On Sun, 16 May 2004 17:19:56 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:

The minimum scope (length of anchor
line) should be at least 3x the water's depth...so in 15' of water,
you'd need to put out at least 45' of anchor line.

Measure the "depth" from where the anchor rode
meets the boat. If your chock or cleat is 3'
above the water, the effective depth would be
18' in 15' of true depth. This makes much more
difference in shallow water than in deep water.

And as Peggie says, 3x is the minimum -- good
weather, little wind or current, and someone
keeping an eye on things at all times. If you
want to relax or leave the boat for a while,
you need more scope than that.