4 BOAT HANDLING ANCHORING


Sea anglers tend to spend a lot of time at anchor – and not always in ideal situations. Fishing for bass, for instance, is often done when and where the tides are at their strongest. Few other recreational boaters would anchor in such circumstances.


The equipment you use is known collectively as ‘ground tackle’ and comprises the anchor itself and the ‘rode’ – the cable that connects the anchor to the boat. There are many different types of anchors and a selection of the most common are shown below. Each manufacturer has a tendency to claim that their own product is superior, but the truth is that all anchors hold better in some seabeds than others. An anchor that might hold well in soft mud might be less secure in gravel and so on. However, most modern anchors are pretty good all-rounders and will perform tolerably well in most conditions. The traditional ‘fisherman’ type anchor is excellent on rock and heavy weed and should not be dismissed on account of its antiquity.


CQR


A popular perennial that has been around for decades. It performs well on a wide range of seabed types


Bruce


A good all-purpose anchor but awkward to stow


Danforth


Awkward stowed in a bow roller but lies flat in lockers. Liable to pinch your fingers. Works well in mud or sand but not good in rocks or weed


Fisherman


Great in rock or weed but inefficient in pretty much everything else


Of equal importance to the anchor is the rode. This can be of chain, rope or a combination of both. Chain is the by far the best choice but can be impracticable on smaller boats. An all-rope rode is vulnerable to abrasion, which leaves a mix of chain and rope as a good compromise. In practice this usually means 5m or so of chain and the rest of nylon rope. Never use polypropylene as it floats and, at slack water, could rise to the surface and foul both your prop and your fishing lines.


Anchors are designed to work best when the pull on them is as near horizontal as possible. This is one reason why the short length of chain is so important. Its weight holds the shank of the anchor down. It’s also vital that you let out plenty of rode. Five times the depth of water is about right. Any shorter and the pull from the rode will be more upwards than horizontal and the anchor could be pulled out – especially if the boat is snatching in the waves.


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RYA Seamanship for Sea Anglers

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