Operating a 320 centimeter long inflatable vessel on a river with a noticeable current requires a special approach to the anchor system. Many owners make the mistake of relying on standard guidelines for still water, which on the faststrin leads to the demolition of the boat or the loss of expensive equipment.
The main difficulty is that PVC It has a high sailing speed, and its low weight makes it vulnerable to water pressure, and a properly selected anchor for a boat 320 cm on the current is not just a cargo, but a complex engineering system that ensures the safety of fishing and parking.
In this article, we will examine the physics of the retention process, calculate the weight required, and choose the optimal design for the specific conditions of your river. fungus-anchor It may be useless on the rocky bottom, and anchor It will require special treatment.
Calculation of anchor weight and demolition force
The first thing a boating encounters when entering the current is the force of demolition. For a boat with a crew and equipment of 320 cm, the total mass rarely exceeds 250-300 kg. However, the weight of the anchor itself must not only be proportional to the mass of the vessel, but also compensate for hydrodynamic resistance.
There's a classic formula that says that the weight of an anchor should be about 10 percent of the displacement of a vessel. For a boat of 320 cm, that means an approximate weight of 3-4 kg. But this only works for calm water. On a flow of 1-2 knots, this is categorically not enough.
It's coming into force here. engagementThis is the ratio of anchor strength to anchor weight, and if you choose a model with poor paw geometry, you'll have to carry a 10-kilogram weight on board, which is not practical for a small PVC boat.
- 🌊 On a weak current (up to 0.5 m / s), a weight of 3-4 kg is enough.
- 🌊 On the medium current (0.5-1.0 m / s), a weight of 4-6 kg or an anchor with a high hook coefficient is required.
- 🌊 On a strong current (more than 1.0 m / s), the weight of the cargo should be at least 6-8 kg, or the use of two anchors is necessary.
It is important to bear in mind that flyboard And so the wind blowing against the current increases the load on the anchor tile at times, so you should always keep the calculation safe, especially if the bottom of the river is slurry or sandy, where the anchor can just drag on.
Types of anchors: what is best for PVC boats
The market offers many options, but not all are suitable for a 320 cm inflatable boat: the design must be compact, have no sharp angles that can damage cylinders, and ensure reliable engagement the first time.
The most popular option is considered anchor It's a classic that's been tested for decades, and it has movable paws that allow it to burrow into the ground at any angle of fall, but it has a significant disadvantage, which is that it has a lot of volume and a risk of damaging tissue when it's loaded inactively.
A more modern solution is anchor (or its analogues, like the broad-legged Cat) It has an outstanding engagement ratio on sand and silt. It's ideal for flow because it burrows deep. But on a rocky bottom, it can slide across the surface without clinging.
⚠️ Warning: Never use anchors with sharp horns or hooks without protective caps on a PVC boat. When jerking on the current, such an anchor can easily penetrate the balloon, which will lead to instant flooding.
It is also worth considering folding anchors of the type "Grappling." They're compact, they take up the minimum space in a kunduk, and they have four legs. They're a versatile soldier who will hook on almost anything, like a snag, a rock, or just burrow into the ground. For a 320 cm boat, a 4kg folding model is often the best choice.
- 🐙 Cat anchor: ideal for rocky and shell bottom, but has a low hook coefficient on the silt.
- ⚓ Denforth anchor: king of sandy and clay soils, but afraid of rocks and algae.
- 🪨 Anchor-mushroom: suitable only for standing water or very soft silt, on the current useless due to the lack of paws.
When choosing an anchor, pay attention to the presence of a ring (river) for fastening the rope. It should be cast or reliably welded, and not screwed on bolts that can unwind from vibration.
Design features and materials
When you're anchoring a boat with 320 cm, you can't ignore the material that's made. Steel is the most popular. It's cheap, it's tough, it's heavy. But conventional steel rusts, staining the transom and things in the boat, and the fishing clothes.
A more advanced version. galvanized steelZinc coating protects against corrosion, but over time it wears out, especially in places where the paws are rubbed against the ground or rope. After each exit to salt water or just after fishing, it is advisable to wash this anchor with fresh water.
The most expensive, but also the most reliable solution is stainless steelThe stainless steel anchor requires no maintenance, always looks presentable and leaves no rusty marks on the light PVC fabric. For a small boat of 320 cm, where every gram counts and equipment is often in the same space as the fisherman, this is the best investment.
| Materials | Weight (for 320 cm) | Corrosion resistance | Price. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel (painted) | 4-5 kg | Low. | Low. |
| Galvanized steel | 3.5–4.5 kg | Medium | Medium |
| Stainless steel | 3-4 kg | High. | High. |
| Aluminum alloy | 2-3 kg + load | High. | Medium/High |
Composite structures deserve special attention. Some manufacturers offer anchors with removable paws or telescopic construction, which is convenient for transportation, but during such assemblies are a weak link. Mechanical load can lead to a break in the hinge or threaded connection.
