Choosing The Right Anchor - Boat Ed

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Course Outline

• Unit 1: Before Getting Underway
  • Topic 1: Getting to Know Your Boat
    • Commonly Used Terms
    • Parts of a Boat From a Side View
    • Parts of a Boat From a Front View
    • Activity: Can You Label the Parts of a Boat?
  • Topic 2: Types of Boat Hulls
    • Displacement Hulls
    • Planing Hulls
    • How Planing Hulls Operate
    • Descriptions of Hull Shapes
  • Topic 3: Boat Length
    • Measuring Length Overall
  • Topic 4: Types of Engines and Drives
    • Outboard Engines
    • Inboard Engines
    • Stern Drives
    • Jet Drives
  • Topic 5: Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
    • What Is a Personal Watercraft?
    • Parts of a PWC From a Front View
    • Parts of a PWC From a Side View and Operator's View
    • Activity: Can You Label the Parts of a PWC?
  • Topic 6: Your Pleasure Craft's Compliance Notice
    • What Is a Compliance Notice?
    • Compliance Notice Requirements
    • Types of Compliance Notices
    • Compliance Notices: Vessels 6 Metres or Less in Length
    • Compliance Notices: Vessels More Than 6 Metres in Length
    • Examples of Compliance Notices
  • Topic 7: Float Plans
    • Filing a Float Plan
    • Float Plan for Short Outings
    • Float Plan for Extended Outings
  • Topic 8: Fuel Your Pleasure Craft...Safely
    • Before Fueling
    • While Fueling
    • After Fueling
    • Fueling a PWC
    • Video: Fueling Your Boat
  • Topic 9: Launching and Retrieving Your Pleasure Craft
    • Courtesy on the Ramp
    • Do Not Power Load Your Pleasure Craft
    • Video: Trailering & Launching
  • Topic 10: Taking Care of Your Boat and Engine
    • Pleasure Craft Maintenance
    • Alternatives to Toxic Cleansers
    • Engine Maintenance
  • Topic 11: Summary
    • What You've Learned
• Unit 2: Mandatory Safety Equipment
  • Topic 1: Personal Lifesaving Appliances
    • Overview
    • Flotation Devices
    • Adjusting Your Flotation Device
    • Lifejackets
    • Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
    • Flotation Device Labels
    • Caring for Your Flotation Device
    • Inflatable PFDs
    • Inflatable PFD Requirements
    • Inflatable PFD Maintenance
    • Children and Flotation Devices
    • Buoyant Heaving Lines and Lifebuoys
    • Buoyant Heaving Lines and Lifebuoys: Requirements
    • Reboarding Devices
  • Topic 2: Vessel Safety Equipment
    • Manual Propelling Devices and Anchors
    • Bailers and Bilge Pumps
  • Topic 3: Fire-Fighting Equipment
    • Types of Fire-Fighting Equipment
    • Axes
    • Fire Buckets
    • Types of Fire Extinguishers
    • Requirement to Carry Fire Extinguishers
    • Keep Fire Extinguishers Usable and Accessible
    • Fire Extinguisher Charge Indicators
  • Topic 4: Other Engine Requirements
    • Ignition-Protection Device
    • Ventilation Systems
    • How Ventilation Systems Work
    • Mufflers and Engine Shut-Off Lines
  • Topic 5: Distress Equipment
    • Visual Signals
    • Watertight Flashlights
    • Distress Flares
    • Distress Flares: Types of Approved Distress Flares
    • Requirements to Carry Visual Signals
  • Topic 6: Navigation Equipment
    • Sound-Signalling Equipment
    • Sound-Signalling Equipment: Requirements
    • Common Sound Signals
    • Common Navigation Lights
    • Overview of Navigation Lights Law
    • Required Navigation Lights: Powerboats
    • Required Navigation Lights: Sailboats Under Sail
    • Required Navigation Lights: Manually Powered Boats
    • Required Navigation Lights: Boats at Anchor
    • Magnetic Compass and Nautical Chart Requirements
    • Radar Reflectors
  • Topic 7: Pleasure Craft Safety Check
    • Who Can Inspect Your Pleasure Craft
    • Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check Program
  • Topic 8: Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements
    • Summary of Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements
    • Requirements for Human-Powered Vessels
    • Requirements for Personal Watercraft
    • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats up to 6m
    • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats over 6m and up to 9m
    • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats over 9m and up to 12m
    • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats over 12m and up to 24m
  • Topic 9: Summary
    • What You've Learned
• Unit 3: Legal Requirements of Boating
  • Topic 1: Your Boat's Identification
    • Which Boats Require Registration?
    • Which Boats Require a Licence?
    • Other Facts About a Boat Licence
    • Displaying the Licence Number
    • Updating Ownership Information
    • Hull Serial Number (HIN)
  • Topic 2: Who May Operate
    • Age and Horsepower Restrictions
    • Proof of Competency Requirements
    • Proof of Competency Requirements: Non-Residents of Canada
  • Topic 3: Operating Regulations
    • Unlawful Operation of a Pleasure Craft
    • Province-Wide Shoreline Speed Restrictions as of 2013
    • Video: The Danny Hampson Story
    • Small Vessel Regulations
    • Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations
  • Topic 4: Alcohol and Drugs
    • Minimize Risk by Avoiding Alcohol
    • Understand Alcohol Impairment
    • Blood Alcohol Concentration
    • Operation While Impaired
    • Sobriety Tests
    • Penalties for Operating While Impaired
  • Topic 5: Boating in U.S. Waters
    • Homeland Security Restrictions
  • Topic 6: Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
    • Requirements Specific to PWCs
    • Lawful Operation of a PWC
  • Topic 7: Water Skiing
    • Towing a Person Legally
    • Hand Signals for Skiers
    • Animation: Towing Risks
  • Topic 8: Diving
    • Stay Away From Divers
    • Types of Flags
  • Topic 9: Waste, Oil, and Trash Disposal
    • Overview of Pollutant Disposal Laws
    • Discharge of Sewage and Waste
    • Discharge of Sewage and Waste (cont.)
    • Discharge of Garbage
    • Discharge of Oil and Other Hazardous Substances
  • Topic 10: Wrecked, Abandoned, or Hazardous Vessels
    • Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
    • Vessel Ownership Responsibility
    • How to Be a Responsible Vessel Owner
    • Illegal Practices Under the Act
    • Penalties Under the Act
    • Impact of Improper Disposal
  • Topic 11: Protect the Environment
    • Marine Mammals
    • Invasive Species
    • Stop the Spread of Invasive Species
    • Video: Aquatic Invasive Species
  • Topic 12: Boating Accidents and Casualties
    • Assisting Persons Found at Sea
    • What You Must Do if Involved in an Accident
    • Reporting an Accident
    • Accident Resulting in a Wreck
  • Topic 13: Enforcement and Penalties
    • Who Enforces Boating Laws?
    • Contraventions Act
    • Complying With Boating Restrictions
  • Topic 14: Summary
    • What You've Learned
• Unit 4: Operating Your Pleasure Craft Safely
  • Topic 1: Responsibilities of a Pleasure Craft Operator
    • Responsibility to Your Passengers
    • Pre-Departure Checklist
    • Video: Preparing to Ride
    • Responsibility to the Environment
  • Topic 2: Casting Off and Docking
    • Before Casting Off
    • Before Docking
    • Video: Casting Off & Docking
  • Topic 3: Anchoring
    • Choosing the Right Anchor
    • Preparing Your Anchor
    • Anchoring Your Pleasure Craft: Step-by-Step
    • Allowing for "Swing Room" When Anchoring
    • While Anchored and When Retrieving an Anchor
    • Video: Anchoring Your Boat
