Deck General · Ground Tackle & Anchoring
A vessel is anchored in 30 feet of water. The hawsepipe is 5 feet above the waterline. To achieve a 7:1 scope, how much rode should be paid out?
- A210 feet
- B245 feet✓ Correct
- C175 feet
- D30 feet
Explanation
Scope is measured from the hawsepipe to the anchor on the bottom, not from the waterline. Total depth = 30 ft (water) + 5 ft (freeboard to hawsepipe) = 35 ft. At 7:1 scope: 35 x 7 = 245 feet of rode. Using only the water depth (30 x 7 = 210 ft) is a common error that underestimates required scope.
Authority: Deck Seamanship (USCG deck topic)
Practice the full Deck General bank
Free spaced-repetition quizzing across 2190 USCG exam questions — it schedules your reviews so the ones you miss come back until they stick.
Related Deck General questions
- Ground Tackle & Anchoring
Which type of anchor relies primarily on its weight rather than its flukes digging into the seabed for holding power?
- Ground Tackle & Anchoring
When anchoring in moderate weather, the recommended scope (ratio of rode length to water depth) is generally:
- Ground Tackle & Anchoring
The Danforth (lightweight) anchor achieves its holding power primarily by:
- Ground Tackle & Anchoring
On an anchor, the 'crown' is defined as:
- Stability Definitions
Displacement is best defined as:
- Stability Definitions
Deadweight tonnage (DWT) is defined as: