| You're tired and worn after a long day at the wheel | | | | Glance over either shoulder. Pick a fixed object on |
| or tiller. You enter the small cove and have your | | | | the shoreline. Line that object up with another fixed |
| crew get standby to lower the boat anchor over the | | | | object behind it. This might be a pier corner and a |
| side. | | | | roof, or a tree and piling. If under power, place you |
| But wait! How do you know once that your boat | | | | engine into reverse propulsion. Concentrate on the |
| anchoring will hold for the night, or if the wind shifts, | | | | natural range. Ease the throttle back to increase the |
| or in a storm? Use these three fast tips to give you | | | | load on the anchor and dig it in to the seabed. |
| peace-of-mind wherever in the world you drop your | | | | If the natural range stays steady, you have a good |
| hook. | | | | set with your anchor. If they separate, this shows |
| Once you get your anchor down and dug in to the | | | | that you are dragging. Ease out a few more feet of |
| sea bottom, you still have several minutes before | | | | anchor rode and repeat this method. |
| you should relax and pop a cold one. You want the | | | | If under sail, push the mainsail out hard against the |
| boat to settle down, come to a rest, and then you | | | | wind. Watch your natural range. Swing the boom to |
| can determine whether the anchor holds. Follow | | | | the opposite side and backwind the mainsail. Again, |
| these three fast tips for safe secure anchoring. | | | | watch the natural range. If you draw, ease out a |
| 1. Calculate Your "Boat Anchoring" Water Depth | | | | few more feet of anchor rode and repeat the |
| Use seven feet of anchor rode for each foot of | | | | backwinding technique. |
| water. And that's not just the amount of water | | | | 3. Take a Drag Bearing with a Hand Bearing Compass |
| indicated on your depth sounder, or on your nautical | | | | Use bearings anytime you have just one object off |
| chart. You need to make adjustments to the depth | | | | the port or starboard beam. Take the magnetic |
| for the actual "anchoring" depth. | | | | bearing and record in your boat log. Every hour, take |
| Add your bow freeboard (distance from the bow to | | | | another bearing and compare it to the first. A |
| the water surface), along with the expected distance | | | | difference of one degree would not be a reason for |
| the tide will rise, to the water depth shown on the | | | | concern. Take more bearings if in doubt. If you are |
| navigational chart. For example, if the chart shows 10 | | | | dragging, the bearings will change fast. Ease more |
| feet, your boat has 3 feet of freeboard at the bow, | | | | rode out to get the boat anchor to take a bite or, |
| and the tide will rise another 2 feet, your total "boat | | | | set a second anchor about 60 degrees to one side |
| anchoring" water depth will be 10+3+2 = 15 feet. | | | | of the first one. |
| Next, multiply this figure by 7. 15 feet x 7 = 105 feet. | | | | Use these three boat anchoring tips to make sure |
| Put out 105 feet of anchor rode. After you fall back | | | | you keep your small cruising boat safe and sound for |
| to this length, cleat off the line, or set the chain | | | | the night. That way, you will have a worry-free, |
| stopper. | | | | peaceful night on the hook--wherever in the world |
| 2. Use Reverse Engine or Backwind Your Mainsail | | | | you choose to cruise. |