  • Topic 4: Operating in Historic Canals and Locks
    • Historic Canals
    • Locks
    • Traffic Signal Lights at Locks
    • Going Through Locks
  • Topic 5: Changing Water Levels
    • Dangers of Fluctuating Water Levels
    • Tides and Currents
  • Topic 6: Compasses and Nautical Charts
    • Before You Go Boating
    • Magnetic Compasses
    • Nautical Charts
    • Nautical Charts (cont.)
  • Topic 7: Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
    • Video: Personal Watercraft: Preparing to Ride
    • Before You Go Out on Your PWC
    • Operating a Personal Watercraft
    • Be Aware of Blind Spots
    • Video: Personal Watercraft: On the Water
  • Topic 8: Avoiding Propeller Strike Injuries
    • The Most Gruesome of Boating Accidents
    • Animation: The "Circle of Death"
    • How to Prevent Propeller Strikes
  • Topic 9: Summary
    • What You've Learned
• Unit 5: Safe Navigation on the Water
  • Topic 1: Navigation Rules: Traffic Laws of the Waterways
    • Three Major Responsibilities of Every Boater
    • Rules for Encountering Other Vessels
    • Exceptions to the Navigation Rules
  • Topic 2: Encountering Other Vessels
    • Power-Driven Vessel Encountering Power-Driven Vessel
    • Activity: Meeting Head-On—Power vs. Power
    • Activity: Paths That Cross—Power vs. Power
    • Activity: Overtaking—Power vs. Power
    • Power-Driven Vessel Encountering Sailing Vessel
    • Activity: Meeting Head-On—Power vs. Sail
    • Activity: Paths That Cross—Power vs. Sail
    • Activity: Overtaking—Power vs. Sail
    • Sailing Vessel Encountering Sailing Vessel
    • Animation: Wind on Same Side—Sail vs. Sail
    • Animation: Wind on Different Sides—Sail vs. Sail
    • Responsibilities Between Vessels
    • Responsibilities Between Vessels: Rendering Assistance
    • Video: Rules of the Waterways
  • Topic 3: Navigating in Special Situations
    • Operating During Restricted Visibility
    • Operating in Narrow Channels
    • Operating Around Large Vessels
  • Topic 4: Night Navigation
    • Challenges of Navigating at Night
    • When You See a Green and a White Light
    • Animation: When You See a Green and a White Light
    • When You See Only a White Light
    • Animation: When You See Only a White Light
    • When You See a Red and a White Light
    • Animation: When You See a Red and a White Light
    • When You See a Red, a Green, and a White Light
    • Animation: When You See a Red, a Green, and a White Light
    • When You See a Red and a Green Light But No White Light
    • Animation: When You See a Red and a Green Light But No White Light
    • When You See Only a Green Light
    • Animation: When You See Only a Green Light
    • When You See Only a Red Light
    • Animation: When You See Only a Red Light
    • Video: Navigating at Night
    • Towing Lights on Commercial Vessels
    • Lights on Fishing Vessels
  • Topic 5: Canadian Aids to Navigation System (CANS)
    • Traffic Signals of the Waterways
    • Video: Navigating the Waterways
    • Lateral Buoys: Starboard Hand and Port Hand
    • Lateral Buoys: Bifurcation
    • Lateral Buoys: "Right Red Returning"
    • Lateral Buoys: Fairway
    • Day Beacons: Starboard Hand and Port Hand
    • Day Beacons: Bifurcation
    • Isolated Danger Buoys
    • Cardinal Buoys
    • Special-Purpose Buoys: Information, Hazard, Control, and Keep-Out
    • Special-Purpose Buoys: Anchorage, Cautionary, Swimming, and Mooring
  • Topic 6: Summary
    • What You've Learned
• Unit 6: Boating Emergencies
  • Topic 1: Risk Management
    • Prepare for and Prevent Accidents
    • Causes of Accidents and Fatalities
    • Practice Risk Management
    • Increased Risk Due to Fatigue
    • Video: Avoiding Accidents
  • Topic 2: Capsizing, Swamping, Sinking, or Falling Overboard
