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Raising the sails for a leisurely trip across the Gulf of Mex ico or an extended trip around the Florida Straits requires more than chartering the best boat, or upgrading to the latest navigation tools. A good trip is dependent upon the proper anchor for your boat. e wrong anchor may not set properly or later drag , risk ing damage to the boat and injur y to ever yone on board. Nautical experts agree that choosing the right anchor doesn't necessaily mean buying the newest or the most expensive one on the market. Instead, primar y factors should factor the size of the boat, selection of anchor rode and storage options. Manufacturers say criteria like the duration of the excursion, the size and windage of the boat, wind conditions and the sea state should also be considered. Bottom Conditions Boaters should first identif y the boom conditions for the journey ahead. e ty pe of sea floor — mud, grass, sand, coral or rock — will dictate the best choice of anchors to invest in. Shiing sands and mud will need a stronger hook to anchor the boat steady, while a different hook variety is assured to anchor in the conditions over rocks and coral. Types of Anchors No two anchors are the same, requiring different storage and size needs. Various anchors work beer in different boom conditions, so it's important to select the right one for your specific boat trip. Plow anchors are the most general purpose anchors on the market and are recommended for sand, thick mud and weedy booms. ey are fairly large and bulky and usually stowed in a bow roller. Scoop anchors, similar to the plow anchors, are effective in a variety of sea boom conditions. Like the sister plow anchors, the scoop anchors are also difficult to store except in a large bow roller. Claw anchors are popular among mid-sized cruising boating enthusiasts and good for weedy or rocky booms. A lso, like the plow and scoop varieties, these anchors must also be stowed in a large bow roller. Danforth-style anchors are a lighter and easier version compared to other bulky anchors. e flat, pivoting fluke is best used in sand or mud, but doesn't have the capacity to dig into a weedy or rocky boom. Storage is also easier, either hung from a bow pulpit rail or stored in a flat anchor locker or below deck. Some models may also be dissembled for easier storage, especially in tight ship quarters. Classic fisherman's anchor (with its signature taoo shape that we all k now) is the best choice for rocks or coral booms. Experts caution choosing a heavier version of the classic fisherman's anchor to grip the boom because the flukes are so small. Mushroom anchors are ver y light, smaller varieties usually used in inflatable dinghies to avoid carr ying a sharp-fluke anchor. e larger mushroom anchors are used for permanent moorings to set into so mud conditions. How many anchors should a boat carry? Serious boaters usually stock three anchors onboard with var ying sizes and weights: one main work ing anchor, one storm anchor (a size or two up from your boat requirement) and one lunch anchor (a light anchor for short trips that is a size or two down). e additional options come in handy to stabilize the boat when encountering changing current conditions or if strong weather drags or pulls a boat in different directions. Anchoring Scope Once the anchor ty pe is selected, final consideration must be given to the anchor rode, which is made of chain, cable, rope or a combination of these varieties. e ratio of the length of the rode to the water is k nown as the anchor scope. A normal scope for a line rode is 7:1, meaning that the rode should be seven times longer than the depth (including the water to deck height). Stormy conditions need a longer scope, usually 10:1 or more. A shorter scope with a 5:1 length is usually sufficient in seled conditions during the day, but experts advise not leaving a shorter scope unaended. by Katherine Ferrara Johnson Right Anchor Selecting the MaritiMe technoloGy 20 | FLORIDA BOATING MAGAZINE U FloridaBoatingMag.com R

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