In another article we reviewed the 5 classes of anchors and how to choose the one best suited for your needs. In this posting, we will discuss how to properly set that anchor.
Logic would have it that dropping and setting an anchor is simply nothing more than lowering the anchor, setting out some line and kick back and start having fun. Not so quick!
To work properly, anchors must develop enough resistance in the sea bed to endure the environmental forces on the trawler–the wind and the tides. An anchor’s capacity to develop resistance is completely dependent on its capability to penetrate the sea bed. So we will assume you have selected the best anchor for your known sea bed conditions. We will also assume you have enough rode, chain, rope or a combination, to play out the anchor.
When approaching your intended anchorage, remember to allow plenty of swing room. Tides, currents and the winds will swing the trawler; always allow enough room to avoid striking other boats that may be anchored near you or any piers or land that might be close. Calculate how far you will be from the anchor when it is deployed.
When you have picked out your desired anchor location, place the bow of your trawler into the current and slowly bring her to a stand-still. Look at other anchored boats to get a feel of the tides if necessary.
On our trawler, the Patricia Ann, we have all chain rode. We have marked the chain with red nylon twine every 25 feet (5 meters). The first 25 foot section has one twine, the second 25 foot mark is identified with 2 strings and so forth. This makes deploying the anchor with accuracy.
If a man must be obsessed by something, a boat is as good as anything, perhaps better than most E.B. White
Once in position, begin playing out the anchor. Your trawler will begin drifting slightly with the current. When you have played out enough rode to place your anchor on the bottom, bump the engines into reverse to begin laying the rode out. We just do not want the anchor and rode lying in a pile on the sea bed. Do not keep the trawler in reverse; you just want to begin laying the rode out. When you have enough rode out. Stop the trawler’s reverse speed.
So-called boating experts claim that a rode of 7:1 is necessary to hold a boat. That would equate to 7 foot of rode for every 1 foot of water depth. For example, to properly anchor in 10 feet of water, would require 70 feet of anchor rode. But we routinely anchor the Patricia Ann in 15 foot waters with a 35 lb. CQR anchor and 5/16 inch chain rode. We usually deploy 50 feet of rode and have never had a dragging anchor even in some 25-30 mph winds. I suspect that the more chain you use, the greater the holding power as the rode is pulling more horizontal to the sea floor and the chain further provides additional weight.
Now you have an appropriate amount of rode deployed, how do you set and secure it. On our trawler, we use an electric windlass designed for chain. The windlass has no locking device so the chain will continue to be deployed if enough force from the trawler is applied. Your windlass may be different but you must make certain that you can secure the rode so no more will be deployed.
We use a nylon bridle (25 ft 5/8 inch dock line) to both stop further chain deployment and provide some elasticity to the rode to reduce the shock of passing boats wakes. A stainless steel shackle is attached to a 5/8 inch 25 dock line. The shackle is connected to the chain rode as it is lowered; the other end is tied to the king post. Be sure to use chafing gear where the bridle meets the anchor roller.
If you are using chain with a nylon rode, you’ll not need to use a bridle. If you are using a metal cable, you can use a cable or wire puller to fasten a bridle to it.
Once the bridle is secured, the trawler is backed-down until the anchor is set. You will know it as the anchor will hold the trawler while in idle and the rode will rise out of the water.
The rode is again lowered allowing the bridle to assume holding the trawler on its own.
