With boating season clearly in sight, many are itching to get out on the water. Now is a good time to get your craft and yourself ready to go. Make sure your OC boat insurance is current before your first trip out. As you prepare to hit the water, take time to review safety measures and boating techniques so that you can avoid running into trouble. One technique that even experienced boaters often get wrong is setting the anchor. Using the wrong technique wastes time and may put you in a sticky situation that takes even more time to get out of. Fortunately, you can perfect your technique with just a few tips and avoid common anchoring mistakes.
Where To Set Your Anchor
One of the most common anchoring mistakes is that boaters drop it right in the spot where they want their craft to end up and land 50 feet away as they let out the anchor chain. If the area is dotted with other boaters, there may not be enough wiggle room to let out the right amount of chain. If you aren’t paying attention, this could cause you to end up too close to another boater as your boat drags because it isn’t properly anchored.
Land in the Right Spot
Save yourself the time and trouble of resetting. When you scout out the perfect spot for your boat, remember that this is where you want your boat to land. If you set anchor in that location, your boat will drift as you deploy the chain. Move upwind far enough to give you enough room to accommodate your scope.
How To Set Your Anchor
The second anchoring mistake boaters often make is that they use reverse thrust to initially set the anchor. When you apply reverse immediately, you end up dragging the anchor along the ocean floor instead of allowing it to sink in.
Stay Put Where You Land
There is a correct order to the process that ensures your craft stays put. Follow these steps when anchoring:
- Determine the location where you want to drop your anchor.
- Come to a full stop and face the bow upwind.
- Release the anchor chain approximately 1.5 times the depth of the water.
- Allow the weight of the boat to apply a little bit of strain on the chain for 10-15 seconds.
- Release more of the chain and repeat step four until you reach the scope ratio you want.
- Let the boat swing back into the wind and wait until the anchor chain ends up at an angle that is 45 degrees from the bow.
- Now you can apply the engine’s reverse thrust, but gently, until your craft stops moving.
Follow these tips for a better boating season and prevent anchoring mistakes. Ensure you are protected in case of an accident, as the best boat insurance packages offer discounts for taking a boater safety class, which reduces the risk that you’ll run into trouble using techniques that aren’t safe.
About Mariners Insurance
Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (888) 402-5018 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.
