NW Explorations
GREY LADY OPERATING MANUAL
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13
Filling the Fuel Tanks
With the large fuel tanks, you can fuel the boat pretty fast using a standard hose and nozzle (like those on auto gas
pumps). Fuel each tank, taking the hose through the cockpit. Fill both the tanks completely but
do not spill fuel!
Control
the flow rate by sound, as the fill pipes make the characteristic “getting to the top of the bottle” pitch change when the
fill pipes begin to fill after the tanks themselves are full. (The tank vents will gurgle
before
the tanks are full, so when the
vents begin gurgling, slow down until you hear the fill pipes’ pitch change.)
Engine gauges
This system is mounted at the helm and measures the fuel, water tank and
waste tank levels as well as other functions of the engine.
Anchoring
Anchoring can be accomplished safely with minimum fuss if you are
prepared
. Or, if you are not ready, it can be stressful and dangerous for
you or the boat.
Before attempting to anchor, select an anchorage with a soft bottom such as sand, mud, or gravel, if possible. Look
at the charts and cruising guides for tips on good locations. Then, choose the spot
in
the anchorage where you have
room to “swing” on the anchor without disturbing other boats. Remember, responsibility for leaving room goes to each
successive boat to arrive, for the first boat has priority in the anchorage!
Here in the Northwest, because of the deep waters, all-chain rodes and small bays, we anchor a little differently than in
the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean, for example. First, except in severe weather we use anchor chain scopes of only 4-to-1
or 5-to-1. For example, in water that is 40 feet at low tide in the typical anchorage, we might use 160 feet of chain unless
the weather was to be gale force or greater winds.
Second, because of the small bays and steep bottoms, we often rig a
shore line
from the stern of the boat to shore. The
best example of this would be at Todd Inlet at Butchart Gardens. Here is a bay that can accommodate 8 - 10 boats, yet
it is only about 150’ wide and 200’ long! Boats attach their bows to the mooring buoys or, in a few cases, anchor; and
then their sterns are secured to rings provided in the steep cliffs overlooking the bay. Boats are thus perhaps only 15-20’
apart, side to side.
Third, boats often will “raft” side by side in busy marinas, although this is not very common.
Fourth, courteous boaters will call vessels coming into busy bays and offer to let them raft to the same buoy, if signs on
the buoys do not limit usage to only one boat depending upon length.
“Grey Lady”
carries 200’ of 3/8” chain.
Anchoring safely requires two persons, one at the helm maneuvering the boat and one on the bow operating the anchor.
Putting the bow of the boat over the spot where the anchor is to be placed after checking the depth on the depth
sounder, and with the windlass main breaker at the Pilothouse helm “ON”, the windlass foot-switches are used to lower
the anchor slowly toward (but not onto) the bottom, by watching the chain markings as follows:
10’
red, yellow, red
colors near anchor
50’
yellow
yellow markings at every 50’
100’
red
red marking at every 100’
150’
yellow
yellow markings every 50’
200’
red, yellow, red
10’ from the end of the chain
100’
nylon rode
When the anchor is about to reach bottom, the boat is backed away by putting the engines into reverse for 2-3 seconds:
eddies from the chain indicate motion. Resume lowering the anchor while drifting backwards (watch the eddies and add
