You’ve anchored your boat, and it seems to be riding just fine. Then, the current or wind changes and the boat begins veer back and forth, possibly as much as 120 degrees.

What can be done? First, consider deploying more scope. At a minimum use 5:1, but as the wind speed increases, consider 7:1 or even 10:1. More scope also significantly increases the holding power of your anchor. To know how much rode is out, be sure to have your rode marked. Markings at every 25 feet is sufficient.

Next, experiment with the snubber placement. If it leads over a side chock, instead try running it through the anchor roller…or vice versa. But, if these steps don’t work, switching to a bridle might solve the problem.

Another option is to try a hammerlock moor. After setting out your main bower, drop a second “heavy” anchor right below the stem, leaving slack in the rode. When the boat veers, the very short scope and heavy anchor will hinder the boat’s horsing around. You may need to experiment with the amount of slack in this second anchor’s rode.

About Rudy & Jill

Rudy & Jill Sechez, authors of "Anchoring: A Ground Tackler's Apprentice," (available in both print and digital editions) first began cruising in 1997 aboard a 36-foot wood, cutter-rigged sailboat that they built in a small backyard. They currently live and cruise aboard a 34-foot sail-assisted wood trawler, which they designed, then built under the trees out in the woods. Relevant to this book, they have seen their boats successfully through seven hurricanes, anchoring through five of them, in addition to numerous tropical storms and countless gales. They cruise primarily the east coasts of the U.S., Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas, with a trip to Bermuda along the way.