How To Anchor A Boat

Safe and proper anchoring is a basic boating skill that anyone heading out to sea on their own vessel should understand. There are many reasons to anchor your boat; you may be out on the water and want to stop to eat, fish, rest, or swim and to prevent the boat from drifting you will need to anchor it.  If you find yourself out on the water in bad weather or you have a problem with the engine, you will need to anchor the vessel so you do not run aground. While it may seem simple, anchoring your boat must be done properly in order to avoid many serious problems.

 

Before you throw out the anchor, be sure that your anchor, chains, shackles, and warps are all of an appropriate size and strength for your boat. If you are not sure about what strength you need, check your vessel’s manufacturer’s recommendations. The anchor and anchor line should be connected with a strong galvanized chain that is at least as long as the boat itself. Also, if you are going to anchor near other boats, take note of how they are positioned so that you are free and clear of their range of movement.

 

When you are ready to anchor, point the bow of your boat towards the wind or the current, whichever is exerting a stronger force. Once you are properly positioned, switch the engine to neutral and wait to come to a stop. Then you can lower the anchor, but do so slowly and carefully. Throwing your anchor is never a good idea; it can easily get tangled. After the anchor is in place, back away from it slightly with the boat in idle reverse to help set the position firmly. You should notice a few points of reference once you are securely anchored and check them frequently to be sure that you are not drifting.