Hi every one
I have a question for those of your who have fight with stong waves and wind, I want to go to the Carabean in 6 year and I asking myself if my motor is strong enough . This is the situation, we will be in a plesant bay at anchor and the wind goes realy up and the anchor drag and we want to go upwind with the motor, until what kind of wind and wave the motor will be enough strong to face.
Relate me your experience with this motor.
I don't know if I will rebuilt it or change it for a stonger one.
Excuse my english writing.
Thank you
—
Michel
Le MarieLu
Catalina 36 1987
hull # 769
Québec, Canada
The engine should be just fine. The trick to retrieving an anchor when it is windy has to do with technique, rather than the engine size, per se. If the engine is big enough to move the boat against 20 knot winds, and yours is, then here's what I do:
When it is so windy, it is difficult, if not impossible, to pull the boat TO above the anchor by hand or even with a windlass. Then, you need to move the boat above the anchor with the engine.
A few years ago we were anchored at Drakes Bay, off the Northern California coast, and it had been very windy all night long. The anchor was very secure and it was dug in to the bottom quite deeply.
We simply motored past the anchor, to one side (not right above it to avoid fouling on the prop) and hauled in the rode as we moved by. This was done with two people, one on the bow pointing direction, the other at helm, giving the engine a great burst of speed.
I've done it singlehanded, too, it just takes longer.
Your engine is 23 hp, mine is the M25, only 21 hp, still quite adequate.
Perfect your anchoring and weighing anchoring skills, don't worry about the engine.
PS - We do not have a windlass.
PPS - You can always buoy the rode, motor away and come back and retrieve it later. Another reason to always carry more than one anchor. :):):)
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)