If you are new to boating, you need to know about the types of anchors. Every boat must have an anchor. Even if you don’t plan to stop in the middle of the water, you should keep an anchor for an emergency. A competent captain never boards on a boat without an anchor.
This article will discuss the types of anchors and their specific parts that you should know. The anchor that a boat needs depends on several situations. The primary conditions that alter the type of anchor used for a ship are wind, water flow, and ground conditions.
Read the article thoroughly to know every single detail about different types of anchors. Select the most suitable anchor for your boat according to the conditions, so you don’t have to worry later.
Types of Anchors: Overview
In terms of boat anchors, we can say that many anchors are available in the market. However, every anchor is not suitable for every boat. Moreover, the weather condition and the surroundings also alter the anchor types used for the ship.
Most anchors are made of hard materials such as metals and a combination of some other elements. The type of anchor suitable for you also depends on the size of your boat.
What Is An Anchor?
Before diving into the types of anchors, first, clarify “what is an anchor.” An anchor is like a car’s handbrake that stops it from moving here and there when the engine is off. However, an anchor is a part of the boat that controls it and specifies some boundaries for the ship.
Though an anchor is a part of the boat, many boats don’t have it. In such ships, where an anchor is not previously available, you have to buy one for your safety. Professional shipmen consider anchors as the essential part of the safety gear for shipping or boating.
Basics of Anchor
An anchor is a hook-shaped element that ties the boat to the ground or some shore. The anchor must be strong enough to hold the ship in place. You might be wondering the need for an anchor when the boat has to float over the water.
Those fishermen who go for a two or three days tour into the oceans know the importance of anchoring a boat. Whenever you want to rest or catch a few fish, you have to anchor your boat to avoid getting lost.
The hook of the anchor goes to the bottom of the water and hangs itself with some support. The shape of the arch is made sharp, so it may also dig into the ground if no external support is available.
Materials of Anchors
Mainly a rigid material is used while making an anchor. Galvanization takes place as the steel is coated with zinc to avoid stains. Steel is the best material for making anchors as it is stainless and also very strong. Some anchors are made within the process of electroplating.
However, if you are looking for a lightweight anchor for a small boat, you can get one made of carbon fiber. Though carbon fiber anchors are light in weight, they are much stronger enough to support a small boat. Composite anchors are more expensive than steel ones.
Types of Anchors: 10 Different Anchors You Must Know About
There are two main types of anchors, i.e., permanent and temporary, which are then subdivided. There are 10 types altogether if we add those of temporary and permanent. These are the anchors that most people use for anchoring their ships and vessels.
Permanent Anchors
Permanent anchors are for those ships or vessels which need to be anchored permanently. However, you can remove the permanent anchor, but not so quickly. Only those vessels use permanent anchors, which have to stay in a single position for a long time.
There are many permanent anchors, but some basic types include mushroom anchors, Deadweight anchors, and Auger Anchors. You can use these anchors according to the size and weight of the ship or vessel.
Mushroom Permanent Anchors
Robert Steveson invented mushroom anchors to hold ships in water with sandy ground. The shape of the anchor is similar to a mushroom, where the mushroom’s head digs into the sand. The chain is tied to the lower end of the mushroom, getting the anchor upright.
Burying a mushroom anchor is a bit difficult due to its shape. However, if not buried in the sand, it can still hold a ship twice its weight. If the anchor sinks into the sand, the holding power rises to ten times its weight.
Auger Permanent Anchors
Auger permanent anchors are only for lightweight vessels that float over or under the water. With an Auger anchor, permanent moorings, fish farms, and floating docks are the water vessels you can hold.
However, it is pretty tricky to install this type of anchor. It needs to be screwed in the bottom of the water, so it doesn’t move with the water currents. To install an Auger anchor, you either have to wait for a low tide, or you have to hire a diver.
High Holding Permanent Anchors
The name shows that these types of permanent anchors have super high holding power. Most oil and gas companies use these anchors to hold their underwater pipes connected. Lower in the ocean, the water pressure is very high, due to which a very high holding power is required to maintain the tubes.
High Holding Permanent Anchors are tested before they are applied to the pipes in the company. These anchors are often heavyweight. However, the company can reduce weight up to 25 percent after the completion of the tests.
Dead Weight Permanent Anchors
Dead Weight Permanent Anchors are almost similar to mushroom anchors. Both use their weight to support the body floating above the water. However, Dead Weight Permanent anchors don’t have any specific shape. They are just huge blocks made of concrete.
These anchors are cheap as compared to mushroom anchors. However, mushroom anchors work more effectively as they can sink deep into the sea bed, making the anchor even stronger.
