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Page 4 Konza Sailor October 2007 |
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At the end of the chain By Bob Mullen |
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Articles in previous newsletters have referred to the harbor committee and mooring maintenance. However, members continue to ask about the type of anchors used in the BVYC harbor. This year the harbor committee serviced more than half the moorings and several photos were taken of the various objects used to anchor the 28 club moorings.
When the club moved to its present location all moorings were constructed using auto and truck engines and transmissions. As moorings were added, compressors and large wheel rims were used. In the 1990s a mold was made to make concrete weights; a few years later current member Gene Lindgren began to fabricate mushroom type anchors from junk material such as heavy axles. This year, |
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current member Steve Kettlesen obtained three 254 pound flanges for use on club moorings.
There are some disadvantages associated with several of the anchors but they seem to do the job in a satisfactory manner. Auto engines are no longer used because they are laden with oil; concrete blocks lose a portion of their weight when used as anchors, and some of the home made mushroom anchors have poor weight distribution. Generally, boats moored in the harbor have not dragged the anchors, but during periods of high lake levels, scope on some moorings has been reduced and boats have more or less bounced the anchors to different locations. This year mooring #17 dragged anchor when an additional weight on the mushroom was severed.
The photos show the types of anchors used: photo #1 shows Daryl Strouts next to an old truck engine |
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Photo #1: Daryl Strouts next to an old truck engine |
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Photo #4: Bob Mullen with a huge, special anchor |