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6. ANCHORING
The LATERISER is provided with a main and spare anchor and rode (anchor line). The
main anchor has 30 feet of chain and 500 feet of line. The spare anchor has 20 feet of chain
and 150 feet of line stored in the anchor locker at the bow of the boat.
The main anchor is in place on the bow and the bitter end is tied off to an eyebolt in the chain
locker below the windlass. In order to operate the windlass, the windlass switch located on
the electrical panel in the main cabin must be turned in "ON" position. Prior to anchoring the
windlass cover must be removed and the fore deck cleared. Keep fingers and shoelaces clear
of the windlass and chain during operation! The windlass is operated from the deck switches
located beside the windlass. One is the "UP" switch and the other is the "DOWN" switch.
When the boat has been maneuvered into the desired position (be mindful of wind, tide
changes and the swing of adjacent boat at anchor) and brought to a standstill, the skipper
should signal the windlass operator to commence lowering the anchor. Care must be taken to
assure that the rode is feeding properly at all times. Take additional care when setting and
retrieving the anchor that the rode feeds through the sleeve in the deck.
NOTE: The anchor works to its optimum holding capacity when there is adequate scope on
the anchor rode. A ratio 7:1 rode to water depth is considered optimum.
On the other hand it is sometimes disadvantageous to have that much line out in a tight
anchorage. In these situations it is possible to set the anchor with the 7:1 scope and then
retrieve line until you have approximately a 4:1 scope. Another method is to utilize a shorter
scope and tie to shore with a stern line. Be careful that you remain far enough off shore to
account for low tide change.
When lowering the anchor the skipper should slowly reverse the boat while chain is fed out
until the anchor has a good bite and that it prevents the boat from moving in reverse. When
there is adequate rode for a proper scope, the anchor is set and the line is secured, then the
engine can be shut off.
Prior to weighing, both engines should be restarted (following the typical pre-check) and
allowed to warm up for 5 minutes. Turn on the windlass power switch to the "ON" position
and have the operator assume his/her position. The skipper, in communication with the
windlass operator, must position the boat over the anchor while the windlass operator is
retrieving the slackening line.
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