There is nothing on a boat that is unimportant. From having clean fuel filters to properly icing your beverages and food for a great day on the water, once you are out there you need everything to be just right. If something happens, the day can take a decidedly un-enjoyable turn. One of the aspects many beginner boaters overlook is the importance of the correct anchor on the boat. In fact, some overlook the need for one at all. Choosing an anchor for your needs does not have to be treated like brain surgery, but it is crucial to get the choice right. Here is a look at some of the more popular types of anchors on the market.• The Danforth, or fortress anchor, is the most popular, all-purpose anchor. The design is very recognizable: The two flukes lie on either side of a supporting middle post, and the flukes will fall away to one side to grab the bottom.A grapnel anchor looks like a Bond-esque grappling hook and is used very often in rocky areas where another would have trouble grabbing bottom. The biggest problem with this anchor is that you might lose one or more over the course of a boating career.A mushroom anchor is shaped like, well, a mushroom, and is designed for the slower-moving waters of back bay areas, creeks and other situations. Some fishermen will use the mushroom anchor to slow down a drift while fishing.Many experienced boaters carry more than one type of anchor on a boat to help fit the situation. There are times when you will find yourself anchoring up in a muddy or sandy sea floor, and then just hours later trying to set up where the bottom is rocky. Fishermen, especially, take note of this fact: Fishing for flounder in the inlets or bays is vastly different than setting up on a rock pile looking for blackfish and sea bass. There is nothing more frustrating than moving around willy-nilly over the bite zone because you don’t have the right anchor.Some anchors, like the Danforth, work better with a length of chain in between the anchor and the rope. But with a grapnel, the chain can become a liability in those piles of rocks that you are dropping anchor into, and a rope will snap easier than a chain.Speaking of rope, it won’t matter what type of anchor you have if it is not connected to your boat by a well-maintained and properly coiled anchor line. So, part of any excursion’s checklist is to check the anchor lines, preferably before the boat leaves the dock. But like anything, practice good anchor-line etiquette. After each time the anchor is dropped, place the line back into the hull the proper way, coiling it as you go. But beware! Make sure feet and hands are clear of a coiled anchor line. There is no need to outline the disaster such a mishap can bring on a trip.With anchor line, too much is not enough. If you are looking to anchor in 35 feet of water, and you have 30 feet of anchor line, well, you lose. And make sure the line is actually fastened to the boat. If not, that anchor and line will be gone before you can say “Gilligan.”
Next week, we’ll take a look at anchoring procedures. Until then, check your lines and make sure you are ready to grab bottom. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is offering two NYS safe-boating courses. The first is two sessions, scheduled for May 24 and May 31. The second, held on June 8, is an all-day affair. For more information, contact the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Academy at 631-852-8034.
