Boating Tips Episode 15: How To Retrieve a Stuck Plow Boat Anchor

[@KSMsails]

This explains so much... living in South Florida, I see plenty of MarineMax boats and their 'captains' do some pretty dumb things. Now I know where they get their training.

[@easton.88]

I agree with you 100% coming from someone who has owned anchored yachts and express cursers my entire life. After so many bad anchor experiences over the last 20 years this is just the worst idea.

[@Davesunflower]

I've seen fishermen use this in the UK , temporary , short stay and lots of people fishing therefore lookouts, I live on a sailboat and would never use this ever, dangerous or at best lose your boat . imagine overnight drifting off into shipping lanes , I live here on the Solent, or using your tender ashore and coming back to nothing x

[@Prototheria]

If anyone's doing this, could you please post the name of your vessel as a reply so I know who to anchor upwind of. Thanks.

[@johnpenson8801]

This seems a good idea but very risky if you are anchored in a tide way. A better solution is to use that eye in the head of the anchor to secure an anchor buoy line. Then you have two options. One to pull on the buoy line or, if too firmly wedged

[@johnpenson8801]

You have a buoy on the anchor if you have to ditch it and retrieve it later.

[@danpalex]

Thanks for posting this John. That zip tie aint gonna hold and will break almost every time. I would not trust a nights sleep with it. The buoy method is best

[@herenow2895]

I have a plough anchor and always wondered why there were two fixing points. I came to the conclusion that if you had a rope on the one to the rear, you could pull it from that end in the event of it getting stuck. Maybe attach the rope to the chain with small zip ties near the anchor ? ? I'm just guessing as I'm not a seafarer.

[@andrewarmstrong7310]

Don't do this while anchoring overnight, you could find you and your anchor washed up onshore.

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

I just wanted to share with you that one time at Comanche the camper next just came over accusing us of stealing his boat and I walked over and pulled on he he did it facing inward with the backend backwards on a jet boat during the night in the water came up and say thank it right there I pulled on the rope and told him hey buddy your boat still on the end of the rope

[@elconquistador7363]

Years ago, I used a straw. It saved my anchor, but the straw was lost. Then I saw a disturbing video involving a turtle and a straw, just like the one I used. Never again.

[@denisglennonsafaris]

This is the most ludicrous/dangerous suggestion I have heard. I doubt if Captain Keith has ever used it in any wind above 10 knots.

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

Thank you very much that's a big help I just finished a full restoration on a 1980 sunrunner 18-footer and with a Tower of Power all the electronics completely renovated boat it's going to be fun

[@twistedsphere]

Nice, I'm about to start restoring an '88 Sun Runner 195CV. Any tips?

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

@@twistedsphere Now that sounds like fun project yeah for starters with your haul that orange containers siliconized wax and the names right on tip my tongue but four coats and it'll bring that fire glass like brand new and that's something you need to make sure your glass is good before you waste too much money on the boat second thing is most your electronics because of age are gonna not give the right home settings so yeah change the stator the trigger the two description distributor boxes and and the rectifier play it safe that way you won't have a breakdown on the water it cost you about 500 bucks but trust me he'd pick 500 bucks real quick if you were stuck out on water

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

@@twistedsphere a friend of mine that's a mechanic for one of the big lakes around here tells me that they put a marine-grade fuel stabilizer in the fuel when it's delivered now and they have a lot less problems so I'm thinking about doing the same cuz my boat holds 26 gallons and it sits for a long time

[@zash008]

As long as this is daytime usage and someone is always awake and paying attention this could be usefull BUT i rely on a zip tie only to keep my pin in the shackle from unscrewing. Last weekend I did get my anchor snagged on a sunken wreck and wished I had it rigged to the rear like this but I would NEVER have it this way with a ziptie and especially at night

[@danpalex]

That zip tie will break every time you retrieve it and will never have the holding power. Don't go to sleep on that boat with it zip tied like that.

[@tednottodd]

I wouldn't sleep wondering if the ziptie would break.......Not risking my boat on the rocks with a ziptie.

[@shipwright6122]

Do you think it’s possible to retrieve a plow anchor with an anchor ball from a trawler with no windlass?

[@ginagray6416]

Is this guy serious? A freaking zip tie won't hold in a small craft warning! Tie a line to the anchor hole and a fender to the other end. Use the line to loosen. Always use a shackle with tie wire.

[@aleixdeciurana]

i don´t like this method at all and wouldn´t even trust it for my dinghy. the best solution is to run a line from that front hole to a float in the surface. should the anchor get stuck, just pull the line. still i've always been able to get my anchor unstuck by using the boat's engines to go forward and pull hard on the anchor. i know people think that's not ideal but it's always worked for me with no problems ever.

