Most know how to ride their fishing boats or fishing kayaks. However, only know how to anchor properly. Some people try to anchor from the stern. Not only is this perilous but also costly at the same time.
Anchoring from the stern is a major flaw that might damage the fishing boat or fishing kayak, lead to serious injuries, or even result in death. That said, read this article about the major danger of anchoring a fishing boat or fishing kayak to understand why.
Excessive Entry of Water
The stern of a boat or fishing kayak sits very low. As a result, water easily enters through it even when no anchor is attached. Attaching an anchor on the stern makes it even lower. Because of this, it will be easier for the water to enter the cockpit through the rear. This fast entry of the water might fill the cockpit and eventually cause the fishing boat or kayak to sink.
Raised Bow
Not only will an anchor cause the stern to sit low but will also give the entire fishing boat or fishing kayak an inclined position. Specifically, it will leave the bow slightly raised and the stern relatively lower. This is bad because the fishing boat or fishing kayak might turn on itself
Damaged Hull
The bow is designed in a way that allows for the efficient dissipation of incoming shocks from waves even when an anchor is installed. In contrast, the stern doesn’t have this function. Its design only allows for efficient propulsion and prevention of vibrations coming from the rear. Putting an anchor on the stern disrupts the balance. This might lead to a damaged hull in the long run.
Increased Wobbling or Shaking
The stern sits low to prevent wobbling or shaking. However, putting an anchor puts it near the level of the water’s surface. As a result, the stern loses its capacity to stop the fishing boat or fishing kayak from being unstable when stationary. This results in frequent wobbling that may cause the fishing boat or fishing kayak to capsize.
Damaged Fishing Boat or Fishing Kayak Motor
You shouldn’t place the anchor on the stern especially if you’re using a fishing boat or fishing kayak that has a motor. This is because you might accidentally hit them while anchoring. Commonly, the part of the motor that gets damaged is the propeller. Other parts that may also get broken is the casing, the tube connecting the propeller to the motor, etc.
For fishing boats, other things that might happen aside from a damaged motor are broken rudder, rudder shaft, and shaft logs.
To summarize, these are the following dangers of anchoring a fishing boat or fishing kayak from the stern:
- water enters through the stern then fills the cockpit or cabin
- results in an inclined position that might cause capsizing
- cracks, dents, or breaks in the hull
- increased reaction to waves and wind
- damages the rudder and motor
So far, these are some of the most likely damage that anchoring from the stern might cause. Let’s move forward and discuss a little about the different kinds of anchors and the considerations when setting an anchor.
Anchor Types & Tips Video:
What Are The Different Types of Anchor?
There are three kinds of anchors that fishing boats and fishing kayaks may use. These are the Plow, the Mushroom, and Danforth Anchor.
The Plow Anchor
Geoffrey Taylor invented the plow anchor in 1933. As the name implies, it looks like a plow. This primarily due to its design that only uses a single fluke attached to a long shank. An advantage with the plow anchor is that it sets firmly once used. However, a disadvantage with it is that it’s only suitable for watercraft with an anchor roller platform.
The Mushroom Anchor
The mushroom anchor is an anchor with a concave fluke that’s attached to a long shank in the center. This kind of anchor is perfect if you’re planning to stay on a location for a long while. It’s because it digs deep and is highly resistant to the turbulence of the water underneath.
The Danforth Anchor
The Danforth looks like a pickaxe with two straight blades. It may the lightest and the easiest type of anchor to set. This anchor is the best for small fishing boats and large fishing kayaks.
How To Anchor Properly?: The Considerations
How Deep Is Too Deep?
So long as you have a long chain or rope attached to the anchor, depth has nothing to do with anchoring. As a general rule of the thumb, the amount of rope or chain that you should let out from the boat should be greater than the depth of the water where your fishing kayak or fishing boat is cruising. The formula for figuring out how much chain or rope you should let out is 4 multiplied by the depth of water.
For example, if you’re gauge is telling you that your fishing boat is currently cruising in a location that has a depth of 15 meters. The calculation will be 4×15 = 60. That said, you have to let out 60 meters of chain or rope to anchor successfully.
Know The Bottom
Some anchors dig well on sand. On the other hand, there are ones that do well on rocky surfaces. It’s important to know the kind of surface that sits at the bottom of the body of water where you’re riding the fishing boat or fishing kayak. This will determine how difficult will it be to set an anchor.
To Let Go or Drop Slowly?
You can always let go of the anchor immediately when you’re riding the fishing boat or fishing kayak at sea. After all, there will be no debris present that will entangle it. On the other hand, consider dropping the anchor slowly for anchoring on lakes or rivers.
Don’t Forget To Check If You’re Drifting
There’s a slight chance that you might have to pull the anchor from the water and drop it again. Sometimes, the anchor doesn’t immediately dig into the surface. As a result, you might start to feel your fishing boat or fishing kayak drifting away. Try to use reference points to see whether you’re drifting or not.
Conclusion
Sometimes, it’s best to do as everyone does. Doing things differently might look cool but might endanger you too. That said, never attempt to anchor from the stern to try something new. Anchoring from the stern is dangerous. It won’t only damage the fishing boat or fishing kayak but may also lead to serious injuries.