An anchor is a most important safety equipment that is used on boats in order to protect them
from drifting away into dangers, such as rocks shoals and other kinds of obstructions or the
dangers of
Waves-lashed coastline.
There are different types of anchors that vary depending on the size and type of the boat.
A tall sportfishing boat or power cruiser that usually catches winds, needs a heavy gear or
safety equipment as compared to a low profile boat. Similarly some boats that are used for
extended sailings and long-range cruising need anchors in harsh weathers and on a variety of
bottoms,so they will need not only heavier safety equipment or gears but also many different
anchors that are effective and suitable for diverse bottom surfaces.
In order to effectively determine which size anchor is best suitable for different type of boats
anchor manufacture guidance is used that is usually based on boat length. If a boat is heavier
than the given length then a larger anchor is preferred. Similarly the same logic applies if a boat
frequently visits areas with high wind pressures. Usually the bigger size of an anchor is more
advantageous but as the anchor holds a boat in water, it is the holding power of the anchor,not
its weight that actually matters.
Types of Anchors:
There are various types of boat anchors.Once you determine which size of anchor is best suited
for your boat, you’ll also want to know the type of that anchor. Some of the most commonly used
types of anchors available for boaters are given as:
Mushroom Anchors
It is a xommon type of anchor which is used to secure large as well as small boats and ships. It
has a distinct shape of a mushroom with broad and heavy bottom that is effectively used to dig
deep through seabed and hold the anchor in place. They also come in two forms (i) very large
mushroom anchors and (ii) small mushroom anchors.
Large mushroom anchors are used for securing buoys while small mushroom anchors are
effective in softest river bottoms as they have insufficient grip and weak holding capacity.They
should only be used for personal watercrafts, small aluminum fishing boats or dinghies.
Danforth or fluke anchors:
These types of anchors are best suited for small lightweight boats and are primarily used in
recreational crafts. They are known for their lightweight design and effective holding power in
muddy or sandy bottoms; they have two white flat flukes that are used to provide effective
holding power in soft bottoms. But they are less effective in deep mud or grassy bottom.
Plow anchor:
A plow anchor, as it name suggests is used to provide affective holding power by plowing into
the seabed. This type of anchor is a little more clumsy than a danforth and it is a good choice for
large boats. It is known for its stability and resistance to drifting in windy conditions. It has a
single penetrating point and is more effective in light grass. It has the ability to hold the ship in a
rocky bottom if it gets good grip and it also works effectively in soft bottoms.
Claw Anchor:
Is yet another type of anchor that is similar to blow anchor but it has a broader scoope shape
and it works affectively in mud, clay or sandy bottoms. Similar to a plow anchor these anchors
are also strong and effective enough to hold on a rocky bottom.They usually don’t work very well
on hard bottoms or in thick vegetation but are best suited for the installation in rocky conditions
and hold firmly due to their claw shape.
Conclusion
Based on the aforementioned types of anchors, it is clear that the most best suited anchor for
small and light weight boats is Danforth or fluke anchor which is not very heavy keeping in mind
the size of the boat that it is anchoring and at the same time it is also having effective
anchoring/holding capacity.