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Anchoring your boat correctly can be the difference between having a safe and enjoyable boating experience, and a disaster. Shore anchoring is different than deep anchoring in many ways and is very commonly done incorrectly. Here at Diamond Water Sports, we specialize in shore anchoring systems. I am going to give you some pointers that will help you to make anchoring quick, safe, and reliable.
First, the most common shore anchoring method for small boats and PWCs is the “bow in” method. This is also by far the least reliable and the most potentially damaging to your boat. The ”bow in” method involves driving the boat into shore until the bow of the boat is up on the sand in shallow water. The boat is then anchored from the bow eye to a shore anchor. This method is very simple to do, and allows access to your boat in shallow water, but should only be used for short times when the boat is under close supervision. Bow guards are also recommended if this anchoring method is used in order to minimize damage to your boat. “Bow in” anchoring should never be used for overnight anchoring or anchoring in rough conditions. Wind and waves can push your boat sideways against the shore, and can even tip it or bury the prop in the sand making it very difficult to push back out. Even worse, large waves can push your boat further up on the beach forcing the stern or back of the boat deeper into the water. As this continues, the waves can begin to come over the top of the stern swamping your boat. Many unfortunate boaters have returned to their boats after a stormy night to find them buried in water and sand.
A second more reliable way to anchor is with the bow out. This allows the boat to face oncoming waves enabling it to safely ride out even the roughest conditions. To accomplish this, a bow anchor is thrown out 50 – 100 feet beyond the desired location of the bow. This distance depends on the depth of the water and the length of your anchor line. In general, the further your boat is from the anchor the better. Make sure that your anchor is well secured then position your boat with the stern toward the shore and attach an anchor line from a stern cleat to a shore anchor. Be sure to secure your boat far enough out to keep your prop out of the sand. This method has the advantage of being much safer and less damaging to your boat, and the disadvantages of taking more time to set up, and more difficult access to your boat in deeper water. These disadvantages can be largely overcome with anchoring variations that will be discussed later. Very commonly, boaters will anchor with the bow in during the day while the boat is being taken in and out frequently, and then anchor with the bow out in the evening or when stormy weather is anticipated.
Many modifications can be made to the bow out anchoring process to make it easier. The use of an anchor buoy can be very helpful so as not to have to put the bow anchor in and out every time the boat is taken out and brought back in. To do this, attach a carabineer or utility hook to a loop in the anchor line at water level directly above the anchor. Just a note, tie your loop using a figure eight knot so as not to end up with a knot that you cannot get out later. When the boat is disconnected from the line, an anchor buoy is attached to the carabineer to mark its position. Be sure to coil the extra rope and connect it to the carabineer at the base of the buoy to keep it out of unsuspecting props. A great way to set up your shore anchor line is to tie a loop and place a carabiner at the desired position of the stern of your boat. Make sure there is enough extra line to reach the lake bottom at that position. Attach a small anchor such as a mushroom anchor to the line so that it sets on the bottom directly below the stern of the boat and the carabineer. When you bring your boat in, grab the line with a grappling hook and tie a short line from the stern cleat to the carabineer. A second buoy can be attached to the carabineer to make it easy to find. A great addition to this method is to use a flat towable in place of the buoy. The towable comes in very handy in transporting gear and people who do not want to wade out to the boat. Once the towable is loaded, the person simply pulls themselves to the boat or to shore using the shore anchor line. When the boat goes out for more fun, the towable is connected to the carabiner and functions as the anchor buoy for that line.
Larger boats generally require two shore anchors. Anchor lines are secured to each of the two stern cleats in the same way as described for a single line.
House boat anchoring is an entirely different situation. Anchoring a houseboat requires a significant amount of effort, and must be done well in order to avoid being washed away in a storm. The better your anchoring job is, the better you will sleep at night. There are few things worse than having to re-anchor a house boat in the middle of the night during a storm.
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