Step-by-step Guide

Boat anchoring is an important and basic skill to learn if you want to boat. The essence of this skill cannot be understated, as it serves many purposes. Knowing how to use an anchor can save you from troubles and keep you safe during your boating experience. Suppose your boat breaks down or your engine suddenly stops working, you will have to anchor your boat such that the boat can remain stable.

An anchor will prevent your boat from being swayed by wind or any other factor that may derail it. If you also have to journey over the night and you need to lock down your boat, you can do this with an anchor. The anchor will hold your boat down for hours before you continue your boating.

It is crucial to learn the basics of anchoring and that’s what will happen here. By knowing these basics, you cannot be stranded and not know how to go about it. But firstly, what are the types of anchors there are.

Types Of Anchor

The highly common anchor is the fluke anchor.

The fluke anchor: The fluke anchor is common because of its high holding power which makes it one of the best to hold a ship down. It is adequate for small and medium-sized boats. The anchor also doesn’t consume storage space, thereby making it easy to use. The fluke anchor works effectively with a sand bottom. However, it is not the best with a rocky bottom. This is an anchor type you can use with your boat if it’s small or medium.

The Plow-style anchor: The second common anchor is the plow-style, which is perfect for heavy boats. It is strong and durable for heavy-duty activities. It has high holding power through which it can effectively and firmly hold your large boat down during the periods you need it. The anchor also resets itself. The anchor doesn’t fold and it has a weight that is heavier than the fluke anchor.

When you’re out to get an anchor for your boat, you can use the anchor guidance to determine the anchor that’s best suited for your boat. This will ensure that you get the anchor that will deliver effective results for your boat when you need it. It will be counter-productive if you get a fluke anchor for a heavy boat, as the anchor might not possess enough power to hold the boat down.

How To Set An Anchor

The first thing you need to do is to determine the depth of the water. If you do not do this, you might be throwing in your anchor to the wrong place. If your anchor must perform effectively, you’ll need to know the depth of the water so that you know how to introduce the anchor into the water. Essentially, knowing the depth allows you to know the right anchor scope.

The preferable ratio scope you should use is 7:1. It is safe and preferable because it almost always does the job.

After releasing the right scope, tie the anchor to the boat cleat. Following this, you should apply power, but in reverse to adequately set the anchor at the bottom.