How do boats retrieve the anchor when they wish to set off? Surely it is hooked onto something on the seabed!?

Question

This mainly refers to historical boats, dependant on wind to power the vessel.

Answer 1

Anchors work better on lateral rather than vertical forces. To change the direction of the force, a lot of rode (chain) is let out, usually 7 times the depth of the water. This is referred to as scope. Thus, the rode is much more horizontal than vertical.

As you pull the chain up, you reduce the scope, dislodging the anchor.

Answer 2

For proper anchor holding 7 times the depth of the water is put out in anchor line. Chain between the anchor and anchor rode also helps an anchor to hold. The bottom determines the type of anchor to use. (mud, grass, rocks, etc.) When it is time to weigh anchor the boat is pulled up into position just over the anchor, with the 7 times length of rode already pulled in. Then the angle helps dislodge the anchor. A capstan is a wench that is used to raise the anchor. Today it is electric powered but was done by manual power in historical boats. Sometimes something from the sea bottom does come up. Occasionally the anchor line must be cut.

Answer 3

Boats refers to a smaller vessel. The anchor is designed to work it's way into the bottom of the body of water the boat is in. To do this a chain is attached to the anchor to keep the anchor from tipping up and dragging along the bottom. The amount of chain and it's weight depend on the anchor and boat that is being held at anchor. Rope is often attached to the chain to make up for the depth of water as it is less expensive and is much cheaper to replace.Unless you are in a little row boat the anchor and rope should never be strait up and down. Most of the chain will be on the bottom while the rope attached to is will be some where around thirty to forty degree angel to bottom on way to boat. Enough rope must be used for the tide change. If close to other boats two anchors are often used front and back. most anchors will come up without much trouble after they are strait up and down. Some others have a small rope that will if pulled release the angel of the anchor letting it come free from the bottom. Checking charts like road maps will give you the information you need to decide where to set anchor to avoid this problem.

Answer 4

When you first lower the anchor and it digs in, the boat is pulling on the chain to dig it further into the mud. When retrieving the anchor the captain steers the boat over the anchor, ahead of the chain, in order to pull the anchor free, and then it is pulled up by which ever means of power: by hand, by mechanically winching it in. Sometimes the anchor can get snagged on either a cable, a rock or mooring chain. The only way to free it then is to cut the rope after the length of chain. This of course means you loose the anchor, which is very costly.

Answer 5

Anchors are so heavy, their weight alone keeps the boat in one spot. There is no need for them to be hooked to anything although they are shaped to slow the boat down in the event of severe weather dragging the boat away from the anchor spot.

They are winched up by a variety of methods.

Answer 6

Depends on the type of anchor but the usual method is to move over the anchor to dislodge it.

Answer 7

most boats modern or ancient used a capstan...now adays the capstan(wildcat) is powered by steam or electricy .. in the bad ol days it was powered by hand....rememer the movies where there is a bunch of guys walking in a circle pushing agains a wooden bar they are powering a capstain... the capstain when not engaged to the anchor...is used to tighten lines.. peace

Answer 8

Great question! I have no idea. Why is Anchor butter named after a ships anchor?

Answer 9

diffrent angle, when the anchor is pulled up it is not being dragged along the seabed it is just going up.

Answer 10

This is a tricky one - which is shorthand for 'I haven't a clue', but let me know when you get a scientifically credible answer - I'd love to know.