1. Instructors: George Crowl
QM-8
Quartermaster
Anchoring
This PowerPoint is provided for those who may not have appropriate training aids available in a ship or location. This generally follows a companion lesson plan available at I expect you to modify it to fit your situation and teaching style. I am more concerned that Scouts learn than this fit a specific style. I am, however, a fan of the Effective Teaching model. Teaching EDGE is somewhat simplistic in its approach, but that has some advantages.
Note: These lesson plans may also be used for teaching in the ship. For administrative convenience, they cover the entire specific numbered requirement (except one, where Galley is covered separately!). Individual Sea Scout Academy lessons may only cover part of the requirements. Similarly, ships may find that even just a portion of a subrequirement is all that can be done during a particular ship meeting. Adapt these lessons as needed to fit your youth and your situation. Share these plans with your youth who are teaching.
Philosophy: Sea Scout Academy’s primary purpose is to teach the material to the Sea Scout. If the Sea Scout demonstrates mastery of parts of the subject, then the instructor should annotate on the class roster what has been passed, in the instructor’s opinion. Skippers have the right to re-examine any Sea Scout in any requirement. (Knots are not a good subject to give a pass in.) SSA may schedule only portions of ORD-8.
Instructors: George Crowl

2. Course Outline
a. Teach the Ordinary and Able anchoring requirements to a crew.
b. Know the methods of bringing a vessel to anchor and a mooring with special emphasis on wind and current with respect to the vessel’s course and speed.
c. Take charge of a vessel used by your ship and give all commands to the crew for setting and weighing anchor in several wind and current situations.
Requirements:
Reference:

3. QM-8a a. Teach the Ordinary and Able anchoring requirements to a crew.

4. Equipment Needed
Lesson plans and/or PPTs for ORD-8, ABL-8 (as desired)
Sample anchors
A marina is a good teaching aid
A boat, motor (?), life jackets, etc.
Identify the material needed for the particular lesson to be taught. The lesson plans identify it by rank, you may not need everthing for every lesson.
The lesson plans and/or PPT may prove useful.
The Sea Scout Manual has good information.
Walking in a marina is often excellent so people can see actual examples of several types of anchors on vessel bows.
Your primary vessel or another vessel equipped for anchoring.
Keep an eye out for the opportunity to teach even just a portion of each requirement as the need arises. Ask to teach. Let your skipper know as you complete each portion of this requirement. Make a note in your book as you do them.
Make the teaching as realistic as possible. Some ships have little models of the various kinds of anchors. Some have collected different varieties of the real thing. Use those. If you can use them in sand to show how they dig in, it helps. Show how to do the math of selecting the right length anchor rode. When dealing with chain, if you can find some small chain to show how it works, that is best. Have some of the ships small fittings that have been salvaged from other boats available to show how they work.
Practice makes perfect, so have the students drop the anchor, even just for practice. Take the time to drop the hook for lunch, so that everyone has a chance to experience it.
There are lesson plans in this series for each level of anchoring. Look them up, adapt them to your needs for your ship and your vessels.

5. Teaching EDGE Lacks two things – objectives, motivation
You have to supply both
Objectives – simply put – the requirements
Motivation – why should a Sea Scout want to pass an advancement requirement?
YOU have to provide the motivation – how it will be used, it may be fun to do, whatever will persuade the Scout to do it
Give a pre-test? You may be able to sign them off as complete with part or all of it
Let's discuss the Teaching EDGE method. It is the official BSA method of teaching. First, there a couple things lacking that you must fill in. First, what are your teaching objectives? Well, in BSA rank advancement, the objectives are the rank requirements. So, half your problem is solved, you are teaching the rank requirements for the skill involved.
The second half the problem is how much the Scouts know, and are they willing to learn what they don't know? You may have to give them a pre-test of some kind, or observe they they don't know something they they should, to find out what they don't know. What if their pre-test shows they already know it? Stop teaching, you and they are done! Sign them off! On the other hand, if they don't know it, we now have to persuade them that they do need to know it, so they will be willing to learn it.
Now for the official Teaching EDGE method, and an example.
Explain
Demonstrate
Guide
EnableA
Let's discuss the Teaching EDGE method. It is the official BSA method of teaching. First, there a couple things lacking that you must fill in. First, what are your teaching objectives? Well, in BSA rank advancement, the objectives are the rank requirements. So, half your problem is solved, you are teaching the rank requirements for the skill involved.
The second half the problem is how much the Scouts know, and are they willing to learn what they don't know? You may have to give them a pre-test of some kind, or observe that they don't know something they should, to find out what they don't know. What if their pre-test shows they already know it? Stop teaching, you and they are done! Sign them off! On the other hand, if they don't know it, we now have to persuade them that they do need to know it, so they will be willing to learn it.

