How to Set a Sailboat Anchor

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: NOTE: These instructions are intended for those using an all chain rode.

   (see "tips" below)
2. 2

   Step 2: Pick the spot to drop your anchor by circling round the area watching the bottom contours on your depth sounder and looking for rocks or obstructions in what will be the swing radius of your anchor rode.

   Remember, you may well swing a full 360 degrees over time. ,, At the moment the boat stops, drop the anchor straight to the bottom as quickly as possible.
   
   Do not allow excess anchor chain to fall on top of anchor as this is likely to cause fouling. , DO NOT USE THE ENGINE to back down because this will cause the chain to be laid down in an arc rather than a straight line.
   
   Instead allow the wind to drive the head straight downwind as you pay out chain.
   
   Do not release chain too fast to avoid creating piles. (If there is no breeze, see step 11, below, then return to step
   6.) , This may take a few minutes in a light breeze. , (You should be able to feel this happening with a foot or hand on the chain in front of your windlass.) , Start at about 1000 RPM.
   
   You will see the chain pull taut and then the weight of the chain will pull the boat back forward a bit.
   
   When this happens, increase the RPM by 500 RPM increments until you reach 2000 RPM. , If there is no movement at full power for one minute and you can feel no little jerks in the chain you are well set.
   
   Shut down power and go fix a margarita. , If this attempt is unsuccessful you must either try to find a better holding spot or start over.
   
   Chances are that either the anchor is located in poor ground or perhaps the anchor is fouled in some way. , Do this at no more than idle speed.
   
   If you back down under more power the anchor is much less likely to take a good set and you will wind up just plowing a furrow in the bottom.
   
   This is the biggest mistake made in most people's anchoring technique.
3. 3

   Step 3: Return to your intended drop spot

4. 4

   Step 4: motoring very slowly

5. 5

   Step 5: directly up wind.

6. 6

   Step 6: Using reverse

7. 7

   Step 7: stop all motion of the boat.

8. 8

   Step 8: If there is a breeze the bow will begin to swing off in a line

9. 9

   Step 9: roughly downwind.

10. 10

    Step 10: When the appropriate scope has been released (approximately a 5 to 1 ratio

11. 11

    Step 11: scope to depth) snub off the chain and let the boat settle back

12. 12

    Step 12: bow to wind and anchor location.

13. 13

    Step 13: Put the engine in reverse at idle and allow any slack to be pulled out of the chain.

14. 14

    Step 14: Very gradually increase the engine speed in reverse to pull tension on the chain.

15. 15

    Step 15: During this process

16. 16

    Step 16: observe two fixed reference points ashore

17. 17

    Step 17: perpendicular to the boat and watch for any drag.

18. 18

    Step 18: If there is any drag at all go back to neutral

19. 19

    Step 19: let the boat rest a moment and return to step 6 and try again.

20. 20

    Step 20: If there is not sufficient breeze in the anchorage to cause the boat to swing off fast enough to allow paying out chain evenly

21. 21

    Step 21: you must use the engine in reverse to back down.

Detailed Guide

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