No-Go Zones: Where Should You Avoid Anchoring?

Beautiful, sunny days aren’t rare on the water. Dropping anchor and enjoying the scenery is a great way to spend a day. 

But even when the sun shines and a lovely view calls, anchoring might not be the best idea. When choosing an anchoring spot, safety, legal, and environmental considerations must come first.

So, where should you avoid anchoring? Here are some anchoring no-gos to remember on your next day out.

Where Should You Avoid Anchoring?

Choosing the right anchoring spot ensures the safety of your passengers, boat, and local wildlife. The consequences of irresponsible anchoring can be severe, so avoid these areas:

Heavy Traffic Areas

Heavy boat traffic creates rough waters that are hazardous and uncomfortable to anchor in. Anchoring in high-traffic areas also increases the risk of accidents with other boats and interferes with commercial operations.

In emergencies, such as breaking down or running out of fuel, anchoring in a heavy traffic area might be necessary. But generally, you want to find calm waters before you throw out an anchor.

Prohibited Zones

Some areas might look like great anchoring spots — until you get hit with a hefty fine. For example, maybe the fish are biting on the sides of a navigation channel. If you anchor there to catch fish, other boats in the area will run aground trying to get around you. 

Always check your local regulations to learn where to avoid anchoring. It’s safe to assume that locations blocking the path of other vessels or increasing collision risks are off-limits.

Protected Reefs

An anchor can damage a delicate coral reef or a sensitive habitat. Anchors can break fragile, slow-growing corals or uproot seagrass, while chains can scour reef structures. This destroys marine life habitats, harming biodiversity, fishery health, and carbon sequestration.

Unsurprisingly, fines are high for carelessly anchoring in protected areas. Your charts will mark environmentally protected areas to avoid damaging them.

Many of these locations have permanent mooring buoys. You pay a small fee and connect to the existing anchoring system to avoid throwing out your anchor and damaging that protected area.

Unsuitable Seabeds

Steer clear of unsuitable bottom conditions where your anchor could get stuck or drag. Charts designate bottom conditions with symbols: S for sandy seabeds, R for rocky seabeds, and M for muddy seabeds. Ensure you have the right anchor for these conditions before throwing it out.

Close to Shorelines

Don’t anchor too close to the shoreline, especially in tidal waters. If you anchor during high tide, the water might disappear, leaving you grounded for a few hours.

During Poor Weather

Seek safe harbor in severe weather instead of anchoring. If you need to anchor in rough conditions, ensure you have enough anchor scope — which refers to how much anchor line you have out — to avoid dragging.

Deep Waters

Only anchor in deep water if you have the proper equipment. Currents in deep waters can cause your boat to drag if you don’t have the right amount of anchor line. 

Typically, you need around six to seven times the depth of the water. So, if the water is 10′ deep, you need at least 60′ or 70′ of anchor scope to stay in place.

Near Hazards

Avoid areas with submerged objects, such as communication lines or power cables, that could trap your anchor or entangle your boat. If you get too close to crucial areas, you could risk damaging essential underwater infrastructure. Underwater hazards are common near bridges and other structures.

You don’t need to guess where they are because an appropriate chart will identify hazards in your area.

How Should You Use Navigational Charts?

Anchoring your boat improperly is risky. It can lead to capsizing, losing your boat, or hitting another boat (and it’s “always” the most expensive one around).

Local charts are your friend and can help you avoid these risks, but you must know how to read them properly. Updated local charts always note areas and hazards you must be aware of when in the area. For example, charts denote former bombing sites for the U.S. Navy where unexploded ordnance (UXO) might be underneath the water!

It doesn’t matter if I’ve been in an area 100 or even 1,000 times. I always keep local charts open for my reference. I can’t count how often I’ve referred to my charts to confirm unexpected sights.

Here are some tips for reading and using charts:

• Understand symbols: Learn the chart symbols for restricted areas, underwater cables, pipelines, and seabed composition.
• Check for restrictions: Look for marked no-anchor zones, such as marine reserves or shipping lanes.
• Assess seabeds: Identify the type of seabed (sand, coral, rock, etc.) to determine impact-safe anchoring spots.
• Use updated charts: Always use the most recent chart and cross-reference with local boating guides for the latest restrictions.

Other Resources Available to Stay Safe

Use additional resources and tools to stay informed about local regulations, anchoring restrictions, and potential hazards in your area. Be familiar with:

1. Local maritime authorities: For official regulations and advisories.
2. Notices to mariners: For updates on navigational changes and hazards.
3. Boating guides/pilot books: For detailed information on the local marine environment.
4. Marine GPS/chartplotters: For real-time navigation and regulation overlays.
5. Boating apps: For navigation, weather, and community hazard reporting.
6. Marine VHF Radio: For safety information and communication with authorities.

How Can You Anchor Safely?

If you want an answer to “where should you avoid anchoring,” local knowledge is valuable. I often come into unfamiliar areas and chat with the locals to learn more about the tides, currents, and best anchoring spots.

Consider becoming a resource for your community. When you understand boating — going beyond the local tides and tourist spots — you keep everyone around you safer. Gain the knowledge and expertise you need by earning your captain’s license with Mariners.