When you anchor your boat, you don't want the wind and the current conspiring to change your position. To avoid the surprise and embarrassment of a dragging anchor, get to know your anchoring gear and what it can do.

Probably the most common reason for boaters failing to get their anchor well hooked is their failure to understand how the anchor works. The angle of the pull on the rode has the most important impact on whether a boat is likely to stay put. The anchor rode consists of the anchor, chain and line. The angle of pull is determined by how much anchor line is out.

The United States Power Squadron suggests a ratio of 7:1. That means for every foot from the deck of the boat to the water's bottom, you must have seven feet of anchor line. An example would be if your vessel is in 10 feet of water and the deck of your bow is three feet from the water, you would let out 91 feet of anchor line (10 plus 3) times 7 = 91. What you would like to do is have the anchor pull in a horizontal direction. If the angle becomes more than 25 degrees, the anchor probably won't hold properly.

A length of galvanized chain aids in keeping the anchor rode horizontal. While some larger boats use all chain, it would be impractical on a small boat because of the weight of stored chain. Three-stranded nylon anchor line is almost exclusively used because of its elasticity.

The process of anchoring should begin with a look at the relevant chart to determine the water's depth and characteristics of the bottom. The first step is to drop the anchor, never heave it. Pay out the line with the vessel headed into the wind or tide and cleat hitch it on the bow. To check if the anchor is holding, back the boat down in idle speed. This will let you know if the anchor is set. Anchoring is usually a two-person procedure. A set of hand signals should be worked out for setting and retrieving the anchor.

Picking a spot in an anchorage is important. You must take into consideration your distance from other boats which are anchored. Remember, your boat can rotate 360 degrees.

To retrieve your anchor, the person pulling the anchor points in the direction of the anchor line while the helmsman slowly powers the boat in that direction. Once the boat is directly over the hook, if the retriever cannot easily pull the anchor aboard, he should tie the line to the deck, cleat and have the boat slowly pull forward. Now the anchor can usually be lifted aboard.

Take a Boat Smart course offered by the Cape Coral Power Squadron. Learn about anchoring and more. The power squadron is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday at 917 S.E. 47th Terrace.

For more details, call 549-9754.


— Bill Jefferson was a former commander of the Cape Coral Power Squadron.