On a sand bottom, what action should you take when the anchor starts to drag?

On a sand bottom, what action should you take when the anchor starts to drag?

• A. Pay out more anchor cable
• B. Pull in more chain
• C. Move the vessel laterally
• D. Set anchor deeper

Answer: (A)

When an anchor starts to drag, the holding power is improved by increasing the scope—letting out more anchor cable. On a sand bottom, giving more line allows the anchor to reach a better angle and dig into the sand more effectively, helping reset and hold the vessel against wind and current. Pulling in more chain would shorten the rode and make the anchor less likely to reset, while setting the anchor deeper isn’t something you can achieve by force and isn’t the immediate remedy. Moving the boat laterally can help in some situations, but the quickest, most reliable fix to a dragging anchor on sand is to pay out more line so the anchor can re-seat with a better angle.

When an anchor starts to drag, the holding power is improved by increasing the scope—letting out more anchor cable. On a sand bottom, giving more line allows the anchor to reach a better angle and dig into the sand more effectively, helping reset and hold the vessel against wind and current. Pulling in more chain would shorten the rode and make the anchor less likely to reset, while setting the anchor deeper isn’t something you can achieve by force and isn’t the immediate remedy. Moving the boat laterally can help in some situations, but the quickest, most reliable fix to a dragging anchor on sand is to pay out more line so the anchor can re-seat with a better angle.