How to Use a Boat Anchor
Anchoring makes a day on a boat more enjoyable, whether you you want to have a waterborne picnic or just let the boat rock you into a summer afternoon nap. The weight of the anchor and the anchor line or "anchor rode" piled up on the bottom keep the vessel in place by absorbing the motion of a wave or a gust of wind, then pulling the boat back into place like a spring. Anchoring can also make recreational boating more economical by giving the boat owner an alternative to expensive docking fees when mooring near shore.
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Instructions
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How to Use a Boat Anchor
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Determine the depth of the water. Effective anchoring requires you to let out anchor line that's 5 to 7 times the depth of the water in length, i.e. if the depth of the water is 10 feet, the length of the anchor line put over the side should be 50-70 feet.
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2
Clear the anchor away from its anchor line. This will prevent fouling the line as it sinks to bottom and also prevent kinks in the line. Kinks reduce the line length or could potentially even cost you a lost anchor. Have a clear space to launch the anchor. Do not stand on the line or in the coil of the anchor line. The anchor may only weigh 20 pounds, but a 20-pound weight wrapped around your leg can trip you and haul you over the side easily.
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3
Make sure there's enough "swing room" around the boat. Even if you deploy your anchor with the line straight up and down, the movement of the water or wind will pull the boat away from that position in the direction the water or wind is moving. When anchored, you don't want to bump into other boats or obstructions like bridge pilings or shore, so allow for this swing room.
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To raise the anchor, take the boat to the anchor, not vice versa. If you're by yourself, you can row or motor up to the location, tie the anchor line off near your operator's station, then haul the line up.
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Tips & Warnings
If the anchor is stuck on the bottom, secure the line to cleats and pull the boat forward while keeping the line clear of the propeller. This will dislodge the anchor's flukes. Remember, the boat can generate more pulling power than your muscles, so let the boat do the work. Choose the right size anchor for your boat. Use the anchor that came with the boat or ask your local boat dealer.
Secure the anchor line to a cleat or bits near the bow or stern of the boat with a figure 8 wrap versus a knot. Securing a single anchor admidships invites capsizing.
