How to Anchor a Boat in Canada

Anchoring a boat may seem like a fairly simple concept, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind to do it correctly. If you do not anchor your boat correctly, your boat could drift or capsize, posing a danger to yourself and to other boaters or people in the water.. There are also official regulations regarding acceptable anchorage locations and navigation lights.

Read on for a comprehensive guide to anchoring a boat safely and legally in Canada!

When to anchor a boat

First, it’s important to understand exactly when you need to anchor your boat.

Generally, vessels and pleasure crafts use anchorage areas as follows:

• When waiting for permission to enter a port
• When waiting for a berth or cargo to become available
• For safety and security reasons
• In rough weather or when there is low visibility
• When engaging in activites like diving or when having an on-board party where alcohol is served
• During maintenance. How long a boat stays at anchor can vary from a few hours to a few weeks depending on why it is being anchored.

Anchoring regulations

In Canada, vessels at anchor are regulated by the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Transport Canada enforces these regulations to limit the risk of accidents at anchor and make sure marine traffic flows smoothly.

Here are a few important aspects of anchoring regulations for vessels and pleasure crafts.

Anchor equipment

Boats are required by law to carry an anchor on board as part of their boating safety equipment. The equipment used to anchor a boat is usually made up of several components:

• An appropriate type of anchor
• Chain
• Anchoring line
• Rope to extend the chain.

The length of chain, cable or rope that connects the anchor to the boat is called a rode. The correct length of rode can be measured by calculating the scope. For a general idea, refer to the regulations outlined in the chart below.

How to calculate scope

Scope is the ratio of the length of anchor line (rope or chain) released to the vertical distance between the boat’s bow and the bottom of a river, lake or seabed.

For example, a standard 7:1 scope means that for every 1 unit of vertical distance, you need 7 units of anchor line. A scope of 5:1 is typically the minimum, while 8:1 is often used in rougher conditions.

If you are anchoring in 12 feet of water and your boat’s bow is 4 feet above the waterline, you would need 112 feet of anchor line for a 7:1 scope ((12 + 4) x 7).

Where to anchor

It is the boat operator’s responsibility to make sure their vessel stays safe, and that includes choosing a safe anchorage. Anchorage may be prohibited for safety reasons (if there are submerged cables or pipes in the area, for example) or to protect marine ecosystems. Otherwise, boats are generally free to anchor temporarily almost anywhere. The right to anchor a vessel is part of the common law right of navigation. However, some anchorages require payment or authorization for longer-term use.

Deciding where to anchor involves taking various factors into consideration, including:

• The depth of the water
• Nearby environmental dangers such as sandbanks or rocks
• The strength, direction, and rising or ebbing of the tide
• The presence of strong winds
• How close you are to other boats
• The length and draft of your pleasure craft
• The reason for anchoring
• The length of the vessel’s rode
• The proximity of landing points
• Local regulations: many cities have rules about where boats can anchor.

Visibility of boats at anchor overnight

Boats that are anchored overnight must remain visible. The operator of a pleasure craft under 50 metres in length must display an all-around white light while at anchor overnight or in low visibility. When anchored in daylight, they should display a black ball.

A vessel under 7 metres in length that is at anchor overnight is not required to display navigation lights unless it is anchored in a narrow channel, a fairway frequently used by other vessels, or a nearby anchorage.

How to anchor a boat correctly

1. Attach one end of the rode to the boat and the other to the anchor.
2. Slowly lower the anchor over the bow of the boat until it touches the bottom. Do not drop the anchor over the side of the boat or attach it to the stern. Otherwise, the wind or current could cause the boat to capsize.
3. Let out enough anchoring line (see above definition of scope) to provide enough slack for the anchor to lay flat on the bottom of the waterway. Then, let the boat drift or use reverse thrust to help the anchor dig in. If the anchoring line is too short, the upward pull will be too strong for the anchor to get a proper hold.
4. Once the anchor is in place, choose at least two fixed landmarks on the horizon or shore and use them to check the boat’s position frequently and make sure it isn’t drifting.
5. When it’s time to leave, reel in all of the extra anchoring line and haul the anchor back into the boat.

Master your boating skills with the National Boating Safety School!

There’s nothing to fear about anchoring your boat.. With the right training and practice, anyone can do it. Just keep the safety and legal considerations in mind!

In order to legally operate a boat in Canadian waters, you need to have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card on you at all times. So, register to get your official Canadian boating license today if you don’t have one already!

For more tips on boating safety and basic maneuvers, the National Boating Safety School is a great resource. Our boating safety manual is a useful tool for new boaters and anyone who wants to review the key facts before taking their