One of the amazing things that could happen while you’re enjoying your time on your boat is spotting a nice beach. After seeing it, you may be intending to visit it. But the first thing you have to do is anchoring your boat. This may prove to be very difficult if you’re not exactly experienced with boats and never used boat anchors on a beach before.
Well, if you’re in this situation, you shouldn’t worry about it anymore as we’re here to help. Below, you’ll find the steps you should go through to anchor the boat at a beach.
Anchoring Your Boat at a Beach
When you see that beautiful beach from the distance and want to chill and enjoy your lunch or explore the surroundings, here’s what you have to do to anchor the boat:
1. Position the Boat
First things first, you need to make sure you are positioning your boat properly. You have to be about 50 yards off the beach on your boat, and the bow should be facing away from the shore.
2. Drop the Anchor
The next thing you have to do is drop the anchor. So, as soon as you are in the proper position, deploy it. Keep in mind that the anchor line has to be attached to your boat. Meanwhile, you should also have enough slack in the line.
Aside from this, it’s important to have the right type of anchor when you’re close to the beach and you need to drop the anchor. Different types of bottoms will require different anchors, and not having the right type will not guarantee that your action is going to work.
If the bottom is sandy, then you may want to use a Danforth anchor, or just look for an anchor that works with sandy bottoms. Not to mention that at least 4ft of the chain will be necessary if you want everything to work smoothly. This will allow the anchor to dig into the sand.
3. Back the Boat Towards the Beach
Now that you dropped the anchor and everything’s set so far, you should start backing the boat towards the beach. Also, you should keep your eye on the bow anchor line. Get closer and closer to the shore, and then start trimming your motor up while doing so.
Keep moving towards the beach and when you get within 15 yards from it, cut the engine and go to the bow of the boat. Then, keep letting out the anchor line until you reach the wanted distance from the beach.
4. Secure the Bow Line
As soon as you are reaching the distance you want from the beach, you should tie off the bow anchor line. Then, go to the stern of the boat.
5. Secure the Stern Anchor
You need to make sure your anchor line is tied. Afterward, you have to take the stern anchor and secure it to the beach. It’s time to secure it properly and check the anchor line out a few times to make sure it is tight and nice before you tie it off.
6. Keep Up Your Motor
Lastly, you should ensure that the boat’s motor is trimmed up. This will make the foot stay out of the sand.
Things to Consider when Anchoring the Boat at a Beach
Whereas anchoring your boat at a beach is not difficult once you know the steps you should go through, there are some things to consider when doing so. There are some risks, as well as some times when you shouldn’t anchor the boat at a beach directly on the shore. Here’s what you should know in this regard:
1. Potential Hazards
When anchoring the boat on a beach, there are a few possible hazards that could occur, and it’s necessary to avoid them, for your safety and for the safety of your boat.
For instance, sharp rocks and coarse sand should be considered if you want to anchor a boat at a beach. Basically, you should avoid going directly on the shore if there are sharp rocks around the beach. In that situation, you should keep the boat in deeper water. Also, bear in mind that sand and rocks are not very friendly with the gel coating of fiberglass boats, so make sure you have a rubber or stainless-steel keel strip on the boat if you go to the beach frequently.
Other risks you should be aware of and avoid include the boat floating away with the changing tide, the boat getting stuck high and dry while the tide recedes, and the antifouling coatings being removed. Water intrusion in the fiberglass laminate might occur too.
Therefore, fit the keel with a guard before beaching the boat and clean the boat and reapply antifouling coatings as soon as possible.
2. Best Times for Beaching the Boat
You should never really beach the boat on the shore directly. However, you may want to do this when you aren’t in the mood to go through the trouble of anchoring, or when there’s something you want to see without wasting time on anchoring.
Keep in mind that this should only happen when you won’t be ashore for a long time because the tide keeps changing. Also, look for great visibility and ensure there are no rocks between you and the sand where you want to set your boat.
Final Thoughts
Anchoring the boat at a beach will be easy, at least as long as you know how to do it properly. Make sure you have the right type of anchor and that you follow all the steps we offered above. If you know how to do it, not only that you’ll be able to anchor the boat, but you may also avoid potential hazards, which is a big plus.
