| Anchors: Matching the Proper Anchor to a Particular Waterway Bottom |
From "Shipshape Boating"
episode DSSB-102 |
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In this second episode of DIY's Shipshape Boating, host John Greviskis will discuss the different types of anchors and waterways for which they are perfected suited.
Across the country there are different types of waterway floor bottoms. For example, in Florida you may have sand, rock in Boston and mud or grass in the Midwest. Different anchor manufacturers have designed specific anchors for particular waterway bottoms.
Before we discuss the different types of anchors, it's important to know the different components of the anchor:
- Anchor Shank (photo, right) -- This is the long portion of the anchor to which the chain is attached.
- Anchor Flukes (photo, right) -- This is the lower portion of the anchor that actually attaches to the floor of the waterway.
- Chain -- More about the different types of chain in the next segment.
Different Styles of Anchors
- Bruce Anchor (photo, right) -- This anchor was designed primarily to hold the boat's ground when it's in mud.
- Mushroom Anchor (photo, right) -- This is another anchor that was designed for muddy floor surfaces. It gets its name from the shape. Once this particular anchor is buried down into the mud, an extremely strong suction is created. The drawback is that you have to physically get out of the boat and bury this anchor into the waterway bottom (figure A). Many of the mooring buoys that you see being used on a bay, for example, will use some type of mushroom anchor to secure the buoys in place.
- Plow Anchor (photo, right) -- Grassy waterway bottoms is where this particular anchor works best. Since grass has roots, you need a type of anchor that can quickly drive itself underneath those roots and take strong hold.
Similar to a farmer's plow, this anchor digs down into the mud and takes hold (figure B). The sharp point enables it to drive down deep enough to secure the boat.
- Grappling Hook Anchor (photo, right) -- This unique anchor was made for those difficult rocky-bottom surfaces. The anchor is actually made of four hooks that can grab hold underneath rocks. Where the grappling hook becomes difficult is when you want to retrieve the anchor.
Greviskis has a great tip for the best way to use a grappling hook anchor. Here's what you do:
The chain is attached to the base, not the end of the shank, for this particular anchor. Simply take the chain and run it up along the length of the shank and hold it into place with nylon tie-straps. Loop a heavy-duty tie-strap through the end of the shank and pull it tight. Then take a lightweight nylon tie-strap and insert it through the loop that was created with the heavyweight tie-strap and tighten on the end of the shank. Take the chain and run it up to the end of the shank, and grab the lightweight tie-strap and insert it through one of the chain links. Insert the tail into the backside of the tie-strap and pull the string extremely tight. Snip the tails of the tie-straps off (figure C) with side cutters, which will create better hydrodynamics.
The reason you want to run the chain along the shank and secure it with tie-straps is that you'll need to be able to pull the anchor from the base (instead of the end of the shank) when you're ready to reel it back into the boat. Since the chain itself was secured with the lightweight tie-strap, you'll be able to pull the chain and break the strap easily (figure D).
- Danforth Anchor (photo, right) -- If you're boating on waters that have a sandy floor, this is the perfect anchor. The shank of this anchor pivots up and down and the flukes are triangular pieces of metal that are pointed in order to dig down into the sand. With the pivoting and sharp points, this anchor has tremendous flexibility. The base -- or crown -- of the anchor has a stabilizer bar (figure E), which keeps the anchor from rolling along the sand. As you pull on the anchor shank, the flukes dig into the sand.
Now that you know all about the different types of anchors, it's time to explore the styles of chains in the next segment.
RESOURCES :
The Complete Book of Anchoring and Mooring
Model: 0870335391
Author: Earl L. Hinz
(October, 2001)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Cornell Maritime Press
Centreville, MD 21617
Phone: 410-758-1075
Fax: 410-758-6849
Heavy Weather Tactics Using Sea Anchors and Drogues
Model: 0939837374
Author: Earl R. Hinz
(October, 2000)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Paradise Cay Publications
Arcata, CA 95518-0029
Phone: 707-822-9036
Fax: 707-822-9163
Heart Marine Books Complete Guide to Anchoring and Line Handling: Putting Rope to Work for You
Model: 0688137342
Author: David G. Brown
(February, 1996)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Hearst Marine Books
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