34 replies to this topic

[Guru4tru]

Single Line Sand Anchor

I decided to knock some weight off my cart. I have my regular kite anchor, which consists of some 3’ and 18" steel stakes, a steel pipe with connectors on it, nylon straps and a 4 lb. sledge to hammer it all in place. With the box I carry it in it come up to 20 lbs. This is OK when I throw it on my cart, with all my other stuff, IF I’m pulling it across solid ground or shell rock, but when pulling it across uneven Florida “sugar sand” an extra 20 lbs. makes a big difference in my possible life expectancy! heehee!



So, I went to Walmart and bought a reinforced canvas laundry bag for less then $10 (it was listed for $20 online):



SpaceItUp Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag Yellow/Grey #7021576531A - Laundry Bags
$20.64
SpaceItUp Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag Yellow/Grey #7021576531A Sometimes you need more than a simple mesh or cotton laundry bag. That's where the Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag steps in. This heavyweight two-tone laundry bag features a draw-string closure and a full length shoulder strap to help easily get your dirty clothes from your room to the laundry room. Constructed of 600 denier polyester this bag will serve you well for years to come. Dimensions: 32"h x 15"w.

The cord was a cotton cord so I combined another nylon rope through it for strength.

I checked out the weight of a cubic yard of sand and I couldn’t believe it! The weight of a cubic yard of sand is “2400 lbs.”!

After straining my mind trying to figure out how to multiply and divide again, it came out that if I fill the bag up with 2‘ of sand it will weigh 384 lbs. (Pete and/or Jeepster might find an error in this, heehee!) and with it going in the hole I dig to get the sand, this should be more then enough weight to keep my SKYFORM60 in place without any problem. And being a bag, it can help carry other stuff to the site. (Note that with sand in the bag you gain a couple inches on the Dia.)

I’m feeling “Lighter” already!
(And a little safer too, because if things go to hell, which is possible in the sand as opposed to hard ground, people will be getting hit with a laundry bag instead of a bunch of steel spikes! heehee!)

Keep It Up!
Duane

[Must86]

Guru4tru, on 14 July 2011 - 04:45 PM, said:

Single Line Sand Anchor

I decided to knock some weight off my cart. I have my regular kite anchor, which consists of some 3’ and 18" steel stakes, a steel pipe with connectors on it, nylon straps and a 4 lb. sledge to hammer it all in place. With the box I carry it in it come up to 20 lbs. This is OK when I throw it on my cart, with all my other stuff, IF I’m pulling it across solid ground or shell rock, but when pulling it across uneven Florida “sugar sand” an extra 20 lbs. makes a big difference in my possible life expectancy! heehee!

cart.JPG

So, I went to Walmart and bought a reinforced canvas laundry bag for less then $10 (it was listed for $20 online):

Bag Pic.jpg

SpaceItUp Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag Yellow/Grey #7021576531A - Laundry Bags
$20.64
SpaceItUp Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag Yellow/Grey #7021576531A Sometimes you need more than a simple mesh or cotton laundry bag. That's where the Gearbox Sport Laundry Bag steps in. This heavyweight two-tone laundry bag features a draw-string closure and a full length shoulder strap to help easily get your dirty clothes from your room to the laundry room. Constructed of 600 denier polyester this bag will serve you well for years to come. Dimensions: 32"h x 15"w.

The cord was a cotton cord so I combined another nylon rope through it for strength.

I checked out the weight of a cubic yard of sand and I couldn’t believe it! The weight of a cubic yard of sand is “2400 lbs.”!

After straining my mind trying to figure out how to multiply and divide again, it came out that if I fill the bag up with 2‘ of sand it will weigh 384 lbs. (Pete and/or Jeepster might find an error in this, heehee!) and with it going in the hole I dig to get the sand, this should be more then enough weight to keep my SKYFORM60 in place without any problem. And being a bag, it can help carry other stuff to the site. (Note that with sand in the bag you gain a couple inches on the Dia.)

I’m feeling “Lighter” already!
(And a little safer too, because if things go to hell, which is possible in the sand as opposed to hard ground, people will be getting hit with a laundry bag instead of a bunch of steel spikes! heehee!)

Keep It Up!
Duane

Hey Duane,
I actually use the duffel bag that I keep my foil, laundry & lines in when I transport them to the beach. Just fill it with sand, and it weighs an unbelievable amount. Dump it out & load the gear back in when it's time to go home...
~Rob

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[Jeepster]

This posting made me smile. 1) The first picture is of you flying at Treasure Island ... and the guy in the red shirt in the background is a kite flier that I get to see each morning in the mirror. 2) I have a couple of 18" Gomberg sand anchors that I jerry-rigged as a compression sack to go to TI ... didn't realize that beach was the equivalent of concrete and the sand anchors were next to useless.

