Anchors and Ground Tackle

Knowledge of your anchoring equipment (called "ground tackle") and the
ability to use it is an absolute necessity.

If you go boating long enough, sooner or later you're going to need to
anchor. Knowledge of your anchoring equipment (called ground tackle)
and the ability to use it is an absolute necessity. Many of today's
power boaters just go from marina to marina and, as a result, are
unfamiliar with their ground tackle and how to deploy it. Worse yet,
some boaters don't even have an anchor aboard!

Think about it. You and your family are out for a fine day of boating,
when your engine breaks down and cannot be restarted. The wind is
blowing you towards a rocky shore and the waves are getting larger. At
this point, you need an anchor and the knowledge of how to use it.
Otherwise, you risk losing your boat or, possibly, worse things!

Let's take a look at the 3 basic types of anchors available:

Patent Anchor: The Danforth=A9 anchor is the best known of this type.
Its advantages are that it is lightweight with good holding power and
stows flat. However because of its light weight, it has difficulty
penetrating thick weeds or hard bottoms.

Plow Anchor: The plow anchor is so named because it looks and performs
like a plow. It holds well on almost any type of bottom conditions. The
plow anchor, however, is heavy and very difficult to stow unless you
have a bow pulpit and roller.

Mushroom: The mushroom will sink down into the mud or sand. If left
long enough, it will have tremendous holding power. Most permanent
moorings use a large mushroom anchor.

Since storage space is always at a premium on boats, the number of
anchors you carry and the type you decide to have must be compromises
between safety and convenience. Anchors are rated by their horizontal
load capabilities.

Here are some approximate horizontal load requirements for various boat
lengths:

Boat Length (feet)
Protected Waters (lbs)
Unprotected Waters (lbs)

20 360 720
30 700 1,400
40 1,200 2,400
50 1,600 3,200

When looking for an anchor, check the manufacturer's stated horizontal
holding power. If you have any doubt, remember that an anchor that's a
little too big is much better than an anchor that's a little too small!


Your anchor line is called a rode. Nylon line is the best choice here
because of its strength and ability to stretch. It's also a good idea
to have a 6-foot to 12-foot piece of chain between the anchor and the
nylon line. The chain really helps to keep the anchor (stock) parallel
with the bottom and also acts as a shock absorber.

Your anchor rode must be long enough to create a horizontal, rather
than vertical, pull on your anchor. Anchors are designed to dig in
deeper when they are pulled horizontally. They are also designed to
come free when pulled vertically.

There is a simple formula which helps calculate the proper scope
(length) of rode you need. Take the height of the boat's bow from the
water line and add it to the depth of the water. In this example, we'll
say the height of the bow from the water line is 3 feet, and the depth
of the water is 12 feet.

Example: 3 feet + 12 feet =3D 15 feet

If you are in a well-protected area (no waves or wind), multiply the
total by a factor of 5.

Example: 15 feet x 5 =3D 75 feet of rode needed

If you are in normal conditions (some wind and some waves), multiply
the total by a factor of 7.

Example: 15 feet x 7 =3D 105 feet of rode needed

Finally, if you are in rough conditions, multiply the total by a factor
of 10.

Example: 15 feet x 10 =3D 150 feet of rode needed

Best regards
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