    • Ending Up in the Water Unexpectedly
    • Preventing Capsizing, Swamping, Sinking, or Falling Overboard
    • If You Capsize, Swamp, or Fall Overboard
    • If Your Pleasure Craft Sinks or Floats Away
    • If a Passenger Falls Overboard
  • Topic 3: Handling Collisions, Hull Leaks, or Flooding
    • Avoiding Collisions
    • If You Are in a Collision
  • Topic 4: Dealing With Fire Emergencies
    • Preventing a Fire
    • If a Fire Erupts on Your Pleasure Craft
    • How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
  • Topic 5: Running Aground
    • Preventing Running Aground
    • If Your Pleasure Craft Runs Aground
  • Topic 6: Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia
    • Cold Water Immersion Kills
    • Stages 1 and 2 of Cold Water Immersion
    • Stages 3 and 4 of Cold Water Immersion
    • Preparing for Possible Cold Water Immersion
    • Surviving Cold Water Immersion
    • Protecting Against Rapid Heat Loss
    • The HELP and Huddle Positions
    • Treating a Victim of Cold Water Immersion
    • Hypothermia
    • Hypothermia: Treatment
    • Video: Preparing for Emergencies
  • Topic 7: Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, and Seasickness
    • Heat Exhaustion
    • Heat Stroke
    • Seasickness
  • Topic 8: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
    • What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
    • Preventing CO Poisoning Before You Go Boating
    • Preventing CO Poisoning While Boating
    • CO Poisoning Situations: Blocked Exhaust or Another Boat's Exhaust
    • CO Poisoning Situations: Teak Surfing
    • CO Poisoning Situations: Slow Speed or Station Wagon Effect
  • Topic 9: Fuel-Burning Appliances
    • Why Are Propane and Butane Dangerous?
    • Using Propane and Butane Appliances Safely
  • Topic 10: Weather and Water Condition Emergencies
    • How to Avoid Severe Weather
    • How to Avoid Severe Weather (cont.)
    • Listen to Weather Reports
    • Wind Warnings
    • Severe Weather: Prepare Your Boat and Passengers
    • Severe Weather: Go to Shore or Ride It Out?
    • Debris After Heavy Rains
  • Topic 11: Summoning Help
    • What You Need on Board to Summon Help
    • What You Need on Board to Summon Help (cont.)
    • Using a VHF Marine Radio
    • Using a VHF Marine Radio (cont.)
    • Issuing a MAYDAY or Pan-Pan Call
    • Issuing a MAYDAY or Pan-Pan Call: How to Issue a Call
    • VHF Marine Radio Channels
  • Topic 12: Summary
    • What You've Learned

View Course Outline

Even though anchors are used most often by recreational boaters to “park” their pleasure craft while swimming or fishing, anchors are also critical equipment in times of emergency. Anchoring may be a safety measure if your pleasure craft becomes disabled.

Choose an anchor that fits your pleasure craft and the boating conditions.

Plow-Style Anchor

The plow-style anchor is good for most pleasure craft and gets its holding power by plowing into bottom sediments.

Fluke-Style Anchor

The fluke-style anchor (commonly referred to as Danforth) is similar to the plow style but is more lightweight. It is also good for most pleasure craft and gets its holding power from its pointed flukes digging into bottom sediments.

Danforth is a registered trademark of Tie Down Engineering, Inc.

Mushroom Anchor

The mushroom anchor gets its holding power by sinking into bottom sediments. It should not be used to anchor boats larger than a small canoe, rowboat, small sailboat, or inflatable boat since its holding power is weak. You should never depend on a mushroom anchor to hold a boat in rough water or rough weather.

• Unit 4 of 6
• Topic 3 of 9
• Page 1 of 6

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