Why is aluminum not always good?
Aluminum anchors are very lightweight, and they often don't have enough weight to flow, and you have to use extra loads of stockings, which complicates the design.
Anchor flounder: rope or chain?
The anchor itself is only half the success. The other half is the success. anchorage On a 320 cm PVC boat, the use of a heavy chain as the main part of the phalt is unacceptable, it will take up all useful space and may damage the cylinders when rolling.
The optimal length of the thal should be 3-4 lengths of depth in the parking lot. If you fish at a depth of 3 meters, you need 9-12 meters of rope. Using a short thale causes the anchor to break out of the ground at the slightest jerk of the boat.
The material of the rope is also critical. Synthetic cords (nylon, polypropylene) are floating and do not rot, but they stretch very hard, and during the course of this creates a rubber effect: the boat pulls back and forth. Static cord with minimal stretching is preferable for fishing in the wiring or on the point.
- 🧶 Nylon cord: strong, but strongly stretches under load, which is undesirable on the flow.
- 🧶 Polypropylene cord: does not sink, cheap, but quickly overgrown with algae and loses strength on ultraviolet.
- 🧶 Sailing synthetics (Dacron): ideal but expensive option with minimal stretching.
⚠️ Warning: Never tie the anchor tile to ducks (hooks) on board a PVC boat in strong currents! The jerk can tear the duck together with a piece of balloon.
ropeOr through a crum bolt reinforced by a puck on the inside of the transom.
For ease of control, you can use a small chain (0.5-1 meters) between the anchor and the rope, which helps the anchor to take the correct position (with its paws down) when falling to the bottom and protects the rope from rubbing against stones.
Anchoring technique on the flow
A 320 cm boat can cost you anchor or even cause you to flip, and the rule is that the anchor should fall to the bottom when the boat moves or is being pulled down by the current, but not when it is standing still.
Go to the anchor point upstream. Turn off the motor, let the boat start demolishing. Lower the anchor carefully, putting the rope down. Don't throw it! When you choose the right length, slightly pull the throttle so that the anchor touches the bottom, and give it another 1-2 meters.
Then slowly back up (or wait until the current pulls the boat out by itself), picking a slack. At the moment of tension, the anchor must burrow. If it's just lying on the bottom, it will slide. You need to give a sharp but controlled jerk to get the paws into the ground.
☑️ Safe anchoring algorithm
For PVC boats, we often use a bow and stern anchoring scheme at the same time, if the river width and conditions permit, which allows us to lock the vessel strictly perpendicular to the current (lag), which is convenient for spinning fishing, but in strong currents, this scheme creates a huge load on the design of the boat.
On a strong current, the PVC boat 320 cm is better anchored by the nose only, turning it nose-to-head against the flow, which minimizes sailing and the risk of tipping over.
Frequent errors and security
The most common mistake is not enough length of the tile, and the anglers save the rope, and the anchor is at an angle of almost 90 degrees to the bottom, and any jerk it just flies out of the ground, and the angle between the tile and the bottom should be minimal, almost zero.
The second mistake is mounting the thalf to the transom, and if the boat turns to the current (which is often the case with the wind), and the anchor holds at the stern, it rolls. For a narrow boat, 320 cm is a direct path to the river. scoop Always anchor from the nose or use a special scheme with two anchors.
The third problem is the anchor, which is dead, and if you're in a rock crevice or a snag, you can't pull the anchor out by force on an inflatable boat. You either tear the cloth or you turn over. Always carry it with you. buoy or use the "buerlin" method (additional rope to the anchor tail).
What if the anchor is stuck dead?
Don't pull the boat at full throttle, it's dangerous. Try to pick a rope, get as close to the anchor as possible, create a vertical load. If it doesn't work, cut the rope. The safety of the crew is more important than the anchor. Attach a foam buoy to the end of the rope, so that you can then find and release the anchor with a bugre or a second boat.
Can I use the anchor brake?
Yes, there are some special devices for PVC boats called anchor brakes that allow you to pull a rope with jerks and securely lock it without winding it over your arm, and arm swinging is strictly forbidden, because if you pull a sharp anchor on the current, you can get serious injuries to your hand or be pulled overboard.
What weight is the anchor op required for PVC 320?
The minimum weight for calm water is 3 kg. For the flow of medium force - 4-5 kg. If the current is strong, it is better to take an anchor weighing 6 kg with high hooking capacity than 8 kg smooth cargo.
Remember that water-safety A proven anchor, high-quality phala and proper anchoring technique will allow you to enjoy fishing even on a fast river without worrying about demolition on a rolling or in a shipping area.