt or use this to pull up my crab traps. I could probably put a couple of feet of chain on the end that is attached to the trap. Once again thank you for the reply.

[@ArfordSalar]

John Cald if you have a crab trap that is even more weight so the extra chain would not solve the problem. Instead you could make a one-way arrangement with a short length of underground water pipe with a hole drilled in the side. Thread the rope from the surface end into the end of the pipe and out of the side hole. I have not tested this but the pipe should be pulled through the Alderney Ring but jam if pulledthe other way by the weight of the trap. You would need the fix the pipe to the rope a few metres above the trap/anchor. I might try this on my crab trap!

[@oatbiscuit]

Hi, Just setting one up for myself. If I have a 15kg anchor do I also need 15kg+ of chain to hang down and hold the anchor in place?

[@greghawley2731]

oatbiscuit Hi oatbiscuit. I have the same question. Did you ever find out the answer?

[@oatbiscuit]

Greg Hawley Hi Greg,Nope, never found out. Just received 100mts anchor rope and plan to try within next couple weeks. Hoping I don't need the same weight of chain as anchor.

[@oatbiscuit]

Greg Hawley Just re run the video and he states the 30cm buoy is enough for 7.5kg anchor and 5mts chain. My anchor is actually 7.5kg NOT 15 as I originally thought.

[@ArfordSalar]

oatbiscuit Sorry, the buoy dimension is confusing on the video. I find a small 30cm diameter buoy was just about OK with a 7.5Kg anchor and 5 metres of 8mm chain which I had on my previous boat. I am now using a 45cm diameter buoy with a 10kg anchor, and 10 metres of 8mm chain.

[@AMGOSUK]

Just how many anchors have been bent by placing a sideways force on an anchor before it has been released from the sea bed?

[@ArfordSalar]

The only times I have ever seen that happen is when the anchor gets jammed in a rock and the only hope of recovery is brute force. I have never seen that happen with a straight Alderney Ring retrieval. If you have seen it happen simply by pulling sideways from the seabed I would question the quality of the anchor.

[@andrewleigh3]

30cm does not equal 18". Which is it?

[@ArfordSalar]

I know, sorry, it's an old video and not been updated. I use 18"/45cm but it all depends on size of boat and anchor set-up.

[@djebat88]

30cm = 12in. 45.7cm = 18in. I suppose 12 to 18 in would be fine. Thank you.

[@ArfordSalar]

It depends on the weight of anchor and chain but both sizes create a surprisingly large lift. I prefer to go larger because the added water resistance when towing helps push the buoy right down to the anchor making it float nicely to retrieve.

[@djebat88]

@@ArfordSalar I agree with you Sir. I have a 7.5kg Bruce anchor with 15 ft chain. The shop I bought the ball from has only 19in ball. So, anchor and chain were lifted with ease. So larger ball is alright. Thank you.

[@ArfordSalar]

Check out the new Alderney Ring Trouble-shooting guide - see Description above

[@marki5750]

frought with problems

[@ArfordSalar]

I have created a troubleshooting page on my web site that may help: www.boat-angling.co.uk/trouble-shooting-alderney-ring-method/

[@ArfordSalar]

Clonquehopper that is really interesting. If you would like me to publish your history of the Alderney Ring on my web site I would be very happy to do so. You can contact me through .boat-angling.co.uk

[@geirleirvik1478]

This seems like a risky way

[@ArfordSalar]

Definitely more risky than pulling by hand or using a winch, which is why I recommend practicing first. However if you don’t have a winch and the tide is running too hard to pull by hand, this method may be the only way.

[@officialWWM]

This presentation is so very British 😂😂

[@ArfordSalar]

Music Islife yes, and look when it was made and look how many views 🤑

[@officialWWM]

ArfordSalar what's your point?

[@ArfordSalar]

Music Islife the point is, it might be very British and made with basic tech 10+ years ago but it still helped a quarter of a million people. What was yours?

[@officialWWM]

ArfordSalar mine is that it's very boring! I have a ten year old video that has over a million views...I didn't realise it was a competition 🙄

[@jonathanwebb9862]

@@officialWWM As he is British, it's right to be so very British. And so am I: I didn't find it boring. Just factual, informative and clear. I can't bear all the gush & excitement that so many people put into their videos & I jog on if I don't like it... BTW, which of your videos has >1m views, the highest on your channel is 139k (hydrographic printing)