Deck General · Anchoring

Increasing the scope of anchor cable improves holding power chiefly because it:

Explanation

A long scope keeps the pull on the anchor nearly horizontal so the flukes stay buried. A short scope raises the angle and tends to break the anchor out. Typical scope is 5:1 to 7:1.

Authority: Knight's Modern Seamanship; Bowditch (Pub. No. 9)

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