Many recreational boaters seem to think all that’s involved in anchoring your boat is to simply toss the thing over and tie it off. Then is you wait about 20 minutes you will see them doing it again and again for the rest of the day.
A little bit of planning and understanding so some of the fundamentals to anchoring like, how the scope off the anchor line affects it’s holding power, would prevent much of this extra work.
Anchors come is a variety of styles and that’s a topic unto it self. Today I want to talk about some basic anchoring techniques.
Step 1:
You will need to survey conditions and your surroundings. Pontoon boaters should pay particular attention to the wind and current and their interrelationship. If you have the space available place your vessel in idle and watch as these two forces work on you boat. This will give you a reasonable idea of how your boat will act once you have anchored your vessel.
You will also need to consider your neighbors. A vessel that is already at anchor has claim to that spot in a 360 degree circle around his anchor. Remember, large vessel will swing in a larger radius than smaller ones because they tend to have more line/chain out.
One last thing to consider is the bottom type. Try to avoid reefs and other submerged obstacles. Refer to your chart and depth finder to be sure that your vessel will not drag into them once the engines are off.
Step 2:
Now it time to send your crew member forward. You should instructor them on how much line to remove from the locker and have them coil it on the deck. I have my line marked in 25 ft. intervals.
It’s all about the scope…
For example, in you are anchoring in ideal conditions, light wind and current, you could use a scope of 5:1. The scope is the ratio between how many feet on line you let out per foot of water depth. In the example if you were going to another in 6 feet of water you would need to let out 30 feet of line. All anchors are must effective if the anchor line and chain are at an 8% angle to the bottom or less. It’s generally accepted that an 8:1 scope will work in almost all weather condition. If you expect foul weather 10:1 is the rule of thumb.
Remind your mate to slowly lower the anchor into the water when you give the command.
Tying off the anchor to the stern or amidships could lead to swamping or capsizing of your vessel and I do not recommend it.
Step 3:
Very slowly turn into the current or wind…depending on conditions, and slowly move into position.
Once you are in the spot stop all forward motion by using a little reverse gear. You do not want any head way when lowering the anchor.
Instruct your mate to lower the anchor. Be sure that they let it out hand over hand and do not allow the line to slide threw their hands. Rope burns are nasty!
Once I know the anchor is on the bottom I like to use just a little reverse gear again as I instruct the mate to allow the need line out. I also like my mate to call out when a 25 ft. marker on the line goes out. Once you have enough line out tie it off.
Step 4:
Now with the anchor on the bottom and the engine in idle you still have one final task. Pick an object on the shoreline. For example a Water Tower, House, etc. and watch it. See if the angle from you to the object on shore changes. If it does your pulling anchor and will need to start the process over…If not have fun!
These just a few basics….anchoring is an art that you need to practice to become proficient.
A little bit of planning and understanding so some of the fundamentals to anchoring like, how the scope off the anchor line affects it’s holding power, would prevent much of this extra work.
Anchors come is a variety of styles and that’s a topic unto it self. Today I want to talk about some basic anchoring techniques.
Step 1:
You will need to survey conditions and your surroundings. Pontoon boaters should pay particular attention to the wind and current and their interrelationship. If you have the space available place your vessel in idle and watch as these two forces work on you boat. This will give you a reasonable idea of how your boat will act once you have anchored your vessel.
You will also need to consider your neighbors. A vessel that is already at anchor has claim to that spot in a 360 degree circle around his anchor. Remember, large vessel will swing in a larger radius than smaller ones because they tend to have more line/chain out.
One last thing to consider is the bottom type. Try to avoid reefs and other submerged obstacles. Refer to your chart and depth finder to be sure that your vessel will not drag into them once the engines are off.
Step 2:
Now it time to send your crew member forward. You should instructor them on how much line to remove from the locker and have them coil it on the deck. I have my line marked in 25 ft. intervals.
It’s all about the scope…
For example, in you are anchoring in ideal conditions, light wind and current, you could use a scope of 5:1. The scope is the ratio between how many feet on line you let out per foot of water depth. In the example if you were going to another in 6 feet of water you would need to let out 30 feet of line. All anchors are must effective if the anchor line and chain are at an 8% angle to the bottom or less. It’s generally accepted that an 8:1 scope will work in almost all weather condition. If you expect foul weather 10:1 is the rule of thumb.
Remind your mate to slowly lower the anchor into the water when you give the command.
Tying off the anchor to the stern or amidships could lead to swamping or capsizing of your vessel and I do not recommend it.
Step 3:
Very slowly turn into the current or wind…depending on conditions, and slowly move into position.
Once you are in the spot stop all forward motion by using a little reverse gear. You do not want any head way when lowering the anchor.
Instruct your mate to lower the anchor. Be sure that they let it out hand over hand and do not allow the line to slide threw their hands. Rope burns are nasty!
Once I know the anchor is on the bottom I like to use just a little reverse gear again as I instruct the mate to allow the need line out. I also like my mate to call out when a 25 ft. marker on the line goes out. Once you have enough line out tie it off.
Step 4:
Now with the anchor on the bottom and the engine in idle you still have one final task. Pick an object on the shoreline. For example a Water Tower, House, etc. and watch it. See if the angle from you to the object on shore changes. If it does your pulling anchor and will need to start the process over…If not have fun!
These just a few basics….anchoring is an art that you need to practice to become proficient.
No comments:
Post a Comment