When you’re out on the water and want to stop for a bit for fishing, swimming, or just some R&R, an anchor will moor your boat and prevent it from drifting away. Most new boats do not come equipped with an anchor, but every boat should have one on board. When you’re in a cove, along a beach, or aside a rocky cliff, the water beds may be of different materials. BOATiD offers a variety of boat anchors in different styles for different purposes, based on the type of boat and the water conditions. Below we feature a sample of the products we sell.
Mushroom anchors: This boat anchor is shaped like the top of a mushroom. It has weights attached to its edges which help it to dig into soft bottoms, while the convex shape provides resistance when being pulled out.
This Greenfield Mushroom Anchor weighs 10 pounds, and is constructed of PVC-coated iron for corrosion protection. It is shown in red, and is also available in blue or black. This particular anchor is recommended for boats up to 12’, and in winds up to 30 knots.
River anchors: These boat anchors are specially designed to hold the boat in fast current. They can be made of various materials, such as wood or metal, and their weights vary depending on the boat's size.
The Seachoice River Anchor is made from black vinyl-coated iron, and weights 30 lb. Its design will catch and hold to rough bottom, and it penetrates better than mushroom anchors.
Plow-type boat anchors: This boat anchor is designed to grip the seabed by use of flukes that dig into the bottom. The boat's weight keeps it secure. While these boat anchors are easy to stow, they also tend to create more drag than other boat anchors do - making them less ideal for smaller boats.
The Lewmar Plow Anchor is made of galvanized manganese steel for long life. In fact, the manufacturer offers a lifetime guarantee against breakage. This particular model is 35 lb. (lighter and heavier models are available). As the manufacturer states, this anchor buries itself in the bottom of the sea, river, lake or other water bodies, ensuring your vessel will stay firmly in place in a variety of weather conditions.
Grapnel boat anchors: These boat anchors are shaped like an anchor with three or four flukes. They are made to hold boat position on sand, mud or gravel bottoms.
This Attwood Folding Grapnel Anchor is one of the lightest anchors we sell, at 3 lb. It’s made of galvanized iron and it folds for compact storage. Aside from its stowing advantage, this small grapnel anchor is ideal for personal watercraft (PWC), small craft, and dinghies.
This Lewmar Galvanized Steel Claw Anchor, weighing in at 44 lb., is one of the heavier anchors we sell. The manufacturer recommends an anchor of this weight be used with boats between 40 and 50 feet in length.
Fluke boat anchors: These anchors have a symmetrical shape that make them ideal for stowing on flat surfaces. They are commonly used on smaller boats because of their compact design.
This Fortress Guardian Aluminum/Magnesium Alloy Fluke Anchor weighs only 13 pounds, thanks to its use of lightweight metals. Yet, it is rated for boats between 34’ and 41’ in length. It can be disassembled, and combined with its light weight, makes it easy to handle and store.
As you can see, there are many distinct varieties of anchors to choose from depending on your boat's size, water conditions, and aquatic terrain in which you will be boating. Visit us at BOATiD to see our wide selection of anchor styles to meet all your boating needs.
And remember to check those ropes or chains and replace them as needed. An anchor is secured to a rope or chain and goes to the bottom when dropped overboard. A broken rope or chain will make your anchor a permanent addition to the aquatic bottom. We also carry a wide variety of shackles, windlasses, swivels, and other anchor and docking equipment to meet your boating needs.