6. Teaching EDGE (2) Four main steps Explain Demonstrate Guide Enable
EDGE is a simple teaching method for relatively simple tasks. It is effective for many Scouting tasks.
Make the teaching as realistic as possible. Some ships have little models of the various kinds of anchors. Some have collected different varieties of the real thing. Use those. If you can use them in sand to show how they dig in, it helps. Show how to do the math of selecting the right length anchor rode. When dealing with chain, if you can find some small chain to show how it works, that is best. Have some of the ships small fittings that have been salvaged from other boats available to show how they work.
Practice makes perfect, so have the students drop the anchor, even just for practice. Take the time to drop the hook for lunch, so that everyone has a chance to experience it.
There are lesson plans in this series for each level of anchoring. Look them up, adapt them to your needs for your ship and your vessels.
Now for the official Teaching EDGE method, and an example.
Explain
Demonstrate
Guide
Enable

7. Explain
Need the calculate the amount of rode needed to anchor in different harbors.
Need to know for three different depths (10', 20', and 30')
Normal and storm conditions
Freeboard of our vessel
The first step is to explain what needs to be done. For example, we need to calculate the amount of rode required to anchor. We need to know how to do so for three different depths, and two different conditions. Discuss the normal and storm conditions, and the factor for each. Then point out that the vessel's freeboard must be added to the water depth. For the nominal 30' sloop you are likely to add 3' of freeboard, so you must multiply 7X 13', 23', and 33'. Illustrate a bigger boat, with a 5' freeboard, and how it changes the equation.
The first step is to explain what needs to be done. For example, we need to calculate the amount of rode required to anchor. We need to know how to do so for three different depths, and two different conditions. Discuss the normal and storm conditions, and the factor for each. Then point out that the vessel's freeboard must be added to the water depth. For the “nominal 30' sloop” you are likely to add 3' of freeboard, so you must multiply 7 X 13', 23', and 33'. Illustrate a bigger boat, with a 5' freeboard, and how it changes the equation.

8. Demonstrate Instructor shows how to calculate on whiteboard
Depth + freeboard is the starting point
Multiplied by 7 for normal and 10 for storm conditions
= 13 x 7 = 91' of rode
The second step is to demonstrate how to do it. You may start with a series of illustrations. Do the calculations on a white board. You should be able to do just one for them to get the idea.
The second step is to demonstrate how to do it. You may start with a series of illustrations. Do the calculations on a white board. You should be able to do just one for them to get the idea.

9. Guide Students do the math for six or more possibilities
7 times depth (10, 20, 30) + freeboard
10 times depth (10, 20, 30) + freeboard
Change freeboard on them, or give a different depth, to insure they understand and can calculate
The third step is to guide the students doing it themselves. They need to actually calculate problems for their own vessels. You may have different freeboards, therefore different answers!
The third step is to guide the students doing it themselves. They need to actually calculate problems for their own vessels. You may have different freeboards, therefore different answers!

