Types of Anchors and bottom types that they are best suited.

As you learn to sail, you should be also learning about anchoring. There is more to tossing the hook so to speak.

After doing some research on the internet and looking at some of the tests performed on holding power, I’ve made a quick summary of what I learned.

Anchor types are selected based on the bottom conditions. These are rock, mud, clay, sand, grass, coral and shoal.

Charts will usually tell you what the bottom conditions are, as will local sailors from whom you should never be afraid to ask.

The following shows the type of anchor and the associated bottom that the anchor is best suited for.

Danforth: Works best in sand and mud

Danforth Anchor

Hinged Plough CQR: Works Best in sand, rock and mud.

Hinged Plough CQR Anchor

Non Hinged Plough Delta Anchor: Works best in sand rock clay and mud.

Delta plough anchor

Non Hinged Plough Roll bar anchor: Best for all types of bottoms – sand, rock, mud,clay, grass

Rollbar plough anchor

Bruce Anchor: Best for sand, rock, mud.

Bruce anchor

The Roll Bar Plough type anchor is a new type of anchor and therefore is not that common yet. However, tests show that it is certainly one of the winners when it comes to selecting an anchor.