If you consistently find yourself out on seawaters, you may be closely familiar with anchors without even realising about it. Anchors are one of the most essential contraptions on any powered or sailing vessel. In this article, we will talk about what you need to know about boat anchors in South Africa.
What Should You Know About Boat Anchors in South Africa?
What are the Different Types of Anchors?
While anchors come in different shapes and sizes and have different names, there are four distinct types of anchors in South Africa.
Fluke anchors are lightweight, cheap, and best for muddy or sandy bottoms of a water body.
Claw anchors are another popular choice amongst boaters, providing great versatility on rocky or sandy bottoms.
Then there are Plow anchors. These are heavy-duty anchors that are usually found on larger vessels. Great for rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms.
And last but not least, there is the Grapnel anchor. It is best against rocky or coral bottoms. Usually found on smaller vessels like kayaks and dinghies.
Another one that is commonly found is the mushroom anchor. This one is *really* heavy and is usually used for long-time or permanently mooring a boat.
Important Parts of an Anchor Line
Anchor Scope
Anchor scope refers to the ratio of the length of the anchor rode (chain or rope) to the depth of the waterbody where your vessel usually operates. The longer your anchor scope is, the better the holding power will be. The extra rope/chain piles up around the anchor which provides extra stability.
SAMSA recommends having at least 50m of rope on your anchor line (on Category E vessels) regardless of depth. Of course, if you are operating in waters deeper than 50m, you must have the appropriate anchor rope length as well.
For your reference, the usual ratio is 7:1 (preferable) or 5:1 (minimum). Meaning if you are mooring in water having 10m of depth, then your line should be at least 70m long. The length ratio also includes freeboard, which is the height of the bow from the waterline.
Weak Link
There are occasions when your anchor may get stuck or does not have enough scope. In such cases, you would not want your anchor to tilt or drag your vessel along with it.
To counter these potential risks, there is a section called the weak link in the anchor’s rode. This part is usually situated towards the end of the chain where it connects to the anchor.
When the scope experiences tension beyond a certain limit due to reasons, the weak link breaks, freeing the anchor from the vessel. This means you have lost the anchor but you will retain most of your rode. If that happens to you, then it is time to return to the shore and get a new anchor for your vessel.
According to SAMSA, the weak link or ‘the chain’ should be at least 5 metres on vessels of 6 metres or more in length. On vessels under 6 metres, the weak link has to be at least 3 metres.
When would you consider dropping the anchor?
Just because you are taking a little stop, does not mean you always have to drop the anchor. Dropping and retrieving an anchor is tedious and knowing when to drop the anchor can save you a lot of time and strength.
Here is the list of when you would be dropping an anchor.
- If you are staying in a place for a considerable amount of time, for R&R or any other reasons, consider dropping the anchor to hold your boat in place.
- Consider dropping an anchor if a storm is approaching and you have made the decision to face the storm in one place. An anchor drop in such a situation can hold your boat in one place and weather the storm.
- In man-overboard situations, you would consider dropping the anchor before helping the person board the vessel.
- Anchors help greatly in emergency manoeuvres, making sharp turns or drifts that are generally not possible. In this situation, an anchor acts as a handbrake, helping your vessel quickly change direction. This should be your last resort as there is a high risk of losing your anchor in such situations.
Final Words
Before dropping an anchor, make sure you are aware of the local regulations of the areas. Some regulations restrict you from dropping anchors in specific spots.
Always turn off your vessel before dropping an anchor. Once you drop the anchor, check the scope and make sure you have enough rode out to allow the boat to swing freely. Check if there is no unnecessary tension on the rode as well.
And that’s all you need to know about boat anchors if you are driving a powerboat in South Africa. If you wish to skipper a powerboat in South Africa, you will require a SAMSA Skipper’s License. For more information about the license, feel free to connect with us today.
