An anchor is an important tool for any ship or boat. It provides stability and holds the vessel in place, preventing it from drifting away in currents or wind. With the right use of an anchor, a captain can park at a position and relax as all passengers enjoy the voyage. However, teaching students about how an anchor works may seem challenging, but with the right techniques, it can be an easy and exciting experience.
To start with, it is important to know the various types of anchors available. The most common ones include fluke anchors, claw anchors, and plough anchors. They are all designed to hold a vessel in place in different types of seabed. Fluke anchors are perfect for sandy and muddy seabeds, claws anchors for rocky and gravelly seabeds while a plow anchor holds in gravel, sand, soft rock, and clay soils. Teachers should select the right anchor for a given seabed to enable students to understand how it operates.
After selecting the suitable anchor, the next step is to explain to students how it works. First, the anchor must be thrown overboard into the seabed. Once there, the flukes or blades penetrate the bottom, and as the anchor chain tightens, the anchor sets into the seabed, holding the vessel in one spot. This principle of anchoring is what is known as the “Scope”. Teachers should show this to students using diagrams or by using a model of an anchor for better understanding.
For students to understand the principle of scope, they need to understand the types of anchor lines available. A chain or a rope is used to connect the anchor to the boat, with the chain being the most suitable for its durability and strength. The principle of scope states that the length of the anchor line should be at least five times the depth of the water, which improves the stability of the vessel. For instance, in water that is 20ft deep, the anchor line’s length should be at least 100ft.
Finally, teaching students about how to retrieve the anchor goes hand in hand with teaching them how anchors work. Retrieving an anchor can be a tough job, and students must be aware of the safety precautions that should be taken. Teachers should demonstrate to students how to pull up the anchor and the order in which it should be done. The process should start by slowly hauling the anchor, freeing it from the bottom before returning it aboard safely.
In conclusion, teaching students about how an anchor works can be a fun and informative activity that will create an interest in the world of marine navigation. Teachers need to ensure that the students understand the different types of anchors available, how to select the right one, the principle of scope, the types of an anchor line and how to retrieve the anchor safely. By comprehending these concepts, students will have a better understanding of how an anchor works and its importance when navigating a ship.
