Boat Anchoring Tips

I have been living near the coast line for a long time and it never ceases amaze me just how many “so called boaters” don’t know how to properly anchor their boats. This would be very amusing if it wasn’t for the fact that it can be also very dangerous.
Anchoring a boat is actually one of the most basic skills associated with boating, which may be one of the reasons why people take it for granted. It seems so simple that many people don’t even think about it. They take for granted that all you do is drop it overboard and that’s it. Although it is simple, there are a few things that you should know before heading out on the water so I would like to offer you a few basic tips that can help.
Boat anchoring tips:
• Position your boat correctly by making sure it’s not sideways with the waves when you drop anchor. The boat needs to be pointed into the waves so it can ride them. Otherwise, it’s possible for the boat to capsize, especially when it gets rough.
• Use the right type of anchor for anchoring off the Florida shores or it won’t hook correctly and your boat won’t be secure. It would be a good idea to take the time to learn about the different types of anchors.
• Match the weight of the anchor with the size of the vessel. If you’re not sure what this is, you can always check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Pay attention to the wind because it will make a difference in the anchoring technique you need to use.
Boat anchoring may not be that complicated but when done incorrectly, it can do a lot of damage to the vessel in question and the ones in the nearby area. Here is what I recommend to anyone heading out on the beautiful Florida waters. Learn how to drop your anchor the right way before you end up finding out first hand just how much damage it can do.

Tags: anchor, anchoring, boar, boat, proper, tie, up, your

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Comment by Gilbert Steinfort on February 21, 2012 at 8:41pm: Step 1: Which anchor. Your best reference is Chapman's. Most small boats use a lightweight, which was known as a Danforth, and is still called that even though the Danforth patent expired years ago. This is a good all around anchor that holds well in most bottoms. It does not do well in heavy grass, and will not hold at all on a hard bottom. A CQR may work better in grass, but how many anchors are you going to carry on your small boat?

Step 2: How much chain? More is better than less. Considering that one will most likely deploy at least 50 ft of rode, why not fit 40 ft of chain? Ten or twenty feet is better than four feet, and four feet is ridiculous.

Step 3: Select you anchorage. Study the chart. Check the wind and current. Check the depth and decide on the amount of rode to achieve scope of at least 5:1. Be sure to allow swinging room. See what the other boats in the anchorage are doing.

Step 4: Anchoring. Approach your chosen spot into the wind and/or current. Bring the boat to a stop at the desired spot and have the crew lower (not throw) the anchor. Keep the rode under control with a turn around a cleat, especially if it is blowing. If the wind and/or current is light, one may need to idle in reverse to move back from the anchor and let the rode pay out.

Step 5: Set the anchor. The wind may do it for you, or it may be necessary to apply power in reverse. Too much power will not work, as the anchor, at this point, is just laying on the bottom, and jerking on it with too much power will just cause it to skip along the bottom.

Step 6: Is the anchor set? Take bearing or establish a range on each beam, and observe as the boat swings. If it swings back and forth two or more times, without changing the bearing or range, the anchor is probably set.

Comment by Jerry on January 9, 2010 at 7:42pm: Anchor retrival ball is a God send. Best thing I have purchased!

Comment by Capt Jay Masters on January 7, 2010 at 3:37am: Great Points Lisa.
If under a 28 ft boat if you are ever anchored and the wind and seas pick up and you can't pull the anchor DO NOT hesitate to cut it lose and come in. You don't want to be pinned down with a anchor and in rough seas and never tie it to a back cleat on the boat to break it lose unless you have a knife in your hand to cut it loses. If your engine stalls you can be swamped with waves over the back or a large way or swell comes and the back is pinned down the stern will not lift up and waves will come in and it only takes one. I have cut many of anchor lines in my days. This was a mistake the baseball players made unfortunately.

Comment by Matt on December 21, 2009 at 12:03pm: Great points guys, it is amazing so many boaters overlook these point and just "throw one in"

Comment by Capt. Tim Altman on December 2, 2009 at 6:00pm: You go Lisa!!

Comment by Lisa on December 2, 2009 at 2:58pm: Great additional points, Henry. Thanks so much!

Comment by Henry on December 2, 2009 at 2:55pm: In addition to these points, make sure the proper lenth of anchor line, "Rode" , is onboard for depth of waters being traveled, which is 5 to 7 times the waters depth. Also the chain on most anchors, is nearly as important
as the anchor itself, so make sure an appropriate lenth and size is with the anchor. There are two factors to
consider when anchoring, current and wind, both determine your drift. If you have a chartplotter, you can mark
a position, allow your self to drift without power, and thus establish your overall drift. Then, simply anchor at
a recipricol point. Winds and currents change, so this must be monitored. There are laws, as well as common
as to where to anchor, and where not. A anchor ball (black sphere) displayed serves the same purpose as an
anchor (all around) light at night, when anchored around busy waterways. Finally, when retrieving, if you do not
have a windlass to retrieve the anchor, and the waters are more than river depth, such as offshore, an anchor
retrieval ball is a back saver.

Henry
Wile E Coyote