Sandy,  I have cruised for many years in sailboats: first in a
Seafarer 26; now in a Cape Dory 36...all along the east coast of the
United States. I have anchored many times...usually in muddy clay
bottoms. I also prefer Bruce anchors. In calm, quiet waters, with that
type of bottom, in shallow water (10 to 15 feet), my 16 1/2-pound
Bruce "lunch hook" will do the job. If "things" get a little more
"interesting"...or if the bottom is sand and the water depth is
deeper, I use my 22-pound Bruce...either alone or in conjunction with
the smaller Bruce. And, if all goes to pot, over goes the 35-pound
CQR with 20 feet of chain and nylon rode as needed. This ground tackle
has proved to be adequate for all encountered situations...except...at
Gosport Harbor at the Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire. There, I could
get nothing to hold. Fortunately, the Harbormaster of Rye, New
Hampshire, observed my plight, was leaving, and gave me permission to
snatch his mooring buoy for the rest of that day and night.
     Although muddy clay bottoms are great for holding as the anchors
really go down and set...it can, at times, be a chore to get them to
break out, when you are ready to get underway....especially if you do
not have a windlass - which I do not have. For years, my procedure, in
calm conditions, was to pull in slowly on the anchor rode until it was
straight up and down, then start pulling hard to break the anchor out
of the bottom, then pull all right in. If the current was running or
the wind was up, we would motor up slowly to the up and down
condition, cleat the rode, and let the boat's momentum break the
anchor out. Usually, the anchor came out, but not always...right away.
There were times when I pulled for quite a few minutes, or motored
round and round, before the anchor broke clear of the bottom.
     One morning, a "seasoned cruiser" saw me tugging and pulling on
the rode. He came close aboard and said to me, in words to this
effect: "You know, if you pull yourself right over the anchor, and
then cleat off your anchor rode, and then go back in your cockpit and
have a cigarette or a cup of coffee, it won't be long before motion
caused by you moving around on your boat, or waves produced by a
passing ship or boater...or even, perhaps, by the wind, will do all
the tugging and pulling for you...in short order. And, when the anchor
breaks out, all you have to do is go forward and bring it in."
     Ever since receiving that valuable piece of advice, I've done
just that, and have never had any problem getting the anchor out of
the bottom and on board. And, more important...I still have my back.
     Of course, if you were in rocks, a trip line on your anchor might
prove necessary in order to get your anchor up.            --- Bob ---
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