Downeaster Yachts.com - Topic: Using sentinel for anchoring (anchor weight)

jimha on Using sentinel for anchoring (anchor weight)

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 10:09:08 -0400

Jonathan

Here is another idea which has worked well for me. I have a all chain (3/8 inch) rode with a 30 ft snubbing line (3/4 inch) attached to a chain hook. When I feel the boat jerking on the rode, I simply add more snubbing line. This added chain loop is in effect acting as a sentinel and is easy to deploy or remove.

Cheers,

Jim

Wundor Star on Using sentinel for anchoring (anchor weight)

Mon, 20 Oct 2014 11:07:47 -0400

Hi Johnathan, I use a homemade sentinel and swear by it. It is 20 lbs, and I tie it into my chain rode at the depth that I anchor in at flood tide. I then play out more scope depending on conditions and anchorage. The sentinel, we call her baby, so baby reduces the bounce on the chain from wave action on the bow of the boat and helps the anchor stay set. So a typical set up would be as follows: calm bay with little wind, tides to be expected, depth 45 feet at high tide. So as I lower the anchor, I hold fast at a little past my 2nd 20 foot marker on my rode, make fast the sentinel, (ensuring the knot and lead is outside, or water side of all rigging and pulpit) and release baby. Probably, release another 100 feet of chain. Sometimes I attach a floating line to her with a small float, but not always. And as I raise the anchor, I spray the rode off with salt water so it is easy to see baby as see rides up. I secure her to the deck, detach her and then continue raising the anchor. In theory you are still anchored because the anchor is still in the bottom when you are raising her due to the depth of the attachment to the rode during the securing of baby. That is it. I have used this set up in a lot of conditions. I have lost baby once in the Harbor at Pago Pago AM Somia. It took about an hour of diving to find baby. My knot came loose, (opps) I wish I had tied on the float that day.

I hope this helps, I know it wasn't actually answering your question, because I have never used the type that slides down, but thought I would share.

Travis

Jonathan Oasis on Using sentinel for anchoring (anchor weight)

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 14:34:41 -0400

Can anyone report on their use of a sentinel for reducing scope and rode length when anchoring deep. The sentinel needs a separate line for rolling down the rode at least.

Here's a few random pics from the web to illustrate the use of one.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDxp.....inal+b.jpg

http://www.westboundadventures.....angel1.gif

http://ariel-cd36.org/wordpres.....00x162.jpg