For first time boat owners, there are a load of new skills that you're going to have to learn and master. From steering your boat, to parking in a slip, to maintaining all of your vessel's parts, it's definitely no simple task to take on the responsibility of boating. But of all the skills you're going to learn, anchoring might be one of the slightly more technical ones.
Anchoring your boat takes more than just tossing the anchor and anchor line into the waves and being done with it. On the contrary, ensuring a safe anchoring means practicing the right skill at the right place. And exactly where should you avoid anchoring? Here's what you need to know.
Where Not to Anchor a Boat
There are a number of reasons why you might want to anchor your boat. Maybe you found a nice place to fish, maybe you want to take a break during a long trip, or maybe you just want to eat some lunch. Whatever the case, you can't simply toss your anchor overboard and get to doing whatever it was you were hoping to do.
Not all places are ideal for anchoring. In fact, deploying an anchor just anywhere without checking to see where you are first could lead to accidents, not only for you but for others around you. So where should you avoid anchoring? Here are the answers:
Fairways, Channels and Launch Ramps
These are designated courses for boats to pass through. Fairways and channels usually have more significant depth to allow boats with deeper drafts to safely pass through. The launch ramp on the other hand provides boats a safe place to deploy from land.
You should avoid dropping your anchor in these areas because it would entail blocking passage for other boating enthusiasts and vessels.
Oyster and Mussel Beds
These places can be the perfect location to catch fish, but anchoring in oyster and mussel beds can be tricky.
Aside from the fact that most anchor types aren't designed to grip against the delicate surface of an oyster or mussel bed, the weight and design of your anchor may damage the bed and potentially destroy the ecosystem that exists there which goes against responsible boating practices.
Restricted and Prohibited Areas
Places that are restricted or prohibited are specifically off limits for anchoring for all types of vessels. There are a number of reasons why the local authorities might designate these areas as no anchor zones.
In some cases, deploying an anchor could obstruct traffic flow. Other times, there could be delicate ecosystems under the water. And then there are perilous areas with strong wind and dangerous weather conditions. Whatever the case, never anchor where it's prohibited.
Incompatible Sea Beds
Your anchor can't be used just anywhere. There are lots of different kinds of anchor types, and they all work best in specific types of beds.
If the type of anchor you have on board can't be used on the bed beneath, the anchor may or may not hold. That means you might want to avoid anchoring there.
Excessive Water Depth
Another potential problem would be excessive depths. Your rode should be seven times the depth of the water. But if the depth of the water you're in exceeds the length of your rode, you might sacrifice safety by deploying your anchor.
Avoid excessive depth and look for a place where you have sufficient rode for a stern hold.
Next to the Lee Shore
The lee shore or leward shore or ward shore is essentially a stretch of land that wind has a tendency to blow into. Never anchor next to the lee shore, or your boat might get blown by strong wind against the dry land and cause damage to your vessel.
Tips for Veering and Anchor Line Length
It's recommended that you drop your anchor line at a length of at least 7 times your distance from the bottom of the water. This practice is called veering, and is defined as the process of releasing the right amount of line or chain for the area where you're anchoring. The term for the proper length of line on the other hand is called the scope.
Of course, it's always easy to figure out the exact length of chain necessary. But how can you keep track of whether or not you've actually released the proper scope for the water you're sitting in?
The best way to accurately determine how much anchor line or rope you need to drop would be to mark your rode at regular intervals. For instance, you can attach a piece of silk on chain links at 5 meter (or 16 feet) intervals so you know that every knot of silk that passes indicates that you've released another 5 meters.
To make it easier to keep track of the measure of the rope, you can color code the tied silk on the rode. Some boaters follow the rainbow colors. Red measures 5 meters, orange 10 meters, yellow 15 meters, green 20 meters, blue 25 meters, indigo 30 meters, and violet 35 meters.
If you need to release more anchor line, you have the option to simply repeat the color pattern. So the second red tie would indicate 40 meter, the second orange 45 meters, and so on. Of course, you have the option to measure in feet if you're more comfortable that way.
