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All about Anchors

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All about Anchors – A Beginners Guide to Anchors and Anchoring.

If you’re an inexperienced boater, anchoring might seem a little intimidating at first. It can feel strange to drop a line into the water and hope for the best. If you’re really not confident worry not! I’ve put together some useful tips that should take the mystery out of anchoring and make it easy for anyone to understand.

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Anchoring

What is an anchor?

An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. For millennia, sailors have deployed anchors on their boats. Some of the earliest anchors discovered were just simply large stones.

Why Use an Anchor?

Many new boat owners are reluctant to use an anchor because they don’t know how it works or what it is for. The purpose of an anchor in simplistic terms, is to keep your boat from drifting away. When you drop the anchor into the water, the added weight keeps the boat grounded, and you no longer drift.

Which Anchor should I choose?

Small boat anchors come in a variety of shapes and sizes but in the end, they all do the same job. There are several different styles of small boat anchor which all have their own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to know what style of anchor is best suited for different seabed types and conditions. It is also worth noting that your proposed general cruising ground may impact on the style of anchor you choose.

There are several types of anchors available for boats, each designed for different types of water conditions and seabeds. Here are some common types of anchors and some product examples from Amazon:

  1. Fluke anchor: This type of anchor is ideal for sandy and muddy seabeds. Fluke anchors have a sharp point at one end and two flat, curved blades that dig into the seabed when the anchor is dropped.
  1. Plow anchor: This anchor is designed for use in rocky or weedy bottoms. Plow anchors have a pointed tip and a curved shape that helps it dig into the seabed and hold fast.
  1. Claw anchor: This type of anchor is effective in most seabeds and is particularly useful for boats that need to anchor in tight spaces. Claw anchors have sharp points and curved flukes that dig into the seabed from any angle.
  1. Mushroom anchor: This type of anchor is best used in soft mud or weedy bottoms. Mushroom anchors have a wide, flat top and a heavy bottom that helps them sink into the seabed and hold fast.
  1. Delta anchor: This anchor is a good all-around option for most types of seabeds. Delta anchors have a triangular shape and sharp tip that helps them dig into the seabed quickly and hold fast.

When choosing an anchor, it’s important to consider the size and weight of your boat, as well as the typical conditions in the areas where you’ll be boating. It’s also important to make sure that the anchor is compatible with your boat’s anchor system and that you have enough rode (the line that attaches the anchor to the boat) to reach the seabed.

Seabed Types.

Admiralty charts use a standard set of symbols to indicate the nature of the seabed in shallow water.

There are generally six types of seabed to consider, all their names are pretty self explanatory.

What is “Anchor Scope”

Ok, you’ve heard the term “ Anchor Scope”, or just “scope” before but don’t have a clue what it means.
Firstly, when using an anchor on a boat, it would usually be attached to a chain or direct to a Rope. Or indeed, both. This is known as the “Rode”. This in turn would be attached to the boat or ship.


The “Scope” is basically the amount of “Rode” paid out in direct relation to the depth of water where you are anchoring. The generally accepted ideal minimum scope is 5:1 (5 to 1), which means that for every metre of depth you would pay out 5 metres of rode. Don’t forget to add the distance from the anchor roller to the water to this figure.
Ideally, although its not always possible, you would be looking at having a minimum 5:1 or 7:1 scope. The higher this ratio the more chance you have of the anchor doing its job.


It is quite common for more scope to be added in bad weather and indeed would be good practice to do so. However, you don’t want to be allowing such a large scope that your boat becomes a nuisance to others when its swinging on the anchor. It pays to be aware of where other people’s anchors might be in relation to their bows, the currents, tide and prevailing wind.

How to set the Anchor.

Using an anchor is this easy.

First things first, if needed, put a member of your crew up front ready to release the anchor. Don’t choose a spot so close to others that your boat might swing into them, or your anchor chain might foul someone else’s.
Choose your spot and try to stop the boat over this spot, taking into account the action of any wind, tide or currents. Always try to anchor heading into the wind or current. Look at the way other boats in the anchorage are laying, it’ll give you a very good clue.

Lower the anchor. (Don’t just throw it in).

Once it hits bottom, allow the boat to either drift downwind or motor very gently backwards whilst your crew pays out the minimum required amount of rode. Try not to pile the chain or rope up on top of the anchor when it is first dropped as this may stop the anchor setting.

When you have enough rode paid out, secure the rode temporarily, You do not want your hands or fingers near the chain or rope at this point as its likely to suddenly become very tight, without warning. And believe me, It can hurt. A LOT! Now motor gently backwards allowing the boat to drag the anchor along the seabed. If you have enough out, the rode should in an ideal world, be pulling horizontally on the anchor, which hopefully has the effect of digging it in.

DO NOT put on too much power, the idea is to dig the anchor in, not pull it out or take it for a bounce along the bottom. When the anchor has set it should effectively stop the boat from travelling backwards.

Now you can secure the rode in a more permanent fashion. It is advisable to add an anchor snubber (sometimes called an “Anchor Bridle”, to take the strain off the chain/windlass fixing point. This is often a specially designed open hook, attached to a rope, which when hooked over a link in the anchor chain and secured off via a fairlead, to a cleat, then allows the chain to be slackened, allowing the bridle/snubber to take the strain on the cleats, not the windlass.

The alternative, if no hook is available, is to secure the end of your snubber to the chain using a “Rolling Hitch”. If tied properly it wont move and, unlike the hook method, shouldn’t fall off if the chain goes slack.

How to tie a Rolling hitch

Dont forget to raise your Anchor Ball to alert any nearby vessels to the fact that you are at anchor. Also switch on your anchor light at night. (An all-round white light). These are both requirements of maritime regulations.

Remember to set your Anchor Alarm if you are in any doubt whatsoever. This needs to be done at the point you drop the anchor, NOT when you’ve paid out the rode and settled.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I drop anchor anywhere?

    Different coastal authorities may have their own byelaws/regulations preventing this. In general if there is a genuine life-threatening emergency, then yes, otherwise, check where you plan to drop anchor. Recognised anchorages are shown on navigation charts, as are restricted areas. Also check your charts for things like submarine cables, you definitely don’t want to get hooked onto one of those.

  2. Can I sleep at Anchor?

    In general, while at sea you are required to keep an all-round watch, however, a lot of people seem to, completely relying on their instruments to be the watchkeeper. Make sure you have your anchor symbol/ball hoisted, and you use the necessary anchor light during hours of darkness

  3. Do I have to use an Anchor Bridle/Snubber?

    No. but it is advisable as this helps take the strain off of an anchor windlass.

  4. What must I do when anchoring overnight?

    You should be displaying an anchor ball during daylight hours. At night you should additionally show an all-round white light. Usually at the masthead on a sailing vessel. Check the rules for your size and type of vessel.

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