Question 3883 Deck General

The correct answer is D) five to seven times the depth of water. When anchoring, it is a common rule of thumb to use a length of chain that is five to seven times the depth of the water. This allows the anchor to set properly and provides enough scope (the length of anchor chain or line) to ensure the anchor can hold the vessel in place, even in changing wind and current conditions. The other options are incorrect because: A) twice the depth is generally not enough scope for proper anchoring; B) seven to ten times is on the higher end of the recommended range; and C) adding the tide range is unnecessary, as the depth of water already accounts for tidal fluctuations.