ephemerisle - User contributions [en]

Basics

2015-03-06T08:15:14Z

Jcain: /* You'll need a place to sleep */

OUT OF DATE

== You'll need a place to sleep ==

'''Be a day tripper'''

OK, you can be lame and just show up Saturday for a day. Email Chris Rasch ( crasch(at)gmail.com ) and Terry Floyd ( terry.floyd(at)gmail.com ) for info on how to get to the event site from H&H Marina They are running shuttle boats.

'''Houseboats'''

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5590778283_8bdffd7c10_m.jpg

The laziest option is to rent a houseboat. The main houseboat-renting marina in the area is [http://www.sevencrown.com/houseboats/index.htm Paradise Point Marina]. A typical houseboat sleeps 10. With the shoulder season and "repeat customer" stacking discounts, a 4-day Summit houseboat rental comes to $1050. This it not bad at all split 10 ways, when you consider that each person gets 3 nights of lodging for slightly over $100. At this point, all you have to spend to get the boat is a $300 deposit. The balance is due 45 days prior to the event. To book, ask for Vicki at Seven Crown. The additional costs of fuel, oil, and insurance will run around $200.

As of 4/6/11 there were four Summit houseboats left. If all the houseboats are rented, you can ping the mailing list for space on existing houseboat.

You do not need a boating license to operate a houseboat.

'''Buy a small boat'''

This is less ridiculous than it sounds. Last year one attendee bought a small speedboat and trailer for $750. I think he resold it afterwards. As a nice benefit, he was able to help the community by ferrying lots of passengers to H&H marina.

'''Buy a large boat'''

Buy a large boat and sail or motor up to the event. There are navigatable waterways all of the way from SF to the event. Or... convince someone who owns a boat that they want to attend the event, and join them as crew. Lots of people with boats at local marinas could be itching for a voyage.

'''Build your own craft'''

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5590779025_44c0f8b445_m.jpg http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5590777883_4fc92dc1a8_m.jpg

We've seen several projects of this sort. They run the gamut from small craft that can be put together in a weekend to large, ambitious platforms. If you're undertaking a project, you should consult the mailing list for advice. Learn from others' successes and failures!

'''Attach to the community platform'''

The team working on the community platform is looking at modular designs for stable sleeping platforms that can be added like lego blocks.

'''Sleep in an inflatable boat'''

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5590778059_999416f665_m.jpg

It's been done. It's risky. Your boat may pop. Your stuff may get wet.

'''Buy a big old boat, spend months refurbishing it into a giant crazy epic circus show boat, and then fill it with all your friends'''

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5590777985_4aa481e1a8_m.jpg

Perhaps the least likely option of all. But when there's a Will, there's a [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2115247821/the-relentless-artstead-boat-project way].

== You'll need to get from the marina to the event ==

If you're in a powered boat, this is easy.

If you're not in a powered boat: H&H Marina is the closest to the event, but the distance involved (roughly 3 miles) is still long enough that you won't want to paddle. Thus, if you've built your own unpowered floating craft, you will have to arrange with one of the houseboat owners or speedboat owners to get it towed to the event.

If you're joining a houseboat: We will self-organize regular shuttles from H&H to the event like we did last year. Join the facebook page and ping Chris Rasch and Terry Floyd for info on how to get to the event site from H&H Marina.

Mailing Lists

2015-03-06T08:11:28Z

Jcain:

Join the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/notephemerisle/ Ephemerisle Facebook group] for news, discussion, and updates.

Mailing Lists

2015-03-06T08:10:44Z

Jcain:

Join the Ephemerisle Facebook group for news, discussion, and updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/notephemerisle/

Mailing Lists

2015-03-06T08:09:06Z

Jcain:

Join the Ephemerisle Facebook group for news, discussion, and updates.

OUT OF DATE:

We have two mailing lists:

'''Announcement list''' (low traffic): http://groups.google.com/group/floating-festival-announce/

'''Discussion list''' (high traffic): Does not contain duplicates of the announce list, so if you join this list you should join the other one as well.
http://groups.google.com/group/floating-festival/

Anchoring

2015-03-06T04:35:43Z

Jcain:

== Anchor Basics ==

Here's a typical danforth type anchor like the one's we've been using:

[[file:hooker.jpg]]

They work by lying flat on the bottom, and having their flukes (blades) dig into the sand or mud. "Scope" refers to the ratio between the line length and the depth. The more scope, the flatter the anchor lies and the better it holds.

