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ANCHORING
The purpose for anchoring your boat is to hold your boat in a given position
on the water. Boaters should be very familiar with anchoring procedures in the
event of an emergency situation such as mechanical failure, especially if the
tide or wind starts to move your boat into shallow water, or out to sea.
Types of anchors and selection
| Illustrations |
Type of Anchor |
Advantage |
Disadvantage |
 |
Mushroom |
Small. Adequate for soft, sandy bottom |
Difficulty anchoring in rocky areas or hard bottoms |
| Fluke (Danforth) |
Most versatile of all anchors for the recreational boater |
May become fouled in rocks |
| Plow |
Strong holding power |
Heavy, large. Hold in most types of bottoms. |
Ground Tackle
Ground tackle is the anchoring equipment and consists of: rope, chain,
shackles and the anchor itself.
Never anchor from the stern
- Stern anchoring will cause the stern to be held down and quickly flood
if waves come over the stern. The bow of your boat is designed to break
through waves, not the flat stern.
- Significant property and environmental damage can occur when an
improperly anchored boat slips anchor (loses grip) and drifts into reefs,
boats, marinas, or runs aground.
- Add about 3 feet of chain between the anchor and the anchor line.
This added weight allows the anchor to settle quickly and helps the anchor
hold into the bottom. The term “rode” means that portion of the anchor line
from the boat to the anchor.
Scope
Scope is the arc of the line as it floats through the water from the boat to
where it is attached to the anchor on the bottom.
- When anchoring in areas of swift (moving) water, tidal influence, or
when the wind is blowing, you need a minimum of 7 to 10 times the amount of
line as the depth of the water you will anchor in.
- Calm water anchoring, with little or no wind effect, requires less scope
(3 – 4 times the depth of the water).
Procedures for anchoring:
Calm Water (inland lake, ponds)
- Select your anchorage. Ensure there are no underwater cables or pipes.
Avoid anchoring near power and chemical plants, military installations or
under bridges.
- From the bow, make one round turn on a cleat with the anchor line.
- Lift the anchor up and over the side and slowly lower the anchor until
it hits bottom. Pay out the line, using the cleat to help control the line
speed. Let out an additional amount of line to ensure proper scope.
- Secure the line to your bow cleat with adequate cleat hitches.
- Coil the remaining line and store it properly.
Swift Water, Tidal Waters, Oceans and Large Lakes
- Note the depth of the water.
- Move forward (upstream or into the direction of the tide or wind) and
drop anchor, allowing the line to pay out until it hits bottom.
- Pay out the additional amount of line for proper scope. The line may
automatically pay out as the boat drifts and precautions need to be taken to
ensure the lines pays out without becoming entangled.
- If needed, slowly back up until the anchor holds (the line will become
very taunt) and will generally be at a 45-degree angle to the bow.
- Secure the line to your bow cleat with a round turn and adequate cleat
hitches to secure the line.
- Coil the remaining line and store it properly.
- Note your position on the water in relation to shore structures, and
periodically check your position to ensure you at not moving. Movement
indicates the anchor has “let go”.
“Weighing” Anchor
- Move the boat forward in the direction of where you think the anchor is,
and at the same time, bring in the slack line. Keep at least one round turn
on the bow cleat. Coil the line neatly to prevent entanglement
- Once the line is tending straight up and down, pull firmly on the line
to “break free” the anchor from the bottom.
- If stuck, you can reattach the line to the bow cleat and slowly back up
the boat enough to apply force to the line to break free the anchor.
- Once aweigh, slowly raise the anchor. When you see the chain, hold the
anchor line out away from the hull to prevent the chain or anchor from
causing damage. If there is mud, raise and lower the anchor into the water
to wash it away.
- Store the anchor and line in a secure area. When you return to the dock,
or home, dry out the line.
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