Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

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Part 2: The Basics of Operation
Plow anchors are very strong and hold in extreme weather, but unless your boat has a bow
pulpit where the anchor can hang when not in use, they are large, bulky, and hard to
store. They’re also fairly heavy—most models start at 15 pounds. They’re best for boats
25 feet and up. Prices range from $150 for a 14-pounder to over $700 for a 60-pounder.
Navy Anchors
Navy-style anchors look like anchors have traditionally looked (picture the one tattooed
on Popeye’s arm). They’re the anchors that hang on the bow of older sea-going ships, and
also, much smaller and in gold, on the necks of tanned, middle-aged guys throughout
south Florida.
The navy anchor is strong
and dependable, although it’s
heavier at a given holding
power than a Danforth.
Navy anchors rely on both their weight and their hooked flukes to hold the bottom, and
tend to start at about the weight of a Jeep and go up a whole lot from there. They’re not
often used on recreational boats because they’re so heavy, but some small ones are used as
storm anchors on larger yachts. In modern usage, the navy anchor is stockless, as seen on
large ships. One of the most successful versions of the traditional style anchor is based on
a design by Herreshoff, so traditional anchors are often called Herreshoff anchors in
order to avoid confusion with the modern navy type.
Mushroom Anchors
This anchor looks like an upside-down mushroom, hence the name. It depends mostly on
weight for holding power, although the cup does dig into the bottom to help a bit. These
anchors are suitable only for boats under 15 feet long in protected water.
The mushroom is low in
price and adequate for small
boats anchored out of strong
winds and waves.