Once your boat is anchored, you can tie the ride to the bow cleat to keep the anchor secure. Never tie your anchor to the stern (see the dangers of anchoring from the stern). If you have a winch and windlass though, deploying and pulling the anchor on and off board would be much easier, letting you avoid the physically demanding task and manual labor.
Turn off your engine when the weight of your anchor hits the seabed and you've released proper scope. Get your bearings and fix your sights on an unmoving object on the shore once the engine is cut. This should help you determine if you're drifting from where you anchored. Your boat should have a swing room around the radius of the anchor that lets you move around it without hitting obstructions in the water.
Different Kinds of Anchors
As previously mentioned, there are different anchors for different sea beds. These different designs help guarantee a stable grasp so that your boat stays in place with the anchor deployed. To find out what kind of anchor you'll need for the waterways you visit, here are some of the different kinds of anchors and what they're best for:
Claw Anchors
First developed in the 70's, the claw anchor is a multi-purpose anchor that does well in most conditions including mud, sand, and rock.
However the anchor does struggle to set in clay and sea beds with lots of vegetation. If you ever pull it out of place, these anchors reset pretty easily.
But their design also means that they have a lower holding power per pound. That simply means that if you're going for this anchor, you're going to need a bigger unit that's a heavier weight compared to other anchor styles you might use.
Plow Anchors
This one's a pretty popular design and is seen on most boats. The plow anchor gets its name from the fact that it looks almost like a plow in that it digs into the seabed as you pull it along to set itself and your boat in place.
They're suitable for use in mud, sand, and clay, but may struggle to get a hold of the seabed if you're trying to anchor over rock and large debris.
Another possible downside is that plow anchors can be tough to stow after removing it from your bow cleat since there's no such thing as a small plow.
Fluke or Danforth Anchors
If you always find yourself in sandy or muddy bottoms, the fluke anchor is your best bet. These anchors are the best performers in both sand and mud, providing supreme holding capacity versus any other anchor.
Of course, the downside is that outside of these seabed types, they're pretty useless. On the upside though, they can get your boat anchored quickly and they stow pretty easily.
Grapnel Anchors
Intended for smaller boats, the grapnel gets its holding power by hooking itself on an object. So they work best in seabeds with lots of big rocks.
Once you get it to set out of your bow, it's almost impossible to break loose its stern holding capacity since it literally lodges between debris and heavy rocks. And while that might be a good thing while you're fishing or having lunch, that also means you'll struggle to retrieve an anchor of this style by simply trying to pull it out.
Mushroom Anchors
Large mushroom anchors are designed for permanent anchoring situations. The sand, mud, and debris that slowly pile over the mushroom over time can give it immense holding capacity, which is why it makes a suitable choice for long term anchoring. That also means that to retrieve an anchor of this style that's been anchored for a while will require lots of pulling.
For temporary anchoring, small boats can use smaller mushroom anchors, but achieving a strong enough hold will happen slowly after tossing it from the bow.
Keep in mind though that they're not usually ideal for rocky bottoms. Once you decide to haul a mushroom anchor from the seabed to surface, you're also end up pulling loads of debris up with it.
Where Should You Anchor Your Boat?
Now that we know where not to anchor a boat, where should you anchor?
There are loads of places where you should be able to deploy your anchor without a worry. Wide open areas with little traffic and temperate conditions should be your anchoring place of choice. It's also important that you consider that you're not anchoring in prohibited or restricted areas.
Consider the depth and the weather and wind around you. See to it that the tides don't change too drastically so as to significantly affect the depth of water beneath your boat.
It also might be advisable to avoid anchoring in areas where strong wind and waves prevail. Find an open, protected area with calm conditions before deploying your anchor.
The More You Know
It's important to know where should you avoid anchoring your boat not only to protect yourself, but to also take other boaters and their safety into consideration. Following these guidelines when you drop anchor into the water should help protect you from potential accidents, and will keep the waters free for everyone to safely enjoy.
Also remember that not all anchors will work in all locations. So unless your boat is ready with an anchor that's intended for the seabed you're in, you might want to avoid that spot and find a different place to deploy. Drop anchor only when you're sure your anchor is the right kind for the conditions your boat is in.
