I'm the guy that didn’t heed the warning to never anchor by the stern. Sure, I’d heard the warning plenty of times, but nobody ever told me why. After all, it seemed so convenient, and that cleat on the port quarter was in the perfect spot. Oh yeah, this'll be fine. Or so I thought. Fortunately I was one of the lucky ones and didn’t lose the boat. I’ve since learned that anchoring by the stern has caused many boats – small boats especially – to capsize and sink. The reason is that the transom is usually squared off and has less freeboard than the bow. Plus the stern may be carrying the added weight of a motor, fuel tank, passengers and gear brought on board. In a strong current, that added weight and the force of the water could pull the stern under. Anchoring at the stern also makes the boat vulnerable to swamping by wave action. Boaters make a lot of anchoring mistakes and it’s a matter of debate as to which occur most often. Just ask the guy who threw his anchor over the side without first attaching it to the line. Or the guy who fumbled the anchor and punched a hole in the bottom of his boat. Or the one that simply dropped it on his foot. All would agree that boat operators should be very careful when anchoring their boat. I will argue that the most important thing to remember is never to anchor from the stern – although I must admit that tossing your anchor in the drink without first attaching it to the boat will make you feel pretty foolish. That reminds me; keeping a spare anchor on board is not a bad idea either. Easy Anchoring Knowing how to anchor safely is an important seamanship skill that every boat operator needs to master. There are certainly going to be times when you’ll want to stop in a sheltered spot for swimming, fishing, lunch, or an overnight stay. But in bad weather, or if you experience engine failure, the only alternative to setting the anchor may be washing ashore or drifting out to sea. Anchoring is an easy task if you follow these guidelines: 1. Location: Choose an Area Clear of Boats and Underwater Obstacles. 2. Lower the Anchor Slowly 3. Keep Tension in the Anchor Rode 4. Setting the Anchor 5. Weighing Anchor Know which anchor you’ll need… There are anchors for every type of bottom and purpose: for rocks and heavy grasses, sand and mud, and for permanent moorings. When deciding which is right for your boat, consider the type and weight of your vessel, the average depth of the water, the strength of the wind and/or current, the diameter of the anchor line and, most important, the bottom characteristics in the area you are boating. _Common Types of Anchors: ** The Danforth anchor **(A) is lightweight and holds well in mud and sand, as well as rocky bottoms, if set carefully. Many recreational boaters prefer the Plow anchor (B) because it demonstrates superior holding on most bottoms, including grass and weeds. The Plow does not hold well on rocky bottoms, however. The Mushroom anchor (C) buries well and holds best in sand or mud, but may be difficult to retrieve. It is often used for anchoring mooring buoys. The Bruce or claw anchor (D) was developed originally for offshore oil and gas drilling rigs. It’s a good burying type and holds well in sandy bottoms and mud. The Navy or Admiralty type (E) is an old reliable and familiar to most people, but can be awkward to stow on board. The Grapnel (F) is small and easy to stow, which makes it a frequent choice for small vessels and open boats. The flukes are not particularly strong, however. _ ….and how much line Calculate the amount of anchor line you will need to let out. The general rule is five to seven times as much line as the depth of water plus the distance from the surface of the water to where the anchor will attach to the bow. * * * * * The U.S. Coast Guard is asking all boat owners and operators to help reduce fatalities, injuries, property damage, and associated healthcare costs related to recreational boating accidents by taking personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their passengers. Essential steps include: wearing a life jacket at all times and requiring passengers to do the same; never boating under the influence (BUI); successfully completing a boating safety course; and getting a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) annually from local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, United States Power Squadrons(r), or your state boating agency's Vessel Examiners. The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters to "Boat Responsibly!" For more tips on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.
Follow these steps to anchor your boat.
cleat Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened downcurrent In the direction the current is flowing downwind In the direction the wind is blowing upcurrent In the direction that is against the current upwind In the direction that is against the wind |