Operating instructions

on the bow operating the anchor. Putting the bow of the boat over the spot where the anchor
is to be placed after checking the depth on the depth sounder, the windlass foot-switches are
used to lower the anchor slowly toward (but not onto) the bottom, by watching the chain
markings. The chain is 400' long, marked as follows:
10' Red-Yellow-Red Stripe
50' Yellow Stripe 100' Red Stripe
150' Yellow Stripe 200' Red Stripe
250' Yellow Stripe 300' Red Stripe
350' Yellow Strip 375' Red-Yellow-Red
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 backwards (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”.
Section 3B: Maneuvering Suggestions 3.4