The 10 Best Boat Anchors
This wiki has been updated 30 times since it was first published in October of 2016. Whether you’re enjoying the lake on a quiet morning or floating on the open sea in search of the next big catch, the right anchor will keep your boat stable and secure, no matter the weather and the bottom conditions. The choices on our list come in a variety of shapes and sizes, many of which can be used with canoes, kayaks, and small-to-medium-sized sailing and motor vessels. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Slide Anchor Box
2. Manson Supreme
3. Lewmar Galvanized Delta
Editor's Notes
May 31, 2019:
The Lewmar Galvanied Delta is a top choice that is known to set reliably on the first try, and to hold well in a wide range of tide and wind conditions. It’s simple to launch, thanks to its streamlined shank and ballasted tip. It comes in three weight options between 14 and 35 pounds, so you can select the right one based on the size of your vessel. It’s made with heavy-duty manganese steel, with a protective layer of zinc to prevent rust.
The Slide Anchor Box will adhere to any bottom without the need for mechanical power from your craft. Once you turn off your engine and toss this anchor overboard, you can rest assured it will set within one foot of its landing. And when you’re done, it’s easy to retrieve by pulling the line to bring your vessel over the top of the anchor, and it’ll simply pop up from the bottom. It conveniently folds flat for quick storage and tucks easily into the included storage bag.
The Norestar Bruce Claw boasts excellent holding power in all types of bottoms, including mud, sand, rock, and coral, and it’s also easy to recover. It has no movable parts, so there’s not much risk of any bending or jamming. It looks great on your boat, with its highly polished stainless steel exterior – and it stows easily, too, in a bow roller or locker.
When choosing an anchor, look for one with good holding power. Even many lightweight anchors of today can have amazing holding power, with some that weigh only 5 pounds able to hold more than 1,000 pounds. Also, consider the bottom conditions of where you will be anchoring, as well as what type of material you prefer: Most are made from either galvanized steel (affordable yet offering high tensile strength), stainless steel (looks great on your boat), or aluminum/magnesium (known to be lightweight).
4. Norestar Bruce Claw
5. Rocna Vulcan
6. Best Marine and Outdoors Kit
7. SeaSense Navy
8. Extreme Max BoatTector
9. Shoreline Marine Slip Ring
10. Danielson 050014
A Brief History Of Anchors
A British naval clerk added curved arms to basic model, and this new design was so successful that the entire fleet started to carry them.
Most early boats had no need for an anchor. Only fishermen were really interested in staying in one place for an extended period of time, and their boats were usually small enough — and they stayed close enough to shore — that they could simply tie them to something on-shore. Once they began to venture into deeper water, though, there was a need to stay moored in one place, even while being buffeted by waves.
Thus, the anchor was born. The first one dates back to the Bronze Age, sometime between 3300-1200 B.C.E., and it was merely a large rock with a rope tied around it. This system, while simple, was fairly inefficient, as if you found a large enough rock to keep you in place, it would be nearly impossible to raise it up again. As a result, most fishermen simply cut them loose when they were done.
The Greeks experimented with baskets full of rocks, sacks of sand, and lead-filled wooden logs. The idea behind all of these was simply to use the weight of the anchor to create friction on the bottom of the sea; they often added tree branches to increase the amount of friction generated.
Major advances in anchor technology wouldn't come until the 19th century C.E. By this time, ships had grown large enough that finding a reliable means of mooring them had become essential.
A British naval clerk added curved arms to basic model, and this new design was so successful that the entire fleet started to carry them. This blueprint was kept throughout the century, with various modifications, until it began to resemble the classic anchor shape that we know today.
The 20th century brought with it a variety of new models. The increase of smaller pleasure craft necessitated smaller patterns, while gigantic installations like off-shore oil rigs required equally-monstrous anchors.
One design that has proven extremely effective — and has become extremely popular as a result — is the German "Buegelanker" model. This is a triangular anchor with a single fluke, plus a roll bar to ensure that it catches the first time. A Frenchman named Alain Poiraud took this design one step further by making the fluke concave, resulting in the most effective small-boat anchor we have today.
Anchors might seem like simple devices, but the fact that many brilliant engineering minds continue to attempt to improve on their efficiency demonstrates just how complex the science behind them is. Expect future breakthroughs in design, especially as ships get larger and off-shore installations become more ubiquitous.
Choosing The Right Anchor
When you bought a boat, you probably never dreamed you'd have to go anchor shopping. After all, how hard can it be? Wrap a chain around something heavy, and toss it overboard, right?
The fact of the matter is, there are a variety of anchors to choose from, and chances are you'll need more than one. Different styles are better suited for different conditions, and you always want to have the proper equipment for the job at hand.
Wrap a chain around something heavy, and toss it overboard, right?
You'll want a fluke anchor for areas where the floor is sandy or muddy. Your boat might have one already, as these are the most common anchors you'll encounter.
If you spend a lot of time over rocky or grassy ground, though, you'll want to have what's known as a "plow and scoop" model. As the name suggests, it has a flat, plow-like structure at the end of it, which helps it snag onto something regardless of the terrain.
Beyond that, "bigger is better" should typically be your guiding principle. This doesn't mean that you need a 10-ton battleship anchor, but if you're stuck deciding between two options, go with the heavier one.
The reason why it's important to have both styles is because you never know what conditions you might find yourself in — and when you need your anchor, you really need your anchor. It can keep you from drifting helplessly if your engine dies, allowing rescue personnel to find you more easily, as well as preventing you from floating off into deeper waters.
While spending money on anchors probably isn't your idea of a good time, it's essential that you have a good one on board. After all, getting carried out to sea probably isn't your idea of a good time, either.
How Do Anchors Work?
Before we get into the science behind how anchors work, you should understand that they don't keep your boat completely stationary. You will get some drift, as that's basically unavoidable.
The reason why is that there are some pretty serious horizontal forces working on your boat at all times: ocean currents. Those same forces are constantly working on your anchor and chain, as well.
You see, the weight of the chain also fights against the currents, and the more chain you have, the more resistance you'll generate.
To combat these forces, your anchor uses two things: weight and friction. The weight part is obvious; the heavier the load, the more force it will take to move it.
The friction part is what's interesting. You might be thinking that it's generated when the flukes on the anchor snag onto the floor, and you'd be right — partially. But what plays the biggest part in generating friction is actually the chain, not the anchor.
You see, the weight of the chain also fights against the currents, and the more chain you have, the more resistance you'll generate. This is why it's so important to let some chain collect on the seabed — the chain will generate friction, and it will do a better job of keeping the anchor in place, as a taut line is more likely to pull the anchor free.
This doesn't mean that you don't need an anchor, of course. But the better you understand how your anchoring system works, the better you'll be able to harness it when you really need it.
Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.