Keeping the boat balanced...

merttan · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

Hello again,
I have a newbie question...
When I'm at an anchorage or mooring, my little 22 footer rocks like a craddle... Even though the winds or waves are not excessively heavy.Let's say 1-2ft seas and 5-10knots winds. I tried to use my 4 stroke outboard (since it's pretty heavy, 114lbs) as a stabilizer by lowering it into the water and it worked somewhat. Is there any other way? I thought about buying a stabilizer or a sea anchor. It's just hard to enjoy a lunch when everything is moving around... What do you guys think?
Thank you.

deniseO30 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

not much you can do Mert! One reason I sold my 23 and got a 30 !

Giulietta · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by merttan

Hello again,
I have a newbie question...
When I'm at an anchorage or mooring, my little 22 footer rocks like a craddle... Even though the winds or waves are not excessively heavy.Let's say 1-2ft seas and 5-10knots winds. I tried to use my 4 stroke outboard (since it's pretty heavy, 114lbs) as a stabilizer by lowering it into the water and it worked somewhat. Is there any other way? I thought about buying a stabilizer or a sea anchor. It's just hard to enjoy a lunch when everything is moving around... What do you guys think?
Thank you.

Merttan,

That's the nature of the beast, however there are products you can buy that minimize the anchor roll. They're quite cheap, too. but take space when not in use.

See here

and here

They are self explanatory, and please make sure you give sailnet a call to buy them...I just used WM to show you the products

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

You don't say what kind of boat it is. Some designs are just more prone to rocking than others. The larger the boat, the less likely it is to have those issues to a degree, but a lot depends on the design—how much ballast, how deep the keel is, hull form, etc. 1-2' seas and 5-10 knots is really light conditions to have rocking be an issue IMHO though.

Some people will buy and deploy "flopper stoppers" which act as stabilizers to the boat, which Giu linked to... but for a 22' that's a bit excessive.

merttan · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

It's a shoal box keel (1') &(2ft. draft)Ballast I assume about 500lbs. 5'6" beam,
21'11" LOA, 18' LWL Displacement about 2200lbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

You don't say what kind of boat it is. Some designs are just more prone to rocking than others. The larger the boat, the less likely it is to have those issues to a degree, but a lot depends on the design—how much ballast, how deep the keel is, hull form, etc. 1-2' seas and 5-10 knots is really light conditions to have rocking be an issue IMHO though.

Some people will buy and deploy "flopper stoppers" which act as stabilizers to the boat, which Giu linked to... but for a 22' that's a bit excessive.

Faster · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

As a cheap and easy- to-try measure, swing the boom outboard, tie it off and hang a bucket about 4 feet or so below the surface.

It may slow the rocking, but on a smallish boat it will also likely induce some heel too....

nolatom · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2007

You've described rocking as opposed to hobbyhorsing, I think.. So try Faster's idea, it may work.

If not, try leading the anchor rode to a different cleat or chock, maybe one that's a further distance away from the stem. That may "settle" the wind and seas on one side of the boat rather than both, and minimize the rolling.

This of course assumes you're describing rolling (rocking) and not pitching (hobbyhorsing).

Zanshin · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2007

I bought 4 military surplus drogues that I intend to use the same way to stop rolling around too much on some anchorages. They'll also double as backup real drogues as well. I haven't tried it yet but am optimistic.

Lancer28 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007

Sounds like you're swinging at the anchor? Try anchoring off the bow, then tying a rolling hitch to the rode and attaching that line to the back of your boat to set you at an angle to the wind...

check this out and let me know if it helps any; it was my thread on anchoring / mooring:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learning-sail/36422-preventing-reducing-anchor-swinging.html

If you "bridle" the anchor rode, then it loads up the windy side of the boat and makes you heel a couple of degrees and helps cut down the rocking and swaying too. Also, try to leave up a SMALL sail on the backstay to provide pressure against the rode. Last week, I saw a guy use two winter jackets to make an anchor sail.