Anchor Types
There are many different types of anchors actually there are many types which are made from different materials. This article will provide information about the recommend anchor types for the sea floors that are different an which anchor is best suited for that floor bed.
Lewmar Delta Anchor
This anchor has a well-engineered 4-fluke design that can fold down for easy stowage. It’s easy to deploy, and the sturdy prongs have no trouble finding purchase on almost every type of surface, including mud, rock, gravel, and sand. The anchor is made from tough mild steel that has been coated to protect the anchor from corrosion and rust, but also to protect the side of your boat from scratches.
Each anchor ships with 25 feet of durable, marine-grade rope, an inline-buoy, and a huge stainless steel snap hook for easy deployment and tie-ups. The Airhead folding grapnel anchor also comes with a useful Nylon storage bag which has a padded lining to dampen any clanking sounds from your anchor when it’s in storage.
All in all, this is a great anchor for kayakers, SUP paddlers, and inflatable rafters. It will work fine with some larger boats too, however, we recommend that you only use with smaller watercraft or use it in tandem with another anchor if you want to use it on a larger vessel.
Pros
Anchor Type: Grapnel anchor
Anchor Dimensions: 13.63” long and 6.75” wide
Anchor Weight: up to 15.5 lbs
Material: Coated steel with stainless steel components
The Rocna Vulcan
The Rocna Vulcan is another award-winning product from Rocna, following on from the success of their first anchor. It’s designed for exceptional holding power and purchase, but without the complicated bow roller design of its predecessor. It’s sleek, strong, reliable, and incredibly versatile.
Rocna’s Vulcan is available in 10 different sizes, with 6 of those sizes currently available on Amazon. The sizes range from 9 lbs right up to 121 lbs. Naturally, the heavier the anchor’s weight, the more expensive the price tag. But even the most expensive items are appropriately priced for the quality of anchor you get in return.
Expertly designed for easy, instant setting in a wide range of conditions, and engineered got compatibility with a wide range of vessels and hull configurations, the Vulcan offers reliable anchoring in sandy, muddy, rocky, and gravel-like conditions. The V-bulb, large fluke, plow design provides effective holding power, smooth action, and confident anchoring.
Manufactured from high tensile stainless steel and galvanized mild steel, the Vulcan is corrosion and rust resistant, and can hold against all the stresses of life under the ocean. If you’re in doubt, each anchor ships with a lifetime warranty that covers breaks, bends, and manufacturing defects.
Pros
Anchor Type: Plow anchor
Anchor Dimensions: From 18.6” to 44.6” long depending on weight
Anchor Weight: 9 lbs to 121 lbs
Material: Stainless steel and galvanized mild steel
The Rocna Anchor
The Rocna was developed by New Zealander Peter Smith in 2000, released commercially in 2004 following strong demand developed from early models produced privately for Smith and friends. The Rocna uses a roll-bar like the Bügel, and develops the rest of the anchor to a far more sophisticated level. Both the shank and fluke are carefully optimized in order to maximize efficiency, with an eye to strength and durability. The Rocna consists of:
A concave fluke similar in form to that of the Spade but with more surface area
Tip-weight in the form of a thicker tip section, which keeps the tip profile slim while adding strength to the tip
Skids to assist with setting
Sensible shank designed to minimize early setting resistance and enable practical stowage on bow rollers.
Testing and feedback demonstrate that a well-designed roll-bar anchor such as a Rocna offers both greater holding power and setting ability than a ballasted-tip anchor such as a Spade.
The Grapnel Anchor
A Grapnel anchor is generally used for small boats such as Kayaks, Dinghies, Canoes, etc. It’s also popular with fishermen.They fold up very compactly and are easy to stow. A Grapnel’s holding power comes from hooking onto another object, such as a rock. When it does hook, it can create immense holding power, which can also make retrieving the anchor difficult.
Pros: Great for use as a lunch hook. Folds to allow for compact storage. Cons: Not appropriate for non-temporary anchorage. Bottoms: Rock or other situations when it can hook onto an object.
The Danforth or Fluke Anchor
This style of anchor is a good choice for smaller boats because it folds flat and is easy to stow, and has great holding power for its weight. Its wide, sharp flukes sink into sand and hard-mud bottoms, but are less effective in deep mud or a grassy bottom. If the wind shifts and boat drifts over the anchor and then in the opposite direction from which it was set, a Danforth anchor can pull free.
The Plow Anchor
A plow anchor is a little more cumbersome than a Danforth, and is a good choice if the anchor is secured on a bow roller rather than in an anchor locker in the boat. A plow anchor has a single penetrating point and is more likely to reset itself if boat position changes. It can be more effective than the Danforth in light grass, has the strength to hold in a rocky bottom if it gets a good grip, and does well in soft bottoms.
The Claw Anchor
This non-folding anchor is similar to the plow anchor, but has a broader scoop shape that works well in mud, clay or sandy bottoms. These anchors are also strong enough to hold on a rocky bottom. A claw anchor will re-set quickly if the wind changes. It may not work well on a very hard bottom, or in thick vegetation, both challenging for all types of anchors. This anchor is also best-suited to installation with a bow roller or windlass.
Galvanized Steel Anchors
Stainless Steel Anchors
Aluminum Anchors
PROs
Inexpensive
Strong
Corrosion resistant while galvanized
CONs
Galvanization can wear down over time
Not as attractive as stainless steel
PROs
Looks very attractive
Strong
Corrosion resistant
CONs
Very expensive
Scratches and other damage from use can affect appearance
PROs
Lightweight
CONs
More expensive than steel
Not as strong as steel
Stainless steel is identical to galvanized steel in terms of holding power but differs significantly in appearance. The shiny gloss is essentially the only difference between stainless steel and galvanized steel. Stainless steel is also very corrosion resistant and will resist most rusting over time. You will often see manufacturers describing stainless steel as either 316 Stainless or 304 Stainless. 316 is a different chemical composition than 304 and is more corrosion resistant. It also more expensive.
There are some anchors constructed from high strength aluminum, such as the Fortress. These anchors are extremely lightweight while still offering high holding power. These anchors rely on bottom penetration for most of the holding power, and therefore, if they are not set, they provide little to no holding power.
Boat Anchor Names: Trademarked Names and Generic Names
Trademarked Name Generic Name
Bruce = Claw
CQR = Plow/Hinged Plow
Danforth = Fluke
Delta = Wing
A special note is needed on the naming of anchors. Many anchors have a trademarked name, such as a Bruce or CQR, and a generic name like Claw or Plow. This is the same as how Xerox is a trademarked name for photocopier and how Aspirin is a trademarked name for pain killer. Trademarks effectively never expire whereas design patents expire after approximately 20-25 years. Therefore, manufacturers are free to clone an anchor design that has an expired patent but cannot use the trademarked name.
Author # Alternative Sailing
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