Temporary Anchors
Temporary anchors provide temporary support to halted ships or boats in the ocean or sea. Unlike the permanent anchors, who only need heavyweight for anchoring purposes, these anchors need a system to pull them back.
In comparison to the permanent anchors, temporary anchors are light-weighted. However, these have hooked shape flukes or tapered shafts that grab the ocean’s ground for extra support.
Temporary anchors are usually made of solid metals with a layer of non-corrosive metal over them. It is dropped into the sea before the boat stops to hang somewhere in the ocean bed. The hooks of the anchor may get trapped somewhere in the cracks or the debris on the bed.
Northill Temporary Anchor
A Northill temporary anchor has two blades on alternate sides. The blades have sharp points, and they can easily catch some rough surface in the bottom of the sea. However, it may take some time as only two blades are available for tethering purposes.
These anchors are scarce nowadays due to only two drawbacks. The first is that these take some time to hold the grip on the ground of the ocean. The second is that these are applicable only in the regions that have rough ocean beds.
Grapnel Temporary Anchor
Grapnel temporary Anchor has several short and pointed rods attached to it. These rods are known as tines, and these are so sharp that they can get a hold in any small cracks or rough ocean bed. You don’t have to worry about how the anchor should settle down.
Multiple tines catch someplace very quickly, and they can’t let it go easily. However, if you are sailing in sandy or muddy waters, you have to be careful. The tines can not hold on to the soft mud or sand.
Herreshoff Temporary Anchor
The best point of the Herreshoff temporary anchor is that you can easily dismantle it into pieces. The assembly is effortless, and you can do it in just a few seconds. If you have ever heard about admiralty anchors, you can easily understand how Herreshoff Anchors are.
A Herreshoff anchor is an advanced form of the admiralty anchor. However, it has a drawback that the unnecessary arms can disturb the cable leading to more problems.
Danforth Temporary Anchor
Danforth Temporary Anchors are very common among small ships and boats in areas with little rocky sea beds. It is very light in weight as also the cost is very affordable. The storing of this anchor is not a problem at all as you can easily fold it any time.
Thirty degrees angle is perfect for this anchor to be dropped into the sea. The anchor consists of two triangular flukes bound to a chain. These flukes can hold a rock or any debris under the water.
Bruce Temporary Anchor
The majority of large ships use Bruce Temporary Anchors. Due to its claw-like shape, many people remember it as a claw anchor. If there are no rocks in the ocean bed, Bruce Anchor is of no use. It can not hold on to the grass or dig into the soil for additional support.
You can use these anchors close to the seashore side so that you put them in there. If you fish in standing water close to your living place, bruce anchors are the perfect option.
Plough Temporary Anchor
You might have seen plowing blades used for agricultural purposes. Plough anchor is almost similar to it. However, here you don’t have to plough the ocean bed. Instead, you have to look for a rock or other rough surface where the anchor might get struck.
Plough Anchor has a shank that drags the blades along the ocean bed until they find somewhere to stick. It is not successful in soft ocean beds as the blades can not find a hard place to get stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most common anchor?
For small boats, the most common anchor is the fluke anchor. Its actual name is Danforth anchor, but it is also known as fluke anchor due to the flukes.
Is a heavier anchor better?
If you need a permanent anchor, then it must be heavier. However, the temporary anchor should not be too heavy because you have to pull it back to the ship.
What is a Sarca anchor?
A Sarca anchor is an Australian-made anchor with the latest technology that makes it safe and easy to use. It has a single big fluke that holds any rough surface or a rock to anchor the ship.
How does a Sarca Anchor work?
SARCA stands for “sand and rock combination anchor.” So you can use this anchor on any type of sea bottom. The giant fluke of the Sarca anchor tethers the boat to a rock or any crack in the ocean.
How much does a boat anchor cost?
The anchors are not very costly, but you have to select a suitable anchor for your boat to avoid getting into trouble. The average price for a mushroom anchor is 10 to 40 dollars and 15 to 65 dollars for a Grapnel.
How do you set up a Sarca anchor?
Setting up a Sarca anchor is very straightforward. Its penetrating ability is very high, and it can easily penetrate any type of sea bottom. Moreover, the holding capacity of the Sarca anchor is also exceptional, which doesn’t let the ship get loose due to water currents.
Final Words: Anchor Types
The above article was all about the types of anchors and the materials used to produce different anchors. Besides anchors, there are many other pieces of equipment required for anchoring the ship. Ropes, chains, and riggings are the most used anchoring equipment.
You might have read the article thoroughly. If not, then go back and reread it. A wrong anchor can cause problems in the middle of the water where you can not do anything. If you still have some issues, feel free to ask us in the comment section.
