The most important role of and anchor is to secure the boat while the occupants fish or enjoy a nice meal on board without drifting away. Anchors keep the boat away from rocks and dangerous structures. Using an anchor requires careful consideration and practice. You canÕt anchor well if you donÕt have the right anchor kit, which usually includes the anchor, line, chain, shackles, and swivels. What type of anchor kit you need depends on your boat and the kind of boating you do. It is important to know that only one anchor canÕt do everything completely and perfectly. When buying anchors, it is a good idea to take into consideration the environmental conditions, the size of the boat and the weight of the anchor itself. If the anchor has spotty galvanizing, poor welds and other inconsistencies in the metal, then it is better not to buy it. Anchors can save your life, so buy the best anchor that you can afford. Many professionals look for anchors that can be set and re-set quickly and easily under all conditions. It is important that it has a good craftsmanship and a good holding power in all types of bottom like weed, rock, sand or mud. You should be able to release the anchor effortlessly from the bottom and store it easily on deck-compact.
TYPES OF ANCHORS:
The fluke or Danforth anchors: They have two long, sharp pivoting flukes and a long shank. Danforth anchors offer high holding power and great durability at a moderate cost. The flukes are strong and wide permitting the anchor to hold your boat in place in tough conditions. Angled crown plates give this anchor quick, deep penetration. The anchors are hot-dip galvanized for long lasting corrosion resistance. These anchors have the ability to dig into sand and mud and they will come out easily when pulled from different directions. A disadvantage of this type of anchors is that they tend to slide on grass and skip on rocks.
Super Hooker anchors: The lightweight, hot dipped galvanized SUPER HOOKER anchor has strong, wide flukes that penetrate quickly and firmly for maximum holding power. The fully welded crown configuration provides the right angles for ultimate holding power and secure penetration. The Super Hooker stows flat and can be used with most fluke type anchor storage systems.
CQR/Plow/Plough anchors: Their design allows them to be useful in various bottom types. The plow is effective in grasses, weeds, sand, and mud. Their shape allows them to reset fairly easily should the wind or tide shift the boat position. However, owing to the use of lead or other dedicated tip-weight, the plough is heavier than average for the amount of resistance developed, and may take a slightly longer pull to set thoroughly.
Mushroom anchors: They offer effective holding power in mud and weeds. Mushroom anchors can weigh several thousand pounds because they are used extensively for moorings. They work very well in soft bottoms, because they can create a suction that can be difficult to break. However, they are good for small boats, but not practical for larger boats.
The most common way of attaching an anchor to a boat is nylon rope, because it is strong, flexible and it has a very high breaking strength. The size of nylon rope will depend on the size of your boat.
The anchorÕs holding ability is determined by its size and not by its weight. Buy the biggest anchor you can get according to the size of your boat. Bigger anchors have more strength to resist breaking and will have more weight to penetrate deeper.