I like the idea of items having multiple functions ... great suggestion.

Cheers,
Tom

[Guru4tru]

Thanks Rob...That's good to hear!

I knew I was on the right path, but haven't heard of the duffel bag type anchor before and do to the weather, I haven't been able to try it out yet! It sure seemed more practical then steel rods in dry loose sand and easier to carry too.

That's a great looking kite...great colors! My SKYFORM60 isn't a powerful lifter by any means, so I haven't gotten into any real laundry yet, but in a good wind, 15 mph or so, it probably has enough lift to get some stuff in the air.

I suppose the guy hanging from your line is "laundry" and not you...right?!?! heehee!

Keep It Up!
Duane

[Guru4tru]

Hey Jeepster!! (I clicked off my last reply before getting yours.)

You're right!!! That "IS" you in the picture! I never noticed that before! heehee!



And you are sure right about trying to dig a hole for sand in that beach!! heehee! But, it was Great for pulling my cart over...like a macadam road!

Keep It Up!
Duane

[--Pete]

A couple of things:

1) My numbers came out slightly different. I make 15" diameter x 24" depth to be about 4240 cu-in or 1/11 of a cubic yard for 2400 / 11 = 218 pounds dry, loose sand. Filling to 32" would get you up to 288#.

2) Your figure of 2400#/cu-yd is on the LOW side. That is for loose, dry sand. If the sand is damp (3240#) or wet (3510#) you can gain a few more pounds of anchor weight. 294# (damp sand) and 319# (wet sand) for a 24" fill, and 388# (damp sand) and 420# (wet sand) for a 32" fill. You can always dump a few buckets of water into the bag after filling to add weight.

3) Is your bag able to stand the pull? I know you added a stronger drawstring, but are the seams in the bag itself strong enough to withstand several hundred pounds of pull? If I intended to load this bag as an anchor to near maximum I think I would at least make a bridle with an individual lead from the tie point to each of the eight grommets, using strong knots like bowlines to tie to the grommets. I would make the bridle from at least 500# rope.

Great idea. I like this sort of "high-sided" anchor bag. Another source for heavy duty duffle bags would be the local army-navy store for a military-style duffle bag. I think they may only have four grommets, or 3 grommets and a wire loop, however.

[Guru4tru]

Way To Go Pete!! You never fail! heehee!

You are not only very dependable, but you are very accurate too! heehee!

The diameter of the bag I used, I think, was 18" because that was the actual measurement when it had some sand in it. As I mentioned "(Note that with sand in the bag you gain a couple inches on the Dia.)" So, the original dimensions I gave you were maybe a bit misleading. (That still doesn't mean 384# is correct---I was surprised at how stupid I've become! It's good that stupidity doesn't interfere with my fun!) But even at your calculated weight, things should still be plenty fine. But...what do you get with 18"" as Dia.?

The bag sure looks strong enough and I can hang from it, but then I'm only about 160 lbs. But, that's a good point. It doesn't matter how heavy the bag is, if it's going to rip apart under stress! heehee!

Seeing how it's summer in South Florida and I need all the projects I can find to maintain my remaining sanity, I'll sew some 1' nylon strapping around the bag and then take them to a center point above the bag (maybe to a large steel ring) and attach the kite line to the straps. That should remove almost all the stress from the bag to the straps.

Thanks Pete!

Keep It Up!
Duane

[--Pete]

OK with 18" diameter:

24 inch fill with damp sand = .13 x 3240# = 421#
32 inch fill with damp sand = .17 x 3240# = 550#

A half dozen of these and you could anchor a pretty serious kite.

[Guru4tru]

--Pete, on 15 July 2011 - 06:26 AM, said:

OK with 18" diameter:

24 inch fill with damp sand = .13 x 3240# = 421#
32 inch fill with damp sand = .17 x 3240# = 550#

A half dozen of these and you could anchor a pretty serious kite.

"A half dozen of these and you can anchor the World!"

Thanks Pete! OK...I'm good at 2' with "Sundancer"!

Now...I'm off to "Jo-Ann's" (yeah, I'm seeing another woman! heehee!) I'll post again before I do anything. One thing that I've learned..."Post It Before Doing It!" because someone has already made all the mistakes possible and I don't have to make them all over again! heehee!

Keep It Up!
Duane

BTW...There is one good thing about age effecting one's mind. I'm "GUILT FREE", because I can't remember all the stupid things I've done in my life! It only adds to my fun here! heehee!

[stroke survivor]

"They" say that memory is the second thing to go, you can't remember the first!!!