Anchoring a swim raft

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Oldschoolbuilder

You need more chain.
It's called scope.
Rode or scope is at least 5 to 1
Google it.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

I think you may be confusing rode for a boat anchor with chain for cement blocks. But even if that's not the case, 45' of chain is likely to make placement that is both legal and enjoyable impossible--the raft will swing in a radius of something like 40'.

I'd recommend bungee cords--purpose designed models are available on Amazon.

[loopner]

Originally Posted by PeterG

I'd recommend bungee cords--purpose designed models are available on Amazon.

bungee cords? Never seen them strong enough. The snubbers look like oversized bungee cords .... not them?

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by loopner

bungee cords? Never seen them strong enough. The snubbers look like oversized bungee cords .... not them?

My raft uses a pair of these fixed to a single chain:

https://www.amazon.com/AIRHEAD-AHDL-...0982358&sr=8-1

[codeman671]

5 to 1 scope for a swim raft is ludicrous!

Ours was held by either a 250 or 500lb concrete disk with stainless chain. There was enough chain for it to be pulled a few feet out of the water at full lake. I cant recall which weight, but it was definitely no more than 500 because we never would have been able to move it. We bought the package at Watermark and towed it out. The weight and chain were on a pallet on the raft, when we got it into place a few of us tilted the pallet the weight was on and dumped it in and set. It has never moved an inch.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by codeman671

5 to 1 scope for a swim raft is ludicrous!

I agree!

My raft (when I had one) was held in place on the West side of Welch (crazy wind) with a 1000 lb concrete weight and about 5 extra feet of chain above high water mark. It never moved in the least....

Dan

[Dave M]

I was told you lose half the weight when you put in water. Is that right.

Dave M

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Dave M

I was told you lose half the weight when you put in water. Is that right.

Dave M

I believe that is pretty close for concrete...

Dan

[loopner]

Just saw this on West Marine:

Anchor Type
Size
Holding Power

Helix
10" screw
10,000lb.

Dor-Mor
650lb.
6,500lb.

Mushroom
500lb.
1,200lb.

Concrete
2,000lb.
800lb.

Concrete
8,000lb.
4,000lb.


I don't understand the difference between the two concrete but clearly 500 pounds without slack and/or snubbers isn't going to do it.

I think we're going to start with adding slack & snubbers before the added expense of more weight and chain.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by loopner

Just saw this on West Marine:

Anchor Type Helix Dor-Mor Mushroom Concrete Concrete
Size 10" screw 650lb. 500lb. 2,000lb. 8,000lb.
Holding Power 10,000lb. 6,500lb. 1,200lb. 800lb. 4,000lb.



I don't understand the difference between the two concrete but clearly 500 pounds without slack and/or snubbers isn't going to do it.

I can tell you this... A single 1000 lb. concrete mooring weight with 6 extra feet of chain from the high water mark, will hold your raft anywhere on the lake....

Dan

[ITD]

Originally Posted by loopner

Just saw this on West Marine:

Anchor Type
Size
Holding Power

Helix
10" screw
10,000lb.

Dor-Mor
650lb.
6,500lb.

Mushroom
500lb.
1,200lb.

Concrete
2,000lb.
800lb.

Concrete
8,000lb.
4,000lb.


I don't understand the difference between the two concrete but clearly 500 pounds without slack and/or snubbers isn't going to do it.

I think we're going to start with adding slack & snubbers before the added expense of more weight and chain.

I think slack will solve your problem, I would experiment, with slack first, hopefully you can get enough so the anchors don't lift and the raft stays in the orientation you want.

[loopner]

Originally Posted by ITD

I think slack will solve your problem, I would experiment, with slack first, hopefully you can get enough so the anchors don't lift and the raft stays in the orientation you want.

That's exactly what our plan is. We got the weights reset. The left one had worked itself all the way to the right and set itself into a hole of sorts underwater. My husband thinks it will work in our favor, so he unhooked the right side and attached it to that sunken weight. He moved the other on the right back to the left. We used the full length of chain (12') and in the middle of each chain we placed a 6' snubber which will stretch to 9'.

The water was a bit calmer than it normally is on an average weekend -- but it didn't move. Crossing our fingers that this will do it!