NW Explorations
KOnOcTi bAy OperATing MAnuAl
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21
The chain is measured by marks on the chain as follows:
10’
Red Yellow Red
200’
Red
50’
Yellow
250’
Yellow
100’ Red
290’
Red Yellow Red
150’ Yellow
300’
Total anchor chain length
When the anchor is about to reach bottom, the boat is backed away by putting the engines into reverse for 5 seconds:
eddies from the chain indicate motion. Resume lowering the anchor while drifting back- wards (watch the eddies and
add another burst or reverse if necessary!) until the desired amount of chain is out. Stop paying out chain. Engage
reverse for five seconds at a time until the chain starts to pull straight off the bow toward the anchor. A straight chain
indicates a “set” anchor!
NEVER pull on the chain for more than five seconds, and never at any engine RPM other than idle! Putting the boat’s
weight plus its horsepower on the chain forcefully even at idle will bend the anchor and/or damage the mooring gear!
If while checking the set, the chain rumbles and clunks, and seems to release in bursts, it means you’re anchoring on
a rocky bottom and the anchor is not holding. Be patient: it may not set on the first try, and you’ll have to repeat the
process sometimes to get a good “set”.