Choosing a Safe Anchorage

Criteria for Selection of a Secure Anchoring Location

Jan 2, 2008 Alan Sorum

Here are a few suggestions and criteria on how to select a safe and secure location to anchor your vessel.

Many anchorages have predetermined positions and are shown on nautical charts. If a boater doesn't have specific direction from a chart or harbor authority on the location of a suitable anchorage, there are some criteria available that will make choosing a location safer and more rational. The Coastal Pilot series of publications include information on local anchorages available to boaters.

Anchorage Selection Criteria - These are a few hints on how to select a safe anchorage for your boat:

Ample Water Depth - Choose a location that provides adequate water depths through all stages of the tide. An area that is too deep will allow the anchor to drag and an area too shallow poses the risk of going aground.
Good Bottom Structure - Try to pick bottom structure that best suits your anchor gear. Clay or mud bottoms are often the best choice. Avoid rocky areas that will hang up your anchor.
Nearby Navigational Hazards - Avoid anchoring near known navigational hazards. If an anchor drags, your vessel will be that much closer to danger.
Location to Adjacent Vessels - As possible, try to anchor away from other vessels. This will reduce potential incidents arising from an anchor dragging or accessing the anchorage.
Proximity to Other Traffic - Anchor outside and away from traffic lanes and vessel movement areas. The risk of collision will greatly be reduced.
Shelter from Weather - Pick an area that is sheltered from the wind and strong currents.
Available Navigational Aids - Choose an anchorage that has several navigational aids available to it. These could be prominent landmarks, lighted navigation buoys or lights.
Room to Swing - Pick an anchoring site that allows sufficient room for your boat to swing on its rode. Many boaters calculate a drag circle based on the length of their vessel and rode deployed. Using this information, a position fix can be taken periodically or an alarm set on electronic navigation equipment to warn of a dragging anchor.

Nautical publications often have useful information on the locations of suitable anchorages. Local knowledge is always valuable and it is worth talking with local sailors when researching potential anchorages. Practice effective anchoring skills before needing to anchor under adverse circumstances. When an anchor drags, it is usually in the deep of night and the crew's response might be delayed in re-securing the wayward boat.

The copyright of the article Choosing a Safe Anchorage in Boating & Sailing is owned by Alan Sorum. Permission to republish Choosing a Safe Anchorage in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Plow anchor ready for use