Coast Guard Exams
Question 4074Deck General70% to pass

Using a scope of five, determine how many shots of chain you should put out to anchor in 5 fathoms of water?

AI Explanation
The correct answer is B) 2 shots of chain. To anchor in 5 fathoms (30 feet) of water, the general rule of thumb is to use 5 to 7 times the depth of water in scope (length of anchor rode). In this case, with 5 fathoms of water, a scope of 2 shots (180 feet) of chain would be appropriate to provide a secure anchorage. The other answer choices are incorrect because 1 shot would be too little scope, 3 shots would be excessive, and 5 shots would be overkill for the given depth.

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