Buyer's Guide to Anchors - Part II
Here’s a roundup of some of the best-known brands and styles of anchors on the market, with models suitable for anything from inflatable tenders to 100’ yachts.
Danforth produced the original light-weight fluke-style anchor, and still builds very popular designs in both standard and hi-tensile steel models for recreational boaters. All anchors are hot-dip galvanized, with the high-tensile models cast from 4130 steel alloy that’s resistant to fracture at very high loads as well as more corrosion resistant than conventional steel. They’re available in weights from 5 lbs (2.3 kg), suitable for boats up to 30’, to 190 lbs (86 kg), suitable for yachts to over 80’ in common sea conditions. The 5-lb hi-tensile models go for about $165, the 60-lb models about $870; https://danforthanchors.com.
Danielson folding anchors are compact anchors suitable for beach anchoring or for holding small boats temporarily in shallow, protected waters. The folding flukes make it very easy to stow, and an attachment for a trip line on the base allows retrieving it from rocky snags. It’s made of galvanized steel, weighs about 7 pounds and sells for a little over $30; https://boatanchory.com.
The Danielson river anchor is a three-fluke design, PVC coated to prevent marring boat finishes. It can hold small boats in a variety of bottom conditions. It’s designed for use on bays, lakes and rivers, and is available in sizes from 12 pounds (about $50) to 30 lb (about $120): www.westmarine.com.
Greenfield Products makes a variety of inexpensive small-boat anchors, including mushroom designs from 7 to 15 pounds. These vinyl coated anchors are suitable for holding lightweight boats like pontoons and aluminum fishing boats in moderate conditions and depths. They are sometimes used with compact electric anchor-line reels on the bow and stern of small fishing boats to hold position at the touch of a button: https://www.greenfieldproducts.com/mushroom-anchors.
Hurricane modified fluke-type anchors include a tripline system that assures easy retrieval should the anchor become snagged on rock or wrecks. The company claims the anchors will set and hold with approximately half the scope of conventional fluke-style anchors in most conditions. The 7-lb model is suitable for boats to 22’, the largest 22-lb model for boats to 42’ with proper scope. They’re affordable, with prices ranging from $99 to $195; https://hbanchors.com.
Five Oceans primarily makes Delta style anchors in both stainless and galvanized steel. They range from a galvanized 9-pounder for about $58 to a 33-lb polished stainless steel model for about $675. A tripline attachment on the shaft makes for easy breakout, and a welded steel bar brace prevents the cupped portion of the blades from flexing under load. They’re designed to fit a bow roller and are self-launching when released: https://www.five-oceans.com.
Fortress Anchors are among the best known fluke-style anchors, notable for their exceptionally light weight for a given amount of holding power thanks to their aluminum/magnesium alloy construction. The anchors have two different holding angles to assure penetration in different types of bottom and with varying lengths of scope. They quickly disassemble for flat stowage. Sizes range from 7 to 69 lbs, suitable for boats from 24’ to 150’ long. The 7-pounder goes for about $265, the 69-lb model for about $2800. The company also makes an economy Guardian line, without the adjustable shank angles and anodized finish, available from a tiny 2.5 lb dink anchor up to a 65-pounder; https://fortressanchors.com.
The Lewmar Claw, similar to the original Bruce anchor which went out of production in the early 2000’s, is available both in stainless steel and galvanized steel. Both are single-piece modified plow designs, with an attachment for a tripline on the base of the shaft. They’re relatively expensive for their size in stainless, with the 2kg (4.4 lb) model going for $235, the 15 kg (33-lb) about $1500; https://www.lewmar.com.
The Mantus M2 is a plow design, self-righting and relatively light for its holding power. Removing a single hardened bolt allows quick breakdown for compact storage. They’re available in stainless steel or galvanized. An 8-pound stainless goes for about $545, while the largest 175-pound model is priced at $7400. The company also sells bow rollers fitted to the anchor design; https://www.mantusmarine.com.
The Richter anchor offers the weight of a river anchor, the penetration of a grapnel anchor and the easy retrieval of a slip ring anchor. It holds in anything from mud to gravel to rock, and the company says it’s easily retrieved even when tangled or buried in debris in most cases. PVC coating prevents rust and gelcoat damage. They’re available in weights from 13 to 25 lb, which reportedly will hold most small boats on a 3:1 scope in moderate current. Prices range from about $98 to $134: Richter Anchors.
The Rocna design has a turning bar on the back to assure it immediately rolls into plowing position when tension comes on the rode. It’s built at an angle so that it literally burrows itself into the bottom and disappears in sand and mud, maximizing holding power. The galvanized steel models are durable, practical and reasonably priced. The stainless models are better suited to yachting use, though more expensive. A 9-lb (4 kg) goes for about $150, while the maximum 606 lb (275 kg) model sells for around $10,650. The company also sells a “Vulcan” design without the rollbar, which may be a better fit for the bow of many yachts: https://rocna.com.
The SeaClaw is a cult favorite among inshore fishermen and guides around the southeast. With a shank of bar stock 316 stainless steel and robust bronze flukes, the SeaClaw combines the best attributes of the fluke with the navy anchor to produce lots of holding power on short scope and without the need for a chain. It’s known for grabbing in soft mud and grass bottoms where other anchors require much greater scope to hold. They’re available in weights from 6 to 22 pounds, and prices range from about $120 to about $360. Several companies have very similar names, but the original SeaClaw continues to be the preferred anchor for many inshore pros: https://www.seaclaw.com.
Ultra Anchors are not only highly effective, they’re also works of art crafted in polished 316 stainless, designed to complement the bow of any yacht. They are expensive, however, with the 35 kg (77-lbs) model, for example, priced at around $3500. They have a curved lead-filled tip for instant penetration, a hollow shank for optimal weight distribution, concaved base surfaces for maximum holding power and large side wing plates to avoid release during changing wind or tide conditions. Sizes range from 5kg (11lbs.) to 360 kg (800lbs.): https://ultramarinewest.com.
Vevor anchors are one-piece stainless plow designs with lead filled base to assure rapid set. They are much more economical than many, but harder to stow if not kept on a bow pulpit or roller. The company says the 18-lb model will hold boats to 40 feet in most conditions with adequate scope. Prices range from $60 to $250; vevor.com.
XYZ Air Anchors feature an innovative self-righting wedge design that more or less depends on the plow anchor principle, but with the rode connected at the penetrating point of the anchor. The company says the holding power is much greater than most designs, and that their 9-lb (4 kg) model will replace a 40-lb (18 kg) conventional anchor in most applications. They’re expensive, with the 9-pound stainless steel version listing at $792; https://www.xyzairanchor.com/product/stainless-steel