How often should an anchor be lowered, and how many shots?

• A. 1 shot
• B. 4 shots
• C. 2 shots
• D. 3 shots

Answer: (C)

Lowering an anchor is done in controlled increments, with each increment called a shot. Paying out in steps lets you watch the anchor descend, ensure it clears the hawse pipe, and begin to bite the bottom rather than letting a long length of chain rush out all at once. The standard practice is to lower in two shots. Once the anchor reaches the bottom, you then pay out the remaining chain to achieve the desired scope for the conditions (depth, wind, current). Dropping in a single shot is harder to control and can lead to chain fouling or improper setting, while more than two shots adds unnecessary steps for normal anchoring. Therefore, two shots is the typical, safest approach. A shot is a length of chain, usually about 15 fathoms (roughly 90 feet).