Tell me again, how do you use an anchor ball? I know generally what is supposed to happen, but suspect I am missing some details. Ie in addition to freeing a hung anchor, can a ball do the work raising an anchor from deep water? I’ve had one for years but don’t normally deploy it.
Thanks
OM
Free a hung anchor, not going to do much. That needs to be how the anchor is rigged to the rode and line.
An anchor ball is connected around the anchor line at the boat. When you drive away from the anchor the ball runs down the anchor line and hooks on to the shank of the anchor. The only point of this is to suspend the weight of the anchor ad rode on the surface. So you are not just dead lifting the anchor in the vertical stance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrbYe1rHcV0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcL5ag8Lg18
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
reelshock is correct. The ball’s purpose is to hold the anchor and chain at the surface after it has been raised. A Danforth type anchor will raise itself as you drive over it directly up your anchor course. If you have a reef or plow type anchor, the anchor will not plane itself easily and you need the ball to float it.
I do not like to throw the ball out until my gear has planed up on the surface already because a ball can go back and get in the slack loop as you’re coming tight opposite of your hook and if the anchor is hung hard, the loop becoming tightened by your boat will pull your ball under and burst the ball from the pressure being more than the ball’s buoyancy. This isn’t as much of a problem if you are short-scoped, but most people do not anchor that way or cannot anchor that way.
The ball suspends your gear. The ring creates a point for the chain and anchor stem to fold against one another and trap the gear in the ring to hold it up.
Install a swivel at the top of your chain, and use only small shackles so that the ring can slip over them easily. The system will work much better when you take away the ability of your chain to kink or a shackle to hang up the ring or create a kink.
Sellsfish has a video on youtube of retrieving an anchor using a polyball and ring.
http://www.sustainablefishing.org/
www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
Pay attention to what side of your bow light your anchor rope is on. Last time out it cost me $40.00:roll_eyes:. Ouch!!!
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
Questions answered. Thanks very much.
One concern was whether it would work when fishing solo, but the videos look like no problem managing the boat. Use the boat to lift the anchor to the surface. Put the motor in neutral and pull the loose line in. Appears much easier than the alternative.
Thanks
OM
quote:
Originally posted by Ona MissionQuestions answered. Thanks very much.
One concern was whether it would work when fishing solo, but the videos look like no problem managing the boat. Use the boat to lift the anchor to the surface. Put the motor in neutral and pull the loose line in. Appears much easier than the alternative.
Thanks
OM
Yes, but you’re still living dangerously if solo in any rougher seas. If your rode gets prop wrapped, you’re immobile and the wind immediately puts you stern-to and you get swamped and capsized.
If anchoring solo, I would recommend you keep a knife on you at all times to get out of danger very quickly when needed. Not a bad idea for any offshore fishing regardless of how many crew, really.
http://www.sustainablefishing.org/
www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
quote:
If your rode gets prop wrapped, you're immobile and the wind immediately puts you stern-to and you get swamped and capsized.
Amen!
In those video links I posted above, in both cases the Capt. ran too close to the rode for safety. You do NOT want that line in your prop!
Swing out and around in a wide circle back towards the anchor and keep moving in a circular pattern as you pull. Stay well clear of the line, keeping it inside your turning circle. When doing it solo I usually hook the line with a boat hook and take a wrap around the stern cleat, this keeps it clear of the prop also.
quote:
I would recommend you keep a knife on you at all times to get out of danger very quickly when needed. Not a bad idea for any offshore fishing regardless of how many crew, really.
That goes without saying. If my pants are on I’ve got a knife 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
quote:
When doing it solo I usually hook the line with a boat hook and take a wrap around the stern cleat, this keeps it clear of the prop also.
This needs clarification for safety reasons. NEVER anchor a small boat by a stern cleat if there is any sea at all, or put yourself in a position where you may find yourself accidently anchored by a stern cleat. Nothing will sink an outboard faster than having a low transom exposed to the sea. I take only one wrap around the cleat, so I can throw it off quick if I need to if the anchor hangs up, just to keep the line clear of the prop, and wouldn’t even consider doing that if it is rough and in an open transom outboard boat.
I always used this method with full transom inboards and it was safe in any weather. Not so for some outboard boats. Don’t tie your transom down in any sort of sea. Never point your stern to the waves with it secured to an anchor, or anything else.
Thanks to DG34YF.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose