Anchoring
Preparing to anchor
Having picked the spot to anchor and determined that you have enough rope, at low speed turn your boat to face the wind (on a low wind day face the current, if any). Put the engine in neutral, then in reverse for long enough to get the boat moving astern.
Lowering
Lower the anchor (do not throw it) to the bottom, and pay out rope as the boat moves astern with the wind.
| Sea Condition | Rope Length to Depth |
| Calm | 3:1 |
| Fair | 5:1 |
| Moderate | 7:1 |
Setting
When the full rope is out, secure the rope and give the engine a short burst in reverse to ensure that the anchor has bedded in.
The rope
The critical element of anchoring is to have enough rope out. The absolute minimum is three times the depth of water, and five or seven is better.
Monitoring
Once the anchor has set and bedded in, you should take a few bearings or line up some objects to check that the anchor is not dragging. If you notice that you are drifting off the bearing and you suspect that the anchor is dragging, place your hand on the rope and feel for any signs of the anchor bouncing along the bottom. This should confirm or reject any suspicions you may have. If the anchor is dragging and you have enough room, try paying out more rope. In most cases by decreasing the angle between the anchor and the boat (ie, letting out more rope) will be all that is required to get the anchor to bite.
Securing the anchor line
The very end of the anchor rope should be secured within the vessel to prevent loss of the anchor. If not using the whole rope, the chosen length should be secured to deck hardware. Never anchor the boat from the stern or sides of the boat. Anchoring the boat from the stern could cause the boat to sink quickly.
Retrieving the anchor
There is no need to over exert yourself by pulling the boat up to the anchor: let the engine do the job while you retrieve the rope. You may need to indicate to the driver which way to steer. Never run over the rope as it may foul the propeller.
Snagged
When the rope is vertical, it may be necessary to take a turn of it around the rope anchoring point in the boat and let the engine power break the anchor out of the bottom. If the anchor will not break out, slacken the rope, back off, and approach the anchor from different directions.
With thanks to http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/imarine/19167.asp