[ActiveCaptain]

I guess it's the difference between someone who cruises for tens of thousands of miles at a time, anchoring for weeks at a time between marina visits and someone who sits behind a desk and dreams of sailing.

3:1 is, at best, the very minimum amount to use for an overnight anchorage. It's not good enough. In any real situation, almost everyone uses 5:1 or greater. I've been anchored for the last 5 days in 22 feet of water off Cumberland Island in Georgia. My 10 foot bow adds a significant amount to the scope. I have 200' of chain out giving a scope at high tide of better than 6:1. Through the week, about 6 other boats have dragged at one time or another but I haven't moved.

3:1 is a dangerous amount unless you're in an incredibly protected anchorage. It's probably what the other 6 boats were using.

I would strongly suggest changing the default to something higher, like 5:1, and without any question, allow the user to modify the fixed setting. There are times when I use 10:1 all chain scope. Every situation is different.

I always wondered why so many boats drag around in anchorages. I guess I'm getting a glimpse into why.