What different types of anchors are there? Which anchor is best suited for which ground? Is there such a thing as the “perfect” anchor? And which anchor(s) should you carry, for example, on a ten-meter yacht in Croatia? Should you have several anchors on board, or is one enough?
Anchoring is still underestimated by many skippers. Yet the anchor is one of the most important safety instruments on board. Informing yourself about the right anchors in advance and investing in appropriate anchoring gear of suitable quality can save the crew a lot of trouble on their holiday cruise.
The problem: there are a variety of anchor types that differ, sometimes significantly, in shape, holding power, and suitability for various types of ground. Which anchor should I purchase for my yacht? Which anchor fits best depends heavily on the cruising area, boat size, seabed, and, last but not least, personal preference. It is worth giving these topics some thought before the trip.
The most important commercially available anchor types, which we will discuss here briefly, are the plate anchor (Danforth), plough anchor (CQR), Delta anchor, roll-bar anchor (Bügelanker), Rocna/Vulcan, spade anchor (Spade), and stock anchor (Admiralty), to name just the most important ones.
Plate (Danforth) or Plough Anchor (CQR)?
While the comparatively light plate or (Danforth) anchor is particularly suitable for sandy and muddy seabeds (good holding power in soft soils, but fails quickly on rock or seagrass), the plough anchor (CQR) is considered a reliable all-rounder that also develops good holding power on sand, mud, and sometimes even on gravel and harder soils; however, the CQR is usually heavier than the plate anchor.
By the way, “CQR” for the plough anchor is an abbreviation for “Secure” and refers to the brand and the original manufacturer of this type of anchor. CQR is therefore not a designation for a specific property of the anchor, but a brand name that has established itself over time as a synonym for the plough anchor.
The Delta anchor is also a good “all-rounder”
The modern Delta anchor is another good all-rounder that shows its strengths in sand, mud, and gravel, but is somewhat weaker on hard ground. For comparison: Delta anchors and plough anchors are both popular anchor types that look similar at first glance. They differ, however, in their construction and properties.
Delta anchors are characterized by their triangular shape and their modern, weight-optimized design, while plough anchors, as the name suggests, have the shape of a plough and often feature a hinge between the shank and the ploughshare. Delta anchors are often valued for their fast and reliable setting. They are also available in manganese steel and with a lifetime guarantee.
Roll-bar anchors hold well and are self-righting
So-called roll-bar anchors are also well-suited for sand, mud, and seagrass; they usually have good holding power and are ideally self-righting. Compared to other anchor types, however, they are somewhat heavier.
The Rocna / Vulcan anchor, on the other hand, can be used on almost all types of ground; it is considered an anchor with very high holding power that is quick to deploy, but it is somewhat more expensive than other anchor types and also slightly more bulky in use.
For better understanding: Rocna/Vulcan anchors and roll-bar anchors are both modern plate anchors characterized by high holding power and fast burying. The main difference lies in the design: Rocna/Vulcan anchors have a fixed shank-fluke connection, while roll-bar anchors (as the name implies) have a bar to help the anchor self-right. The Vulcan is a further development of the Rocna with a more compact design for even better grip.
The spade anchor (Spade) usually fits almost all seabeds, is characterized by very high holding power, and has a sophisticated design. However, the Spade is considered relatively expensive because it is a complex construction.
Vulcan and Spade anchors belong to the modern generation of high-performance anchors
The Vulcan anchor and the Spade anchor belong to the modern generation of high-performance anchors – with excellent setting and holding properties. Nevertheless, there are some constructive and functional differences that affect handling, performance, and suitability, which we want to discuss in more detail here.
The Vulcan anchor, a Rocna design from New Zealand, has the shape of a plate anchor with a “rounded nose” (no bar); it is therefore also well-suited for bow rollers. It has an integrated weight in the “head,” is offered in galvanized or stainless steel, and is a single-piece construction.
The plough-shaped Spade anchor with a massive fluke comes from France and usually has a massive shank/bar for self-righting. It also has ballast in the form of a heavy, balanced “head”. The Spade anchor is available in steel (galvanized), stainless steel, and aluminum options are also available. This anchor is partially disassemblable and is therefore also well-suited as a spare anchor.
