Notes on Anchoring

From designer John Welsford

What kind do you need, and how big should it be?

Both pertinent questions, and when you are standing in the shop at the marina wondering what anchor to buy for your new treasure, you know very well that the guy behind the counter usually deals with big powerboats and not with our little sailing craft, so his advice could be a bit suspect. It helps a lot if you go in there armed with some basic knowledge. Here’s what you need to know.

One, the smaller the boat, the smaller the anchor? No, not necessarily. Anchors, like steamrollers, need to have some heft. A light anchor may not put enough weight on its point to penetrate the bottom and get a grip. To my way of thinking, the lightest effective anchor will be about ten pounds, and if I’m leaving even a small boat unattended, or if I’m taking a nap while anchored, I’d prefer 15. That applies to pretty much all types of anchors, and also assumes that you’ve got some chain on the anchor to help hold its shank parallel with the bottom so it can’t lift out under strain.