Q&A for How to Anchor a Boat

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How can I safely anchor a boat?

Travis Lund
Sailing Instructor & Executive Director, Treasure Island Sailing Center
Travis Lund is the General Manager at the Vallejo Marina, a large marina located between the San Francisco Bay and the Delta in California. Sailing since he was six-years-old, Travis has over 15 years working in sailing operations and instruction and has pioneered a coaching platform that combined traditional coaching with multi-camera video support. He studied English at Michigan State University, where he was on the sailing team.

Travis Lund

Sailing Instructor & Executive Director, Treasure Island Sailing Center

Expert Answer

Make sure your anchor is the right weight and size for your boat, and that it's the proper type for the area you'll be anchoring to. When you anchor, be sure the rode, or anchor line, is able to run out of the boat cleanly, and give yourself a scope of at least 5:1, and preferably 7:1.

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Question

What exactly is the process of snubbing?

Community Answer

With your anchor dropped and resting on the bottom, put the engine in reverse and pull the line tight. Like setting a hook on a fish, the anchor will dig into the bottom (basically creating more force than your boat will experience with wind and tide). With the anchor snubbed, you can be sure you aren't going anywhere. When raising the anchor, put the boat in forward and tug from the opposite direction to release its grip on the ocean floor.

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Question

Do I always anchor from the front of the boat?

Aloha27

Community Answer

Absolutely. The idea is to keep the bow pointed into the wind while "on the hook."

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Question

How do I know how much anchor line to use?

Aloha27

Community Answer

The standard rule of thumb is to take the depth of the water plus the distance from the deck to the waterline, then multiply that number by 5. For example, if you plan on anchoring in 10 feet of water, and the distance from the deck to the surface is 2 feet, 60 feet of rode (line) should be fine. In windy or high-current conditions, use a multiplier of 7 for safety.

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Question

What should I do if my anchor is stuck?

Community Answer

Try dislodging it by pulling in different directions (north, south, east, west), plus from directly above. If you have a friend with a more powerful boat and strong cleats, you could call them for assistance. Last resort, cut anchor and carry on.

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Question

What causes a boat to drift?

Community Answer

Current, wind and/or tide by themselves or in combination will cause your boat to drift.

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