Tying off the anchor when using a windlass

[channel_surfer]

For those of us that have a windlass, when do you guys actually tie off your anchor line to a cleat when anchored?

All the time?

Never?

Rough water?

High Winds?

Deep Water?

I do a lot of fishing in the bays here and a lot of the time I am anchored in 20 feet or less of water in very fair seas, only a breeze and the tide to contend with, and honestly most of the time I do not tie off the anchor line to a cleat. If there is a high wind, a good chop, etc, I have tied it off, but I have never had the anchor line slip on me when not tied off. Just wondering what most of you do with your anchor line.

Thanks.

 

[TheOtherLine]

I don't tie off to a cleat unless I am in deeper waters ( 50' plus ) OR in any environment where the breeze or current is strong enough to put a load on the windlass or cause it to leak line.

If the line going into the gypsy "feels" real tight, I cleat it.

 

[Porkchunker]

I don't tie off unless the wind is up. If it is a gentle breeze (10-15 kts), the windlass has a clutch-brake in it to hold things in place. If the wind and waves get higher (like at the CBBT), then I'm more apt to tie off.

Dave

aka

 

[tommyr904]

never,if i have to go up front kinda defeat's the purpose of a windlass for me