[@FTATF]

That just isnt a realistic method when the water is deeper, or for a heavily fouled anchor. This method with tuna cord is the best. When the anchor is hung you clip a buoy to the alderney ring you should always have on your anchor line and you rip the breakaway out with the boat engine, and float the anchor with the ring.

[@lachlanoneil8938]

@@FTATF it is a realistic method I do it like that every day, slightly higher chance of losing anchor but means you don't have to waste time with zip ties or rope always breaking , my plow anchor pivots and if I don't use the axaxt right amount of chain to tie it up like this it will not work properly otherwise it's probably the best method.

[@scarab36319ify]

1:30 for useful bit

[@zzzxxzzz4797]

Thanks for sharing !

[@inthedark265]

This is stupid, lame advice! If you anchor and a storm comes up, that zip tie will break and then the anchor will pull out. Not a good idea! Your anchor chain should be securely fastened to the eye at the end of the anchor! A better idea is to fasten a second line to that other eye and then put a float on the end of that line. Then if you cannot pull the anchor out, you can retrieve the line tied to the float and then pull out the anchor. That float will also serve the purpose of letting other boaters know where your an hor line is, so they do not drop their anchor near yours, which could cause the two anchors to become fouled if the tide or wind changes.

[@robertdepalma7321]

DANGEROUSLY STUPID IDEA ! ! When tides or wind change your pride and joy is adrift!!!!

[@phorphun]

Please do not use a plastic zip tie. The is enough plastic in the ocean! Use some biodegradable twine. (And do not use this method at all if you are anchoring overnight or leaving the boat un attended.)

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

And you kind of sound like one of those liberals that wants to save the planet to why she put up some solar panels that causes global warming their black panels can't paint the planet Earth black that's simple third grade science

[@jeffkerr7418]

There are biodegradable zip ties.

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

@@jeffkerr7418 that is really good information I'm going to actually go looking for some of those thank you

[@jeffkerr7418]

@@crazedgoldminner7384 Your welcome.

[@bockjess]

What nonsense. Maybe for day trip fishermen never leaving the boat deck. You should be telling people this is not a good method of actually securely anchoring in ANY situation. This is a method of guaranteeing your anchor comes loose! If that is all that matters to you than I recommend a blob of concrete on a crappy rope.

[@grakkerful]

I suppose if you're just day sailing maybe. Wouldn't trust that overnight.

I agree. Good if you are on the boat eating lunch etc. Otherwise you’re asking for trouble.

[@isaabdrahman]

What us best way to anchor on the reef with that anchor

[@newslavecity8311]

a zip tie? lol right

[@FTATF]

I always question if people have ever actaully done this when I see and hear people talk about the zip tie. I've tried the zip tie on my old boat which maybe weighed 5 or 6000 pounds. It breaks away way way to easily. I actually used 3 of the largest zip ties. A much better method is to use tuna cord. For that boat 3 wraps of 300 pound tuna cord worked well, it wont break unless you put a lot of pressure on it. For heavier boats you see more wraps. Zip ties are a joke.

[@jejoko]

Nope, your zip ties are braking because you leave too much slack in your chain. Zip ties are not there to hold the weight of the boat. They are just there to hold the chain in place and to slide thru the shank eye, allowing the chain to do its job and hold anchor. The only time the zip ties should have any heavy force on them in when you are pulling directly up un the anchor or in the opposite direction of anchor. In fact, the demonstrator in this video has too much slack in his chain. One link to much on that zip tie location.

[@FTATF]

@jejoko they are breaking becasue its a bad method that can't be used for anything other than light boats. Your idea of where the load is applied is totally flawed and works against the design of any anchor.

[@jejoko]

@@FTATF Sorry but you are wrong. The technique is correct. The application in this video for larger ships is what makes it fail. For larger ships you can use a slip ring to replace the zip ties. But if you leave chain slack between the anchors front shackle and the slip ring then all the tension gets placed on the ring. Which causes premature failures every time. It is not a concept that everyone can grasp or apply correctly. And for them the slip shank anchor was designed. Like the rocna fisher. Now if you are anchoring OVERNIGHT then absolutely fasten your chain to the top shackle point of the anchor shaft, ALWAYS. But for day time activities the zip tie or slip ring technique is perfect for a quick anchor retrieval. When applied correctly.

[@alexshyshkov8585]

So you say your boat is held by ... a zip tie? No thanks.

[@fargogemini694]

So simple wish I’d thought of that but I got me kit on so I’m going for a solo dive, 😉

[@franktartan6808]

Marine max you really need to say that when wreck rigging an anchor that way you can leave the boat or go to sleep and not have a watch. I dont want to be anchored near a boat rigged that way!!!!!!!!!

