Claw Anchor
Claw anchors were designed in 1970 by Peter Bruce. Originally, claw anchors were used to hold oil platforms to the seafloor in the North Sea and for large ships. Today, the claw anchor is the most popular anchor used for small boats and they still have the same features as the anchors used to hold oil platforms. The claw boat anchor is very easy to set and performs well on nearly all seafloors. The claw anchor only has trouble setting into mud, thus making this anchor very versatile for most boaters.
The claw anchor will set effortlessly in rock and coral where other anchor types will have trouble. This type of anchor will even find a hold on a very hard bottom. A claw anchor will hold against wind and tide changes. Instead of breaking under the tension, the claw anchor will slowly turn to align with the force.
When it comes time to anchor your boat, the claw anchor will drop faster and straighter than other anchor types which tend to wallow on the way down. Once on the bottom, the claw anchor will quickly set once it finds some rock or coral.
Despite the holding power, there is very little risk of damaging a claw anchor because it is constructed from one solid piece of steel. Retrieving a claw anchor is easy to do since the anchor is rotated upward during hauling and pulls away easily from its hold. If you have a windless, you will find the claw anchor easy to use and it will store nicely along the bow roller. You can easily store a claw anchor because of its compact design.
The PROS:
- Extreme hold compared to other anchor types
- Easy to set, reset, and retrieve
- Can find a hold on most seafloors
- Great anchors in changing wind and tides
- Cast from one piece of steel for sturdy construction
- Compact design for easy storage
The CONS:
- Does not set well on muddy seafloorsStill have your doubts? If the claw anchor design is used to hold oil platforms in the North Sea, why would it have trouble holding your small boat?