7 Common Sailboat Anchor Mistakes to Avoid
Everyone Has to Learn How to Drop a Sailboat Anchor Sometime, but Sometimes Mistakes Happen
7 Common Sailboat Anchor Mistakes to Avoid
Dropping a sailboat anchor can be some sailors worst nightmare, worrying, anxiously making sure the anchor doesn’t move and that it is set in properly to the seabed. But this doesn’t have to be the case.
Sometimes just knowing a few simple tips to help you drop your sailboat anchor can eliminate some of the anxiety. Everyone makes mistakes and we learn from them. This article is designed to minimize your mistakes and ensure no one gets in any danger. So whether you are an experienced sailor just needing a refresher or a beginner sailor researching how things should be done, this article is for you.
How To Avoid Making A Sailboat Anchor Mistake
Whether you are in the Caribbean, Croatia, Greece on a Flotilla, Bareboat or Catamaran charter you will at some point decide to drop your sailboat anchor. Maybe in a secluded bay to swim or overnight outside a marina. Check out these seven tips to avoid making sailboat anchor mistakes.
Top 7 Sailboat Anchor Mistakes to Avoid
1. Bad Sailboat Anchor Location
Sailboat Anchor Location. One of the most important considerations to take into account when preparing to drop your sailboat anchor is the location.
- How deep is the water?
- Which way is the wind blowing?
- Is the area sheltered?
- What is the depth plus my draft?
- Is the area tidal?
- Does the bottom drop off a steep slope?
- How close am I to the shore?
There are so many variables which are unavoidable but many people make simple mistakes which could be avoided by knowing all the facts before dropping your sailboat anchor. The depth of the water and the condition of the seabed can affect the anchor’s ability to stay securely on the bottom. Is the seabed sand or mud? Something which the anchor can dig into or is it filled with rocks and seaweed which could cause the anchor to drift or move overnight. Are there any sudden drops which your anchor could drift to? This would cause you to not have enough scope to hold the bottom. Is the area tidal? Will your sailboat anchor end up to lose and drift into something at low tide or end up with not enough scope at high tide? Which way is the wind blowing? Will it change direction or lighten when you are under anchor?
These are all questions you should be asking yourself before you drop your sailboat anchor.
2. Not Having Enough Scope
Not Having Having Enough Scope. A sailboat anchor works by digging itself firmly into the ground by being pulled along the seabed horizontally. The anchor needs to have a long enough rope, chain or rope, and chain, which allows the angle of the anchor to be forced into the seabed, not moving up or down along the seafloor. The scope of a sailboat anchor should be a ratio of the height from the bow to the seabed. This typically tends to be a minimum of 3:1 ratio, so three times the depth from the seabed to the top of the boat bow. 5:1 or 7:1 ratio is normal and in big waves or high winds a 10:1 ratio is preferred.
A depth sounder is a great way to know how deep the water is but make sure you know the point in which the depth sounder is located. For example, if the sensor is located on the bottom of the keel you need to account for the keel height and the boat height up to the bow anchor point.
Ensure if you are located in a tidal area, research, and account for the highest and lowest points of the tide during your time at anchor. Before the highest point of the tide you should add more scope and at the lowest point you make sure it isn’t too low and you aren’t swinging with a too long scope.
Account for the wind, wind direction and how hard it is blowing in one direction, to ensure your sailboat anchor swinging circle won’t hit another boat or get too close to the shoreline.
3. Not Laying Out The Rode
Not Laying Out The Rode. Ensure that when you lay out the rode, rope, chain or rope and chain, that you are under power in motion. When the anchor hits the bottom start letting out more of the rode while reversing or drifting, so as not to pile all the rope on top of the anchor and cause it to fall at an angle. Preventing your rode from becoming too short, otherwise, the anchor will not hold into the seabed properly.
4. Not Having Knowledge Of The Weather Forecast
Weather Forecast. Before you drop your sailboat anchor ensure you have prepared and researched the wind direction, conditions, currents, wind speed and weather forecast for your time under anchor. The wind and weather can change instantly, overnight or from evening to morning.
Always ensure you are clear of all channels, hazards, shallow water, and other boats, to prepare for a change in wind direction and strength.
A good way to ensure you are aware and prepared for sudden changes in wind direction, weather or wind speed is by using an anchor alarm. The alarms can be set to turn on at any slight movement or change in the anchor’s position. For example, an alarm can be set to go off if the anchor moves 0.01NM, trusting you are always aware of constant changes.
Another way to check your anchorage is by periodically checking your GPS, it will tell you if your boat has moved, it is also good to pick a point on the shoreline as a reference to pinpoint your location.
Remember the wind is unpredictable and can change in an instant despite what the forecasts may suggest.
5. Not Preparing Your Sailboat Anchor Before Dropping It
Anchor Preparation. Make sure your anchor is ready to go before you drop it. They can often get tangled up, knotted or caught up in the anchor storage. Your anchor and rode, chain or rope needs to have a free run and be tangle free. A good way to do this is to stretch out your anchor rope on the deck before you drop it.
Make sure you mark your rope with tags or use different colors for different depths, this will ensure you are aware of exactly how much rope you have let out to ensure you have met your scope requirements.
6. Not Knowing How To Drop Sailboat Anchor In a Crowded Place
Anchoring In A Crowded Place. Sometimes especially in the height of summer mooring or dropping anchor away from other boats is impossible. With a large number of boats wanting to drop anchor in the same area, and sometimes in a small area. Dropping your anchor in a crowded bay or area shouldn’t be intimidating.
Where possible try to stay as far away from other boats as possible, especially other boats on moorings. Remember your swinging circle can’t be as big as if you were away from everyone else. In a small area, choose the largest gap and drop your anchor upwind of the gap.
Don’t be shy or intimidated if you come close to another boat or end up pulling tight in a different spot that you originally planned to. You can drop and pull up your anchor as many times as required until you are happy.
The best way to anchor in a crowded area is to choose boats of smiler size, keel, and swing as you. If the wind suddenly changes you will all turn in the same direction at the same time, avoiding collisions. Boats with a shallower draft will swing differently than those with a larger draft.
Avoid dropping anchor close to boats which are on moorings as their swinging circles won’t be as large.
Also be aware of the type of anchors the boats around you are on. If you anchor on chain, rope or rope and chain, and the boats around you anchor on something different you need to give them a little more room. Boats anchored on chain and rope will move around more in light winds they will rotate around the point in which the chain hits the bottom and not the anchor.
Above all, remember your anchoring etiquette, if you are in doubt change your position or alter your anchor until you are happy and always anchor in areas where the risk of having a problem is low.
7. Not Setting The Anchor Correctly
Not Setting The Anchor Correctly. Not setting the sailboat anchor properly can cause problems holding anchor and cause drifting. Don’t just drop the anchor and leave it, approach slowly and let the anchor out, putting it down slowly and reversing until it gets tight, make some last minute maneuvers and coast to a stop. Let some slack out and pull the chain slightly to test if it jerks or not.
A good way to test if the anchor is securely attached to the seabed is to apply slight power for 30 seconds and see if the boat holds. Anchors can get stuck on rocks, in seaweed, grass or other things on the seafloor and without being able to see what the anchor is attached to it is impossible to check the anchors setting without testing it. If the anchor is stuck on something putting a slight force on it will let set it free, but if it is forced into the seabed it will stay put.
If your sailboat anchor gets stuck under a rock or your chain gets caught on debris, pull the anchor up and start again by backing up under power in the opposite direction to free the anchor and start over again.
7 Common Sailboat Anchor Mistakes to Avoid
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