It’s sad but true, that many newbie boaters don’t quite understand the importance of properly anchoring a boat.
Some (especially those without any formal training in boating) seem to think that boats are just like cars, and the boat will just simply stay where they’re parked. Other boaters don’t bother to anchor because the waters are calm. There are even those who think that it’s enough to throw the anchor anywhere, and that’s all they need to do.
But anchoring a boat isn’t that simple. The anchor doesn’t magically hold your boat’s position. There’s a reason for some rules, such as that you never tie off your anchor to the stern of your boat.
Why Anchor Your Boat, and Why Do It Properly?
There are plenty of good reasons why you’d want to anchor your boat properly.
- If you’re taking a swim or a dive, then you’d want the boat to stay where it is while you’re doing your swimming.
- The same’s true when you’re taking a nap.
- You don’t want to bump into another boat overnight.
- Boats can capsize when not anchored properly.
Proper Terminology
The following guide can be a bit complicated for those with no inkling as to what some words mean. To make sure that we’re all on the same page, here’s a quick glossary guide:
- Bow. Forward part of the boat
- Stern. Back of the boat
- Rode. The anchor cable
- Scope.The length of the rode, in relation to the depth of the water
Calculating the Scope
This is actually an important part of anchoring. What you have to realize is that you don’t want your rode to pull on the anchor upward. You want the pull to be as horizontal as possible. You’re more likely to break out the anchor when the rode is pulling on it upward.
That’s why you want a much longer rode in relation to the depth of the water. That way, you have enough leeway that a lot of the rod is lying horizontal on the water. This is also why some anchor cables are made with chain (or at least the bottom part of the rode), which are much heavier than rope.
- The depth of the water should take into account the placement of the bow roller. If you know that the water depth is 6 feet, but your bow roller is 4 feet over the water, then you’re effectively dealing with a depth of 10 feet.
- The minimum scope should be at least 5:1. That’s 5 feet of rode to every foot of water depth.
- If you have room, then it’s better to get the scope up to 7:1.
- You may want to use a length of chain that’s at least 20 feet long between the line and the anchor, to keep the rode down and horizontal.
Boat Anchoring Basics
These are the steps you should take to anchor your boat properly.
- If it’s possible, pick an area where it’s well-protected from waves and you have lots of room. The water depth should be acceptable and the bottom is either sandy or muddy.
- Find out the exact water depth, using a depth finder.
- Prepare enough scope.
- Slowly head into the current or wind to a position upcurrent or upwind of where you really want to end up in. Stop the boat there.
- Lower the anchor slowly over the bow. You don’t want to anchor your fishing boat over the stern because that lets waves hit your stern. Remember, your stern is square and the weight of the motor adds to the problem. The boat can swamp as a result.
- After you’ve let out enough scope, gradually back the boat away down current or downwind.
- Secure your rope to the bow cleat.
- Apply a bit of power in reverse to help secure the anchor in position. Pull on the anchor line to make sure you’ve set the anchor.
Is Your Anchor Dragging?
If the anchor is dragging on the ocean floor, then it’s not doing its job. To find out whether it’s dragging or not, you can use electronics like GPS or your depth finder to sound an alarm if your boat is actually moving too much.
You should constantly check your position, especially if you’re anchoring your boat overnight. If the anchor is dragging, then you’ll have to reset it. Repeat the anchoring steps until the anchor sets properly.
How to Retrieve Your Anchor
When you need to raise your anchor so you can travel once more with your boat, here are the steps you need to take.
- Pull in the rode while you slowly motor towards the anchor.
- The anchor should pull free once you’re directly over the anchor. This is again proof of why you want a horizontal pull on the anchor, and not an upward pull when you’re setting the anchor.
- If the anchor seems stuck and it won’t pull up free easily, slowly turn the boat in a large circle. This will change the direction of the pull on the anchor.
- You can also try to pull the cable taut, when the bow dips in the bottom of a wave. When the next wave hits, it will lift the boat and may help lift the anchor free.
Conclusion
Anchoring your boat is actually a skill, and not just some chore that you can just overlook. It doesn’t matter if the water is calm and the weather is good. The weather and the water can be very unpredictable.
You don’t want to take a swim and suddenly find your boat drifting farther away!
The good news is that it’s a skill you can easily master. Just keep in mind that proper anchoring isn’t simply an annoying chore you can forget about every now and then. It’s just another crucial part of having a boat in your life!