An anchor is an essential part of any aquatic experience and when you are thinking about beach anchoring, it is important to invest in a safe and reliable beach anchor. Your decision of equipment is dependent upon the size and type of your boat, as well as the weather and anchoring conditions you meet.
Boating at the beach is a recreational activity that provides a lot of fun and relaxation. If you decide to stop at a beach be prepared to do your beach anchoring safely.
Load the boat with a beach anchor, which is more reliable than a regular anchor when they are used in sand. Anchors used for beach anchoring are twisted into sand like a corkscrew or pounded into the sand. Set aside a rope that will be used only for beach anchoring. This way you donÕt have to use your normal boat anchor each time you go to the beach. There are different kinds of anchors designed for beach anchoring. For example the Sandspike¨ can keep your watercraft on the beach or off the beach, depending on which you prefer. You can insert in the beach angled away from your boat, and the Sandspike¨ will act as a temporary mooring bit. This beach anchor works on all types of beaches, except solid rock. For beach anchoring you can also use the shore spike anchor. It is a simple device that is driven into the sand, or clay or beach. It holds a boat close to the shore and pulls against the bow anchor, which is pulling the boat off the shore. It is practical for beach anchoring because when you need it, you simply pull the boat back to the shore. The spike anchor is driven in place by the inertia of the handle, which is pumped up and down. The spike anchor can hold boats up to 30 plus feet. The Slide Anchor Shore Spike is another good anchor for beach anchoring. It provides a shore tie anywhere you might want to beach your boat. It offers enough holding power to secure your boat in the softest of sands or strongest of winds.
Drive the tubular handle downward to deliver the spike blade into the shoreline. Once the Spike is secure, just tie it off to the lower ring. For retrieval tap the tubular handle upward to free the Spike from the shoreline. Many professionals use this for beach anchoring because it can be used in shallow water as well as on the shore. The top is open for air, water, and debris to pass freely through the handle allowing easy operation underwater. A top ring is provided for a buoy to mark the location of your Spike for other boaters and foot traffic.

Helpful Hints for Beach Anchoring

¥ Always approach a strange shore slowly, watching for logs or rocks under the water.
¥ Secure the anchor rope to the bow with a bowline knot.
¥ Secure the other end of the rope with an anchor hitch knot.
¥ Drive the boat close to the shore. Exit the boat and swim or walk to the beach. It is a good idea to keep the back of the boat and propeller floating in water.
¥ If the area has large tidal fluctuations, it is better not to get too close to the beach. The tidal fluctuations may leave your boat on dry land and then it could be difficult to get it back to the water.
¥ When beach anchoring, it is important to pull the anchor rope as far as possible, further is better. Do not anchor too close to the waterline. If you do so and a tide comes in, the beach anchor will stay in position, but it might be difficult to extract the beach anchor until the water retreats.
¥ Be sure that you have enough rope, stakes, shovel, hammer, and an anchor. You never know if you are going to have adverse weather conditions.