Anchor needed for T&M canal to Sawley Marina?

[Alan de Enfield]

Just now, Paul C said:

 

And set aside a few days for reading through the thread(s) on the right anchor for a narrowboat.

 

He may be better reading up on what is the most suitable anchor system for his NB and intended waters ...................

[BoatinglifeupNorth]

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

He may be better reading up on what is the most suitable anchor system for his NB and intended waters ...................

Rather than panic buying one for a couple of relative tame sections during the trip from a chandlers, that could prove inadequate on the more demanding sections beyond Sawley and Tidal.

[ditchcrawler]

3 hours ago, BoatinglifeupNorth said:

Then you’ll know the two section that he’s doing are not long tidal section and he’ll be running with any fresh, a bit different then pushing against high fresh on the section from Beeston to Sawley locks.

 Everyone is saying the boat could be unreliable, how do we not know he’s bought a £80K two year old boat?

 Yes I would advise getting an anchor once at Sawley after doing his research. If bought on the way, he could easily buy the wrong one, weight, warp and chain length from a Chandelier who is after a £500 sale. 
 Yes the river Trent needs to be respected especially the tidal and the sections after Sawley to Cromwell, but there’s a lot of scare mongering for newbies doing it for the first time, the two sections are little stretches and if on green boards for a newbie it should be fine., if nervous pair up, I’m sure there will be boats moving in the same direction.

 

Hire boaters do them every week

[Cancunia]

Thanks again to all who've replied. 

As mentioned above, I will have traveled quite some distance before I get to either Alrewas  or Sawley so will know if there are any engine issues before then. I will buy an anchor but will also take some time investigating what I actually need, based on the boat size and likely locations that I'll be taking it.

If I was going downstream from Sawley locks towards Beeston on the Tent I would certainly be looking for an anchor before doing so. 

In the mean time, I will take advice from local boaters and ask for assistance by going along with others on the same stretches. 

[LadyG]

You have a few options: buy a belt and braces, eg

Mantus

Heavy chain

Anchorplait

This would be more suitable choice if one intended to navigate regularly on a river which is prone to flooding.

Or

Danforth  / Brittany  style

Three strand warp

Suitable as a back up for occasional trips on Green or Amber falling.

 

Edited September 30 by LadyG

[Cancunia]

I moored up at Sawley this morning after a thankfully uneventful journey past the Derwent mouth & the Trent weir at the end of the T&M canal. I stopped yesterday afternoon at Shardlow and walked down to the flood lock at Sawley to see what the water flow was like. It all looked fine to me with the levels well within the 'OK' markers at the locks. I got a good confidence boost when I talked with someone in a kayak who'd just paddled past the weir and didn't notice any problems. Still slightly puzzled by the red traffic light lit for the Trent just down from Shardlow, but am assuming this is for the Trent as a whole rather than just the bit at the end of the T&M.

 

Thanks to all that replied to my post.

Next stop is the anchor shop!

 

[Arthur Marshall]

I think I've got one of those Danforth things everyone sneers at, and it's on a short bit of chain and when I go on a river I occasionally tie it to a bit of blue rope, but I usually forget. As it's at the pointy end of the boat and I'm on me tod at the blunt end with the stick thing, it doesn't really make a lot of odds if it's there or not.

The only rivers I've ever done are the bits on the Leicester ring, the Weaver and a few chunks of the Oxford and Caldon. Never needed an anchor in nearly forty years. Probably best to have one, though, but I doubt I'd ever have bothered buying one myself. Maybe depends on where you plan boating.

[BoatinglifeupNorth]

3 hours ago, Cancunia said:

I moored up at Sawley this morning after a thankfully uneventful journey past the Derwent mouth & the Trent weir at the end of the T&M canal. I stopped yesterday afternoon at Shardlow and walked down to the flood lock at Sawley to see what the water flow was like. It all looked fine to me with the levels well within the 'OK' markers at the locks. I got a good confidence boost when I talked with someone in a kayak who'd just paddled past the weir and didn't notice any problems. Still slightly puzzled by the red traffic light lit for the Trent just down from Shardlow, but am assuming this is for the Trent as a whole rather than just the bit at the end of the T&M.

 

Thanks to all that replied to my post.

Next stop is the anchor shop!

 

Was it as daunting as people suggested?

You’ll find most of the canal system is not too stressful, just be careful though and don’t get complacent especially with some bits of the Trent & Soar especially after heavy rain. 
Glad you got there ok and hope you enjoyed your trip👍

[blackrose]

On 30/09/2024 at 08:14, Cancunia said:

In the mean time, I will take advice from local boaters and ask for assistance by going along with others on the same stretches. 

 

To be honest although you should have an anchor, in many circumstances unless there's an immediate danger it's often better to get a tow from another boat. Once you drop the anchor even if you managed to get the bow pointing upstream, you're then committed to whatever the current and wind wants to do to your boat and you'll need to fix the problem then and there as well as retrieve the anchor or cut it away before you can get out of that situation.

 

If travelling with another boat you need have arranged a plan of action beforehand, have each others phone numbers and know that you and your boats are capable of towing each other.  

Edited October 31 by blackrose

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, blackrose said:

 

To be honest although you should have an anchor, in many circumstances unless there's an immediate danger it's often better to get a tow from another boat. Once you drop the anchor even if you managed to get the bow pointing upstream, you're then committed to whatever the current and wind wants to do to your boat and you'll need to fix the problem then and there as well as retrieve the anchor or cut it away before you can get out of that situation.

 

If travelling with another boat you need have arranged a plan of action beforehand, have each others phone numbers and know that you and your boats are capable of towing each other.  

 

 

In the event of a breakdown why would it not be preferable to drop the anchor (to avoid being swept over the weir,  pushed into the bushes or crashing into other boats) and then let your 'rescue' boat come alongside and pick up a tow-line ?

 

Having been involved in rescuing a couple of boats, just telephoning them & shouting 'help me' would have resulted in them going over the weirs and being lost. In the flow of water going over a weir it only takes a minute to go from 100 yards away to being on the weir. 

It took us about 10 attempts to get alongside the anchored boat to pick up a line - as you say wind and currents result in the boat 'thrashing about' - a boat that is 'drifting free' will be even worse.