| A Brief Overview of the Types of Anchors | | | | Danforth/Fluke |
| Available | | | | Every boat I have ever purchased pre-owned has |
| Many have likened one's choice of anchor to a | | | | come with a Danforth/Fluke anchor. My only |
| religious denomination: there's little rational behind | | | | conclusion for why this is, is because they are the |
| their choice of anchor but they'll support their | | | | most affordable anchor around today, although |
| decision with everything they have. Making things | | | | this affordability is coming into question as more |
| more complicated, a number of new religions, | | | | anchor patents expire. |
| ahem, anchors, have hit the market in recent | | | | The Fluke anchor performs quite well in mud and |
| years. Each, of course, claims to be the best. | | | | sand. When set correctly, the flukes can |
| In reality, its difficult to pinpoint one single best | | | | penetrate the bottom with a lot of force, |
| anchor. Most styles of anchors have their own | | | | resulting in excellent holding power. The downside |
| strengths and weaknesses according to your boat | | | | is that outside of mud and sand, the Fluke has |
| size, anchoring conditions, budget, and so on. We'll | | | | very limited holding ability in bottoms such as kelp, |
| try to give a brief low-down on the most popular | | | | rock, coral, etc.. When being set in mud or sand, |
| anchors here. | | | | these anchors do have a reputation for |
| Bruce/Claw Style | | | | occasionally dragging along the bottom. |
| The Bruce/Claw style anchor was developed in | | | | For day boaters or to use as a secondary anchor, |
| the 70's by the Bruce Anchor Group as an | | | | the Fluke anchor is a suitable choice. For anyone |
| alternative to what was, at the time, the only | | | | boating overnight where an unset anchor has |
| general puporse anchor available, the CQR/Plow | | | | more dire consequences, another choice of |
| style anchor. Since then, the Bruce Anchor Group | | | | anchor style should be considered. |
| has stopped offering anchors to the general public. | | | | Mushroom/Grapnel and Other Small Craft Anchors |
| The main selling point of the Claw is that it is an | | | | There are a number of anchors on the market |
| excellent all round anchor. It will hold well in most | | | | today designed for small craft such as dinghies, |
| bottoms, although it performs less well in sand | | | | canoes, kayaks, and so forth. These anchors are |
| and mud. It is also easy to set and to retrieve | | | | normally small and compact to allow for easy |
| and has a reputation for not breaking out during | | | | stowage and have no sharp points to avoid |
| wind/tide changes. On the downside, its awkward | | | | puncturing an inflatable. The two most popular |
| one piece design can make it difficult to stow. It | | | | styles of these anchors are the Mushroom and |
| also has a low holding power to weight ratio, | | | | Folding grapnel type anchors. |
| meaning you'll likely require a heavier Claw anchor | | | | Most of these types of anchors perform well for |
| than you would require for other styles of anchor. | | | | what they are designed to do. The folding grapnel |
| CQR/Plow/Delta/Wing | | | | anchor has the advantage of being extremely |
| Of the most popular styles of anchors offered | | | | compact when folded and it can also have |
| today, the CQR/Plow is easily the oldest, dating | | | | immense holding power when it hooks into |
| back to 1933. It competes with the Claw and | | | | something. That's also one of its biggest flaws: |
| Fluke styles of anchor as being the most popular | | | | once it is hooked it can be a challenge to retrieve |
| anchor amongst recreational boaters. | | | | the anchor. |
| Like the Claw, Plow anchors are known for | | | | The New Generation |
| performing well in most bottoms, although it does | | | | There's been a relative surge of new anchors |
| not excel in any one bottom. The hinged shank | | | | hitting the market in recent years. Some of the |
| means the anchor turns with wind/tide changes | | | | most common of these anchors are the French |
| rather than breaking out. | | | | Spade, the New Zealand Rocna, and the |
| The most significant drawback is the old mantra | | | | Bulwagga. These anchors are designed to set |
| of boaters "Any Plow under 25 lbs is useless". | | | | quickly and create high holding power. Some of |
| Because of this, for smaller boats under 30' or so, | | | | them, such as the Rocna, have a roll bar at the |
| you'll need a much larger plow than you will for | | | | back which is supposed to ensure the anchor |
| other styles of anchors. | | | | does not land on its back when trying to set it. |
| The Delta/Wing anchor is essentially a one-piece | | | | Many of these anchors have performed |
| plow anchor. It has the advantage of having | | | | extremely well in third party tests. The biggest |
| slightly higher holding strength because of the one | | | | downside to these anchors is they can be very |
| piece design but at the same time, it also loses | | | | expensive (up to 10x the cost of other anchors: |
| some of its ability to resist breaking out during | | | | you're paying for their R&D costs) and they |
| wind/tide changes. | | | | have little reputation, good or bad. |