Anchoring off of Key Biscayne
Note how the students, in good form, have laid out the anchor rode before attempting to drop the anchor. This is always a good plan when you are using a vessel that you have no personal knowledge of, such as a charter boat. The last thing you need is to be ready to set the anchor and find that the rode has been disconnected between the chain and nylon three strand, or the bitter end is not secured, or that there is a load of buckets, toys or junk laying on top of the rode. It is important that the anchor and rode is properly stowed and is ready to use at all times.
Unfortunately charter vessels that have sat un-used for a while, well things may not be as they are suppose to be. For the most part, bareboat charter vessels are attended to on an "as needed" basis. So it is not uncommon, especially in the down island fleets, that a vessel not scheduled, will end up as a parts reserve for those boats that are scheduled. I have gone on charter boats as a port captain and found batteries missing, anchors missing, one vessel that was about to depart had part of the steering missing. The better charter companies manage this problem better, but they all do it.
Part of our 200 course is teaching the students how to become better charters. How to survey a vessel and preclude a majority of the boat problems right off. We also teach our students how to manage difficulties, expect the unexpected and how to not let minor problems ruin a week of sailing fun in the sun. If cruising is nothing else, it is an exercise in being flexible.