10. Enable
Have the Scout(s) calculate the rode required each time you anchor
Fourth, you enable your students to actually execute the task when needed. If they know the skill to meet the needs of the requirement, you may pass them on it.
EDGE is a simple teaching method for relatively simple tasks. The principles above apply to all the tasks of this requirement and other Sea Scout requirements. It is effective for many Scouting tasks.
Fourth, you enable your students to actually execute the task when needed. If they know the skill to meet the needs of the requirement, you may pass them on it.
EDGE is a simple teaching method for relatively simple tasks. The principles above apply to all the tasks of this requirement and other Sea Scout requirements. It is effective for many Scouting tasks.

11. When do You Pass the Scout?
Policies vary between ships
Author's opinion: if the Scout can do the calculations, and do them again the following week, s/he has met the requirements for calculating rode. If it is not used, it will be forgotten.
Other skills, perhaps knot tying, should be demonstrated several times by the Scout before passing. A

12. QM-8b
b. Know the methods of bringing a vessel to anchor and a mooring with special emphasis on wind and current with respect to the vessel’s course and speed. T

13. Approach Upcurrent or upwind or a combination
The devil is in the details!
Slowly
Enough power to maintain steeragway
Stop at buoy or over anchor release point
Hook on, or release anchor
The vessel needs to approach the anchor's position or the mooring buoy upwind and/or upcurrent. When you have both current and wind, select the strongest and make allowances for the other. The approach should be slow but with enough power to maintain directional control. When the bow reaches the mooring, or the location you wish to lower the anchor, stop the boat. Snag the pennant, or rapidly lower the anchor until it reaches the bottom. Allow the wind/ current to push you backwards. When anchoring, pay out the calculated rode. Snub the rode and cleat it. You may choose to “set” the anchor by reversing.
If you are on a sail-only boat, you may find it useful to approach on a reach, turning into the wind to arrive at your desired location at zero ground speed and your sails luffing.
Be aware of the locations of your neighbors so that you do not interfere with them should the wind or tide change.
The vessel needs to approach the anchor's position or the mooring buoy upwind and/or upcurrent. When you have both current and wind, select the strongest and make allowances for the other. The approach should be slow but with enough power to maintain directional control. When the bow reaches the mooring, or the location you wish to lower the anchor, stop the boat. Snag the pennant, or rapidly lower the anchor until it reaches the bottom.

14. Set Anchor Let current / wind drift you back
Pay out calculated rode, cleat it
Set anchor by reversing if desired
Sail only: consider broad reach, turn and luff sails into desired location
Have clearance from your neighbors A
Allow the wind/ current to push you backwards. When anchoring, pay out the calculated rode. Snub the rode and cleat it. You may choose to “set” the anchor by reversing.
If you are on a sail-only boat, you may find it useful to approach on a reach, turning into the wind to arrive at your desired location at zero ground speed and your sails luffing.
Be aware of the locations of your neighbors so that you do not interfere with them should the wind or tide change.

15. QM-8c
c. Take charge of a vessel used by your ship and give all commands to the crew for setting and weighing anchor in several wind and current situations. T

16. Anchoring Commands Helm or Boatswain Commands Let go the anchor
Retrieve the anchor
Pay out more scope
Snub the anchor
Cleat the anchor
See p. 152 for common anchoring commands. In addition, an Internet search will show some possible hand signals for anchoring. Because of wind noise and other issues, pre-briefed hand signals may be very useful in anchoring.
Anchoring in several wind and current conditions may require that skippers and other evaluators record anchoring on different days to meet this requirement.

17. Bow Handler Commentary
Anchor is ready
Anchor is down
Anchor aweigh (off the bottom)
Anchor in sight
Anchor is clear
Anchor is secured A

18. Bow Handler Directions
Bow or Boatswain may need to give positive directions to the helm
One handler always put one arm out parallel to anchor rode so helm can steer toward it
Signal forward, neutral, or reverse by words or arm position
On large boats, walkie-talkies are useful A

19. Multiple Times
“Several wind and current conditions” means do it more than once!
The boatswain (you) may position anywhere on the boat for best observation and communication A

20. Questions? R