Cruise Deck Practice Test 2026 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Resource for Exam Success!

Walk the anchor out means moving the boat forward slowly under power while paying out the anchor chain, so the anchor slides along the bottom to a new holding position. You deploy the anchor in a controlled way from the bow, keeping it clear of the hawsepipe, and let the line run out as you advance. This lets the anchor reset at a better spot in wind or current without lifting it entirely or dropping it blindly, giving you a more secure hold.

This approach is different from simply raising the anchor, which would lose your position, or pulling the line taut to test the hold, which doesn’t relocate the anchor. Letting the anchor drag along the bottom would defeat the purpose of setting a solid hold.