The Three Most Common Anchors
 

Using a boat anchor is usually the last thing a new boater ever thinks about. Using the right anchor is essential to safe boating. After all how difficult is it to use a boat anchor? Just throw it in the water when it hit’s bottom tie it off and you’re done right? WRONG!  

Using the right equipment and using it properly takes the right attitude and practice to pull it off. I remember my first bad anchor experience and it was due to my inexperience as a new boat owner that caused this potentially dangerous event. Here I was out in the ocean maybe a mile or two offshore, fishing with my buddies. We dropped anchor so as not to drift since we were getting some good strikes. After about an hour we decided to move to a different spot. Guess what? we couldn’t get the anchor free. This was my first time out in the ocean as we usually fished in the bay. We tried everything so we had to eventually cut the line. So I lost a perfectly good Danforth anchor and about 300 feet of line.

The moral to this story is to make sure that you not only have the right sized anchor and the proper anchor for your vessel but it is also vital to practice dropping your anchor and retrieving it. Now it’s possible that the anchor may have gotten tangled in some line or an old wreck but nevertheless it was pretty scary.

The term ground tackle refers to the anchor, line, chain, shackles and swivels. Despite what some may say there really is no one anchor that is right for every size and style of boat. Each different style has it’s own benefits and drawbacks. The size of your anchor has a great deal to do with the size of your vessel. The manufacturer will normally have a size chart that can be referred to before making your anchor purchase. If you're not sure ask a professional.

These are essentially three of the more popular anchors used by most boaters...

The first being the Danforth and this is probably the most popular. The Danforth is quickly identified by its two long, sharp pivoting flukes and long shank.  The Danforth is mostly used by boaters with small to medium sized boats. The anchor isn’t very heavy, it’s small so it stores away easily. Just be careful not to stick yourself or anything else for that matter with the flukes. Because of the flukes this anchor digs well into the sand but one drawback is that it can tangle in lines. However with practice this anchor is easy to release when pulled from different directions. On this anchor the flukes pivot that way the shank can be pulled at a more upward direction. The Danforth is great for fishing and moving around to different locations often. But if you intend to stay anchored overnight or for long periods in different types of underwater terrain you may want to consider a different type of anchor that will hold better.

The second anchor of the three is the plow anchor. It is easy to see from the photo where the plow anchor gets its name from. It is shaped and functions much like a plow. The plow anchor has a single shaped fluke which pivots at the end of the shank. This makes this anchor work well on many different bottoms.  The plow shank pivots from side to side, as it still remains parallel to the fluke.  When the anchor is pulled vertically it makes removal very easy.

 This is the third anchor and last of the three most popular anchors. This anchor is referred to as
the Bruce anchor. This anchor was originally designed to be used for offshore gas and drilling rigs. A smaller version of this anchor has become popular with boaters. The anchor has a solid hold but when pulled up vertically it can be loosened and pulled free.

When selecting an anchor for your boat always make sure that the anchor is the right size for your boat. So always make sure to check the manufacturer's horizontal holding power. If you’re not sure a good rule of thumb is that a little too big is a much better choice than an anchor that's a little too small!

Choosing the right anchor depends a great deal upon the length of your boat so choose an anchor system that matches the length of your boat. Always follow the manufacturer’s specifications. But remember that a lot also depends upon the conditions. It just makes sense that if you are in rough waters your anchoring system will probably be affected in some way. That’s why many boaters carry two different anchors in case they loose one or when the conditions warrant use of the other.

Another integral part of your anchor is your line. Always make sure to use a strong and durable line. Don’t skimp in this area try to buy good quality braided nylon as your anchor line. If you’re not sure ask a marine professional. If you have a small to medium size boat you should use a small section of galvanized steel between the anchor and the line.

Anchoring your boat properly is something that comes with practice. You can read up on it. You can also take classes. If you want to practice you might try practicing in an area where you can actually see the bottom. That way you can see how the anchor catches and how you can release it. This way you’ll get an immediate feedback. The more you practice the better you’ll get at it.