Whether you’ve recently bought your very own boat and want to learn how to correctly anchor it so that you can have the peace of mind that it’s not going to get lost, or you simply want to brush up and make sure that your anchoring skills are the best that they can be.
Following the proper technique while anchoring is extremely important.
Besides being a fundamental skill that all boat owners need to have, proper anchoring will be able to ensure that your boat does not float away when you’re done using it.
On top of that, proper anchoring will also provide you with the opportunity to take your boat out on day trips, and even enjoy a trip away to a new city. The only question is, what’s the proper technique?
If you’ve already begun to research tips and techniques on how to anchor your boat, you might have discovered that most instructions and advice out there is complicated and long-winded, but this is where we come in to lend you a helping hand.
Below, we’re going to be providing you with simple instructions on how to correctly anchor your boat, as well as provide you with some additional tips to ensure you’re prepared for any situation. Let’s begin.
How To Properly Anchor Your Boat: Step-By-Step-Instructions
First things first, we’re going to be talking you through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions that will teach you how to quickly (and correctly) anchor your boat – no matter where you are.
Measure the water :– First things first, you’re going to want to begin the process of anchoring your boat by first taking a few moments to accurately measure the depth of the water that you are in.
It is very important that you make sure to measure the depth of the water that your boat is going to be anchored in, as this will ensure that you are able to accurately understand what scope you will need.
Determine the scope ratio: Once you have done this, you will then need to determine the scope ratio, and more often than not this will need to be at least 5:1, although we do recommend aiming for around 7:1.
To give you a better understanding of what we mean by this, if you were to follow the optimal 7:1 scope ratio, it means that you would need to let out 7 feet of road for each 1 foot of water that you are in.
This will then mean that there will be far less strain on your boat’s anchor once it has been cast into the water, and will in turn lower the chances of the anchor becoming tilted off-balance.
Tie your anchor to the cleat: After you have sorted the scope ratio out, the next step will be to tie your anchor into the cleat of your bow. Once you have done this, you will then be ready to drop your anchor down into the water, so that it can nestle safely at the bottom of the seafloor.
Drop the anchor into the water: When you’re ready, you can then proceed to the final step – which is dropping the anchor into the water. Gently drop the anchor and give it time to reach the bottom of the seafloor.
Once you feel as though enough time has passed, double-check that the anchor isn’t moving before leaving your boat unattended, as the last thing you want to happen is to come back the next day and discover that your boat has drifted away.
Anchoring Top Tips:
So, now that we have talked you through all of the step-by-step instructions you need to follow to ensure that you properly anchor your boat, we are now going to be sharing some additional tips and tricks that will ensure you’re prepared for even the trickiest of anchoring situations.
Read on to check them out!
1. If Space Is Limited, Opt For Extra Chain
As we’re sure you’re already well aware, when it comes to anchoring the more space you have the better.
However, whether you share a small anchorage with other boat owners or you like to go off on day trips, the amount of space that you’re going to get in an anchorage can often be unpredictable – so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re prepared in the event that you don’t have a lot of wiggle room.
For this reason, if you don’t have a lot of room to properly anchor your boat, we recommend that you take an additional 15-20 feet of chain to your anchor rope, as this will help to prevent your anchor from becoming unbalanced.
2. Be Careful While Retrieving
Even though it’s important to make sure that you’re properly anchoring your boat, it’s also important to make sure that you are correctly retrieving your anchor, too.
While you are retrieving your anchor, it is very important to make sure that you are, under no circumstances, attempting to retrieve from the back of your boat, as this might cause your boat to become submerged – especially if you have a very heavy anchor!
It is also important to never use your boat’s engine to try and dislodge a stuck anchor, as this could cause your engine to become damaged.
3. Double Check That The Anchor Has Landed Effectively On The Seafloor
After you have tied your anchor to the cleat of the bow and you’re ready to drop it down into the water, we highly recommend that you take a few moments to double-check whether or not the anchor has effectively been anchored.
To do this, gently tug on the rope that the anchor has been attached to, and if you feel a firm resistance to the tug, then this means that the anchor has been successfully logged onto the seafloor.
To be safe, you could also wait a few moments to see if your boat drifts, as this will be a clear indication of whether or not the anchor has been successfully anchored.
