Anchor Buoy Techniques

Ships and boats of all sizes rely upon buoys to aid in navigation as well as mark the location of anchors. Buoys in varying sizes float in the water at a given spot and are relied upon to mark locations and indicate the water depth. An anchor buoy floats above an anchor as a location device and to warn of a submerged object.

  1. Drift

    • A boat or any object that floats in water will drift with prevailing currents. Anchoring a boat to the bottom does not mean the vessel will stay in one spot. It will drift as much as the length of the line attached to the anchor will allow. A technique to account for drift direction involves dropping a buoy at the spot where you want your boat. Then let your boat drift and move it around until you have compensated for the drift. Anchor your boat and it will drift back to the location of the buoy.

    Other Boats

    • Using an anchor buoy around other boats requires a different technique. Consideration of the drift directions of the boats is necessary to avoid anchoring your boat within range of another boat. Observing other boats to note their speed and distance of their drift will provide information so a proper technique can be adopted to avoid a collision.

    Swing Circle

    • Swing circle refers to the distance a boat will dwift -- or "swing" -- in a circle from the anchor buoy in the middle. The technique of determining swing circle for surrounding boats and your own boat involves measuring the length from the buoy to the anchor plus the length of the boat. That distance is the radius of the swing circle. The swing circle of your boat must not intersect with the swing circle of any other boat.

    Slalom Course

    • Anchor buoys can also be used to lay out a slalom course for water skiers. An official course uses 22 buoys over a 850 feet long area. The course must also provide for 600 feet at the beginning and 600 feet at the end, creating a course that's just over 2,000 feet long. The International Water Ski Federation provides precise locations for each buoy so the course meets its standards.