By Biff Matthews, for the Washington Daily News

Anchoring a boat, like backing a trailer, is a skill perfected through practice. In 30 years of boating, other boaters surprise me by never thinking of spending the night on the hook. My wife and I have spent many a relaxing weekend safe and secure on the hook.

Anchoring is an art that anyone can learn. Anchoring includes several factors that you control particularly how you equip your boat for anchoring then choosing the right place.

Anchoring factors are:

Bottom type

Anchor type and weight

Anchor line and length

Anchor rode make up

Water depth and wave height

Wind speed and direction

Future weather

Shelter from the wind and waves

 

Depending on your boat and the sea floor conditions may require more than one anchor configuration. For instance, our 41’ powerboat carries three anchor configurations. Our 11’ inflatable dinghy has one.

Boat length determines specifications for creating your anchoring system. A West Marine catalog or other boat-outfitting book outlines those specifications.

Erring on the side of safety, up-size anchoring components as you do docking components. A winch, however, may restrict up sizing. If your boat has a winch, confirm its size is correct for the size of your boat.

OK, to anchor easily, face the boat into the wind. Come to a full stop or maintain just enough power to counter wind and wave to hold position. Check your depth. You need a 7 to 1 ratio, 7’ of line or rode for every 1’ of depth. So, 20’ deep requires a minimum of 140’ of rode. Remember to add the height of the bow above the water to the depth in calculating rode. So another 3’ water to bow, lay out 161’ of rode. In tight anchorages some boaters will deploy 5 to 1 and 10 to 1 in marginal conditions.

Boat stores sell markers for line length. Or mark your anchor line length with polyester clothing dye or weave colored polyester string or yarn into the line at 25’ intervals. Make a chart of the color change by length such as red for 25’, blue – 50’, green – 75’ and black -100’, etc.

Deploy the anchor, laying out line quickly but not tangled. Let the boat drift back, do not power back, continuing to layout line until you have 161’ out. Secure the line to a cleat. NEVER use the winch to hold the boat at anchor! When the anchor catches, the boat will abruptly stop.

Feel the line. If you feel vibration, the anchor is dragging. Pull forward a few yards taking in line, then lay out the line, drifting back, again checking for vibration. If still vibrating, haul in the anchor to start over. Once the anchor catches, let the boat settle. At idle, briefly engage the transmission in reverse to bury or set the anchor. You’re anchored.

At anchor your boat, like others, will swing in unison with changes in wind direction. When you all swing will you collide with another boat or someone with your boat? Lengthening the rode can fix that or pull up anchor, moving to a better location.

The factors above determine your recommended anchor and configuration. A Danforth anchor is the most versatile for a wide range of bottom conditions.

Practical Sailor regularly tests boating equipment, anchors, for example for holding power. The Fortress brand Danforth anchor repeatedly rates best overall. Anchor comparison in West Marine’s catalog and other outfitting books guide in selecting the right anchor for each person’s anchoring factors.

For anchoring in the Pamlico and adjacent areas a length of chain connected to three strand twisted nylon is the best rig. Use a length of chain 1/3 the length of the boat. Remember the 7 to 1 rode ratio, connect the chain to line 12 times the maximum expected depth of your anchorages. That added length of line is extra protection and depth changes.

For more boating safety and education, including a free Anchoring Seminar on May 24th, visit your local Power Squadron web site at http://www.pamlicosailandpowersquadron.org or contact Tom at 252-946-7632 or tomgraham@suddenlink.net to register for any boating classes or seminars

Biff Matthews is a member of the Pamlico Sail and Power Squadron.