[[file:anchor_on_bottom.jpg]]

== Scope Table ==

According to Don Casey, this table shows anchor holding power as related to scope:

10:1 100% 
7:1 91% 
6:1 85% 
5:1 77% 
4:1 67% 
3:1 53% 
2:1 35% 

[[http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/34.htm|link]]

Note this is approximate and it assumes a flat seabed. If the floor is sloped, then the calculations get more complex.

Example 1: If someone tries to use 50' of line in 25' of water, then the scope is 2:1 and the holding power of anchor will only be about 35% of it's max.

Example 2: If the same line is used in 10' of water, the scope will be 5:1 and the holding power should be more than twice as strong as it was in the first example.

== Chain ==

On all boats except the very smallest, chain is attached to the anchor line. The chain adds weight to the end of the line and helps the anchor stay set on the bottom. I don't have any numbers for how much chain helps, but it's important.

Addendum: a crucial benefit of the chains is that they reduce the initial vertical force you exert on the anchor when you tauten the line, helping set the anchor into the riverbed rather than pulling it up or just along the bottom.

[[File:anchor_with_chain.jpg]]

== Danforth Holding Power ==

Weight : Holding Power : Boat size (20knot winds)

14lb : 920 : 31' 
16lb : 1300 : 36' 
25lb : 1600 : 40' 
43lb : 2000 : 45' 
70lb : 3000 : 55' 
100lb : 3500 : 60' 

These numbers assume a minimum of 4-8' of chain.

[[http://www.danforthanchors.com/standard.html]]

== Sean's Basic Anchoring Guide ==

BEFORE you toss it in the water…

1) CHECK YOUR GEAR. Captains, make sure to acquire the proper chain,
anchor line, and connectors before you leave the house! Before you take
your boat from the pier, look at connections between chain and anchor,
chain and line, and make sure the line is in good shape. 2) MEASURE
WATER DEPTH AND LENGTH OF ANCHOR LINE. For Ephemerisle use a minimum 5:1
ratio of anchor line to depth. You can assume this means a minimum
length of 125 feet of anchor line. 3) TIE THE LINE TO YOUR BOAT. Cleat
it at 125 feet (or longer), and tie it again to an even stronger part of
your houseboat.

WHEN you toss it in the water….

1) CAST ANCHOR. Do this in pairs, one person throwing the anchor, the
other person throwing the chain. 2) FEED OUT THE ANCHOR LINE. As you
drive SLOWLY away from the cast anchor, feed the line out by hand,
giving the occasional tug. 3) TUG AND HOLD. Tugging on the line, you
should feel the anchor “set” into the mud. The line will go taught, you
will let go of it, and the boat should stop moving (be sure to put it in
neutral at this point!). If the anchor doesn’t hold, pull in the line
and start over.

AFTER you tossed it in the water…..

1) Check the tie off. Make sure the line is attached to the boat, and
isn’t tangled on anything. 2) Check your position. Look in a direction
perpendicular to the line made by your anchor line and boat. If you are
drifting, your anchor hasn’t set properly. Start over! 3) Check your
position AGAIN. And AGAIN. And AGAIN. Lots of things can cause you to
come un-stuck from the bottom. Be watchful!

== Removing stuck anchors ==

After 4 days of anchoring in last year, some of our anchors were stuck
in the mud. Pulling up failed to free them, so we tied off the anchor
line to a cleat on the houseboat and motored forward at full speed to
break them loose.

This year, with a longer event and bigger anchors we are likely to have
anchors which are really stuck in the mud. Trying to yank them out with
a cleat and the force of a motor is likely to damage the boats.

Instead, here's what one reference recommended and I'm paraphrasing:
Pull the line tight, and then let the motion of the waves to gradually
work the anchor loose.

On the delta, we probably won't have the waves to help us work the
anchors out. But a group of people pulling, with patience, should be
able to slowly work an anchor out of the mud.

== Mooring ==

It is apparently relatively common practice in the Delta to create a secure anchorage by tying off to a tree. A stern anchor would of course also be needed to keep the boat from being pushed into that tree. There are few suitable trees close to Mandeville Point. There are a number of pylons in the channel that cuts through Mandeville Point, and they are frequently used for at least a night or two, especially for boaters who arrive after sunset and are not able to raft up to boats that are already anchored. If you do this, bring citronella candles and bug spray and close your screens, because the closer you are to shore, the more you will be overwhelmed by insects.

== Archive ==

See [[2011 Anchoring]] and [[2012 Anchoring]] for reference.