As far as holding power and performance are concerned, both anchors are quite similar: both the Vulcan and the Spade anchor have very good setting behavior, even when the boat turns; they have very high holding power on almost all seabeds; there are only limitations in grip on rock: this is rather mediocre (as with almost all fluke anchors).
On seagrass and mud, however, both anchors again have very good penetration power. Both anchor types are also united by the fact that they are top-rated in many tests – depending on the conditions, one may have slight advantages over the other.
Regarding handling and practicality, the Vulcan scores points for its good “bow pulpit compatibility” due to its compact design. In contrast, the Spade has advantages when it comes to storage as a spare anchor because it can be disassembled. Regarding self-righting, both types are equal: it is very good for both; with the Vulcan, this works even without a bar, and with the Spade, it works thanks to the massive ballast.
Admiralty and Bruce anchors complete the list of the most common anchor types
Finally, there is the traditional Admiralty anchor (Stock anchor), a so-called weight anchor, which is characterized by good hold even on rock, but is quite unwieldy and difficult to stow; and the so-called Bruce anchor (Claw), which is characterized by good holding properties on mud, sand, and sometimes also on rock. The simple design has a holding power that can be rated as quite good, but it sometimes fails on seagrass or rocky ground.
Many recreational skippers wonder if there is a “perfect” anchor. Clear answer: no. But: there are – as already described – quite good all-rounders. The Rocna (Vulcan), Spade, roll-bar, and Delta anchors are considered particularly safe and modern today, with very good holding power on many seabeds.
During their operations in Croatia, SeaHelp employees have had very good experiences with anchors from the company Ultra Marine and the Jambo anchor from Waiblingen. SeaHelp points out, however, that a “perfect” anchor always depends on the specific cruising area and the individual boat size and should always be carefully matched to them.
The anchor chain and its weight (link thickness) are just as important or (almost) even more important, according to the SeaHelp operations center, because: only if the pull is exerted parallel to the ground can the anchor hold at all. If the anchor locker is not very deep, SeaHelp recommends a polished stainless steel chain, as this distributes much better in the anchor locker and does not form a “pyramid” there when hauling in (more on this in Part 2 of “Better Anchoring – Practical Tips”).
Is one anchor on board enough? Or should several be carried?
There is also a very clear answer here: for safety, in addition to a main anchor (high-quality all-rounder like Rocna, Delta, Spade, or roll-bar), another spare/secondary anchor (e.g., Danforth or light folding anchor) as well as a stern anchor (for narrow bays or with crosswinds) is recommended. Attention should also be paid to suitable anchoring gear with sufficient chain and rope.
If you are traveling with your ten-meter yacht in Croatia, for example, a Rocna (15–20 kg), Spade, or roll-bar anchor with at least 30 to 40 m of chain (8 to 10 mm) plus anchor rope is recommended as the main anchor; a plate anchor (Danforth) or Bruce as a spare anchor; and a light folding or small roll-bar anchor as a stern anchor.
In addition, the skipper should pay attention to a suitable anchor buoy and chain markings; anyone who anchors often will prefer an electric windlass over a manually operated anchor windlass.
Invest in quality – the anchor is one of the most important safety instruments on board!
The seabed in Croatia often consists of sand, mud, seagrass, or rock, so it is rather demanding; a modern anchor with high holding power and fast setting capability is therefore ideal. The saying goes: invest in quality – the anchor is one of the most important safety instruments on board!
Regarding designs / breaking loads, the Delta anchor from Lewmar is mentioned here as an example: the manufacturer recommends a 4 kg anchor (dimensions 513 x 228 mm) for a 7-meter boat, a 6 kg anchor (595 x 263 mm) for a 9-meter boat, 12 m: 10 kg (695 x 308 mm), 15 m: 16 kg (812 x 460 mm). If the boat is 17 m long, the recommendation is to carry a 20 kg anchor (877 x 389 mm), and for a 19-meter boat, the anchor should weigh at least 25 kg, dimensions: 945 x 417 mm.
It should not go unmentioned that in many anchor tests, the holding power of the respective anchor on seagrass meadows is often used as a quality and comparison feature, but anchoring on – often protected – seagrass meadows, especially in the Croatian Adriatic (as in general), should be strictly avoided (and is also partially prohibited) – read more HERE.
