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F oot switches for the windlass are on the port side of the bow.
SETTING ANCHOR
CREW NOTE: The skipper will signal when to drop the anchor. Make sure the chain dog is
clear to allow the chain out. Open the deck switch cover with the arrow pointing forward.
Start with a few taps on the windlass deck switch to let the anchor roll off slowly and without
suddenly dropping. Once the anchor is hanging vertical, you can step on the deck switch and
release as much chain as the skipper requests.
Anchoring safely requires two persons, one at the helm maneuvering the boat and one on the
bow operating the anchor. Putting the bow of the boat over the spot where the anchor is to be
placed after checking the depth on the depth sounder, the windlass foot-switches are used to
lower the anchor slowly toward (but not onto) the bottom, by watching the chain markings.
The anchor chain is marked every 50 feet.
When the anchor is about to reach bottom, the boat is backed away by putting the engines into
reverse for 5 seconds: Eddies from the chain indicate motion. Resume lowering the anchor
while drifting backwards (watch the eddies and add another burst or reverse if necessary!) until
the desired amount of chain is out. Stop paying out chain. Engage reverse for five seconds at a
time until the chain starts to pull straight off the bow toward the anchor. A straight chain
indicates a "set" anchor!
NEVER pull on the chain for more than five seconds, and never at any engine RPM other than
idle! Putting the boat's weight plus its horsepower on the chain forcefully even at idle will
bend the anchor and/or damage the mooring gear!
If while checking the set, the chain rumbles and clunks, and seems to release in bursts, it means
you're anchoring on a rocky bottom and the anchor is not holding. Be patient: It may not set on
the first try, and you'll have to repeat the process sometimes to get a good "bight" on the
bottom
Chain Marking:
a). Yellow = anchor at 50' below waterline.
b). Red at 100 , Blue at 150 FT and
c). Green at 200 ft, ,
d). 6 Black draw ties in a row are attached to the chain at 220 ft ( just before the chain changes
to the 250 ft of nylon rope).
33
July 21, 2012
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