[@michaeldang8189]

Why not just have 2 chains, one attaches to each hole. The one on the bottom should have much more slack when anchoring, and when you want to retrieve it, pull on the bottom chain.

[@grayman7208]

you did not show how to " set " the anchor.

[@peregrinegrace8570]

You can not be serious !! That's just stupid And foolish And no one who has any respect for their boat ,or others boats nearby, should do it

[@alexanderrozenberg1542]

Hello Captain Keith. Two questions. What zip tie tensile strength you suggest and what size of shackle you use in the video? 3/8" with 1/2" Pin ? Thank you. Size C

[@alexanderrozenberg1542]

What is size C shackle? I was not able to find.

[@MonkPetite]

This does not work at all.. One obstacle and the tie rip will brake .. ( I brake them by hand )

[@alexanderrozenberg1542]

try to use zip ties with 100-120 lb tensile force.

[@OR5454]

And more plastic in sea...

[@garybarton3622]

NEVER EVER DO THIS!!!! ONLY AN IDIOT COULDN'T SEE WHAT COULD GO WRONG HERE!!

[@kaj-mikaelwredlund898]

That was the most stupid and dangerous advice I have ever seen!

[@Fluid36]

How so? If anchoring overnight yes but for fishing on reefs we all use it

[@garysouza2277]

Sorry but I'm not going to trust my $80,000. boat to a 89 cent zip tie. Current turns boat 180 degrees, zip tie breaks and I've lost my boat...

[@Jazzy4now]

Every boating class that I have been to agrees with this video. Use a zip tie to save your anchor, the chain is moved to be attached to front hole in the anchor. The zip tie just changes the pulling angle for a stuck anchor so you can get it out, it does not change the holding power of the anchor.

[@inbox2me]

Not so: this method ONLY has relevance for short term anchoring where the direction of pull on the anchor does not change. So, do NOT use this method in tidal settings and/or where there are large windshifts. If you do, you'll find your anchor being pulled out of its setting! If you need to retrieve an anchor that is stuck you have a number of options. The easiest and therefore first to try is to use an 'alderney ring' or other similiar proprietary tools on the market.

[@MisterQueue67]

You would have the same issue, without the zip tie, if the tide changed and you spun around 180 degrees. Your anchor would likely pull loose from its initial dig, and would likely redig into the bottom again in the other direction.

[@aleixdeciurana]

but it would at least have the chance to redig. with the zip tie you break it and you will have to pull the anchor up, redo the zip tie and then go again

[@aleixdeciurana]

@jazzy jazz be careful, it does change the holding power since the front hole is positioned precisely to leverage the anchor to get it unstuck. therefore, it just takes a big enough wave or tidal change to break the zip tie and leverage that anchor out.

[@RusstafaB]

I am not sure this is a good method with a cable tie also more plastic polluting our precious Oceans. The main opinion on this is if you are really badly stuck then attach a buoy on the rope end let it go and take a GPS coordinate then come back with someone who can dive (safely) and retrieve your anchor

[@dennismichels7194]

Guys like this dude have obviously never slept on their boat on a windy night. For fishing when the captain is on deck this technique is fine. But in a wind or tidal shift that zip tie or fishing line can easily break and now the anchor has only a fraction of its designed holding power. MarineMax please get off line or corrected before you are responsible for getting some poor fool killed.

[@jonwest321]

THANKS SIMPLE & TO THE POINT QUICKLY. UE AWESOME SAUCE......JON WEST POINT LOMA MARINA ....

[@kenwindsoron1399]

Why are you guys saying this is dangerous ?

[@bgivens3]

Plastic on the bottom? Horrible advice

[@vmaida]

this is very wrong ... you should never do this

[@rweinc1424]

Unbelievable! Really bad advice! In rough seas, the zip tie will break, the boat will drag, see you on the beech!

[@GregHolm-lx3fx]

That happened to us at Savory island, BC coast.

[@KBANE28]

You look different since you had your surgery

[@robm9663]

lol at all the naysayers. We who fish wrecks and reefs all do this all the time. We've been successfully using this method for a decade on boats up to 33'. Yes it's not meant for overnight. It's meant for short stops over wrecks and live bottom. Use the large zip ties, not your average 7" tie. The ones we use are at least 12" and thick.

[@dude999642]

I've used THREE 50-pound zip ties all at once, and that doesn't break prematurely on my 20' boat. Bill's idea of "biodegradable twine" is a more eco-friendly option, however.

[@bravozulu8638]

Laughable!

[@Downsouthskater]

Biodegradable zip ties are the move!!!

[@peregrinegrace8570]

Do Any powerboat owners have Any sense ? This is complete foolishness. Run this by your harbour master and get a proper response...

[@ianandmarilynsharkfishing7802]

More plastic in the sea 👎

[@timothyroche6445]

NO SHIT