| How many times have you opened up your anchor | | | | wherever the line rubs against a chock, cleat, or piling. |
| locker on the bow to find a tangled mess that looks | | | | This single step can add years of life to your |
| like spaghetti? Boat anchoring tops the #1 objective | | | | expensive anchor and mooring lines. |
| in most sailboat cruising. Follow these easy steps to | | | | 3. Inspect and Coil |
| keep your boat anchor line safe and secure for years | | | | Pull out the entire amount of anchor line that you plan |
| to come. | | | | to put over the side. Dump it onto the deck. Start at |
| Did you know that world cruising folks have | | | | that end closest to the anchor locker and coil it |
| estimated that you will spend 85% of your time at | | | | clockwise onto the deck. As you coil, check the line |
| anchor, 10% at a dock, and just 5% underway | | | | for broken fibers or wear. With the coil out on deck, |
| sailing? Think about this for a second. If you plan a | | | | you now know that your anchor line will go over |
| sailboat cruise for 30 days, that means you will spend | | | | without kinks or knots. |
| a whopping 25 1/2 days on the hook! Get your nylon | | | | 4. Mark It for Everyone |
| anchor line (also called anchor rode) ready for the | | | | Make you anchor line length readable for everyone |
| task with these five simple steps. | | | | aboard. You might choose to use colored bits of |
| 1. Pick the Right Size Line | | | | ribbon with the line length marked every 50 feet. Just |
| Most veteran cruisers recommend that you carry at | | | | remember that you might need to read it in the dark. |
| least 300 feet of nylon anchor rode. Match the | | | | White ribbon marked with a thick black permanent |
| anchor rode size to your boat length. But also take | | | | ink pen will be much easier to read it you have to |
| into account how your boat behaves at anchor. | | | | leave an anchorage in the middle of the night. |
| Lighter boats, boats with shallow draft, or boats with | | | | 5. End for End It |
| lots of windage can dance at anchor like a restless | | | | Once a year, swap the working bitter end on your |
| stallion. Deeper draft cruisers are more docile. | | | | anchor line for the one dead-ended in the anchor |
| If you suspect you are the former, use one size | | | | locker. This technique was used by square riggers |
| larger than these recommendations: | | | | centuries ago and still has its place aboard the |
| * up to 25' - 3/8" or 9mm | | | | modern cruising and racing sailboat. This action can |
| * 25' to 30' - 7/16" or 11mm | | | | extend the life of your anchor line by 50% or more! |
| * 30' to 35' - 1/2" or 12mm | | | | Cruising Tip: |
| * 35' to 45' - 9/16" or 14mm | | | | Always attach a piece of heavy chain the same |
| * 45' to 50' - 5/8" or 16mm | | | | length of your boat to the bottom of the anchor |
| * 50' to 60' - 3/4" or 18mm | | | | rode. This adds weight to help the anchor dig in and |
| 2. Keep it Clean and Chafe Free | | | | protects the line from chafe. |
| Dirt, salt, and rubbing are the enemies of synthetic | | | | Follow these five steps to keep your costly anchor |
| line. Wash your line with fresh water as often as you | | | | line in tip top shape for years to come. You will save |
| can. This helps keep the line soft and supple. Protect | | | | lots of money and know that your anchor line will |
| your line with chafing gear--split garden hose, PVC | | | | stay strong and secure--wherever in the world your |
| piping, or strips of leather. Position this material | | | | sailboat cruising takes you. |