How to to be a Good Neighbor On the Water?

Anchoring your own boat to beautiful scene surroundings is one of the most amazing parts of cruising with friends and family. However, those perfect spots comes with a great responsibility to others whom you share the water with.

Here are four keys to being a better anchor neighbor, no matter where you drop the hook.

First Hook, First Tone

Understanding the basic protocol of the directions from others is a first step of proper anchoring. The bottom line here is first come first served, which means first boat to enter the anchorage, and then subsequent boats after that, set the precedent, especially in tight anchorages, for anchoring procedures. Setting the precedent then leads us into one of the most important elements of anchoring: Spacing between boats.

Avoid to be a Space Invader

When a boat comes in and anchors too close is probably the worst cruising experience, and most of the time it’s completely unnecessary and avoidable.

You may then ask ‘How close is too close?’, and it is actually indicated by how many boats are in the anchorage, what their anchoring setups are, and how much space is available. Ideally, you can look at how far apart boats are spaced and then try to match this distance or give even more room. Similar to our personal bubble ashore, we have an anchoring bubble that, when invaded, causes a bit of discomfort.

Avoid the “Herd Mentality”

Sometimes referred to as the “magnet effect”, what I call the herd mentality is when you’ve found that peaceful spot by yourself and another boat comes and anchors right next to you. Inevitably, another will then do the same. In small coves with limited room, this is to be expected and shouldn’t cause any ill will. But in larger bays with plenty of room to anchor, there is generally no need to anchor right next to someone who is already there.

Simple anchoring etiquette suggests that if you come into an anchorage with only one or two other boats and there is plenty of room, anchor far away. This sort of harkens back to the idea of having an anchoring bubble, the closer you get to someone, the more uncomfortable it’s potentially going to be. While some boaters’ bubbles are larger than others, it is a good general rule to presume that people would like the maximum amount of space and privacy available.

Be a Good Neighbor

Please be courteous to one another and think about how your actions may affect those anchored around you. This is especially true when lots of boats are trying to share a single anchorage and its adjacent shoreside attractions and amenities.

When entering an anchorage, do so at an appropriate speed so as not to create an excessive wake. The same goes for using your dinghy. It’s great that you can go fast, but you don’t necessarily need to buzz close to nearby boats every time you go to and from shore.

Being a good neighbor in the anchorage doesn’t just apply to the other boats around you, it also extends to your time ashore. Respect private property; utilize pumpout and garbage facilities; leave your dinghy in the appropriate place; keep your dog on a leash at the dinghy dock and in parks and spaces where it’s required, and please pick up after them. It’s simple stuff that helps to ensure enjoyment and continued access for all of us.

Overall, anchoring etiquette comes down to being a courteous and spatially-aware boater. Everyone is out on the water to have a good time and experience the things that make boating in the Pacific Northwest so incredible. By being respectful and conscientious, we can all share and enjoy one of the best parts of spending time on our boats—peacefully swinging on our own hook.