Knowing how to anchor a boat is an important seamanship skill. Review anchor types, systems and terminology at Boating and Sailing.
Learning to safety anchor your boat is an important and fundamental skill of seamanship that every mariner needs to master. The ability to anchor correctly opens up a number of options for boaters. The ability moor safely at night, spotting your boat at just the right fishing spot and slowing down to reconsider your options all come from the ability to firmly set a anchor. Anchors and anchor gear (ground tackle) should be part of every boat's equipment complement. A boat without an anchor has two options following a mechanical problem; it can wash ashore in a possibly inopportune location or slowly drift out to sea. Neither choice is an attractive alternative.
Anchor Types - Effective anchoring depends on having a working knowledge of anchor types, ground tackle, anchor terminology, and guidelines for anchoring. Anchors should thought of a system. Without each correct component in place, an anchor is not effective. There are many types of anchors designed for varied bottom conditions and boat size. Some anchors are appropriate holding in sand or silt and others for rocky bottoms. Visiting the West Marineanchor and docking page will give an idea of the varied options available for a boater. Common anchors for recreational boats include Danforth, Single Fluke, Plow, Grapnel and Mushroom types.
Anchor Rode - The connection between the anchor and boat is called the rode. Most boaters use a combination of chain and line to make this connection. Chain is used at the anchor end of the rode. If you look at any anchor, the portion of it that attaches to the rode is called the stock. Most anchors will not hold if the stock lifts off the bottom. The exception is the mushroom anchor that holds mainly as a function of gravity, it depends on weight to hold a boat. A length of chain attached to the anchor stock will help keep it laying parallel to the seabed as boat about moves about. The second part of the rode is typically a piece of nylon line. Nylon line is relatively inexpensive and adsorbs shock well. It stores well and enjoys a long service life if not exposed to chemicals or prolonged sunlight.
Anchor Scope - Perhaps a key piece of advice for every boater is that they ensure each end of the rode is attached to the boat and anchor as appropriate. There are many of us that have pitched an anchor over, only to watch it painfully sink out sight and never be seen again. It's an especially expensive mistake to make on larger vessels. The length of the rode played out is called the scope. If you think about the goal of keeping the anchor down in the mud, you quickly see more scope is better. Sailors measure scope as a ratio, the length of the rode compared to the depth of the anchor. In calm weather, a scope of 5:1 is sufficient. Placing an anchor in 50 feet of water and using 250 feet of rode would equate to a 5:1 scope. Normal anchoring situations call for a 7:1 scope and boaters should consider up to a scope of 10:1 in heavy weather.
Now that you have an understanding of properly anchoring a boat, it is time to review how to set and retrieve the anchor.
