Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

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Part 2: The Basics of Operation
pounds, of the amount of pull it can sustain without breaking free in good bottom.) I’ve
added the approximate weight of a standard fluke anchor providing the suggested holding
power.
Boat Length Working Load Approximate Weight (in Pounds)
15 feet 250 5
20 feet 360 5
25 feet 490 9
30 feet 700 14
35 feet 900 14
40 feet 1,300 16
50 feet 1,600 23
There are a few high-tech anchors on the market that advertise lower weights with higher
holding power, such as the high-tensile aluminum alloy Fortress anchors. In tests conducted
by BOAT U.S., these anchors proved their claims—a 6-pounder, although rated
for 900 pounds, survived a 2,000-pound test load.
Note the weight is less than half that of a conventional fluke anchor of similar holding
power—nice when you’re the designated anchor-puller.
These are expensive anchors, as you might expect, with the 6-pounder going for around
$90, but they’re lifetime products.
Anchors That Float—Sea Anchors
These aren’t really anchors in the conventional sense, in that they don’t actually sink to
the bottom to hold the boat in one spot. Instead, they’re designed to slow the drift of a
boat and maintain a heading without power.
Sea anchors, also called drogues, are made of heavy nylon and fold up to the size of a loaf
of bread when not in use. When put in the water, they open like a watery parachute, creating
a huge amount of drag. The cost is $30 to $60 for lightweight models, $200 or more
for “storm” models.
Why would you want one of these? They’re handy for anglers who want to slow down
their boat for live-bait trolling. The sea anchor can cut the drifting speed of a boat in half.
And, should you ever be caught offshore in bad weather with a sick motor, the sea anchor
trailed from your bow can keep the boat pointed into the oncoming seas—it can be a
lifesaver.