Dave Gerr - Boat Mechanical Systems Handbook-How to Design, Install, and Recognize Proper Systems in Boats

is still available from Paul E. Luke, Inc., East
Boothbay, Maine, and it makes an excellent
storm anchor in the appropriate weight.
Whereas the original Herreshoff anchor has
the shank, arms, and fluke all cast as one
piece, the Luke anchor comes apart into
three pieces. This not only makes for com-
pact storage in the bilge, but also makes it
easier to bring the individual pieces up on
deck to be assembled when needed.
Modern testing and reports on the holding
power of yachtsman anchors vary incredibly.
Some sources give them high marks, others
don’t. My recommendation is that yachtsman
anchors can make ideal storm anchors. A
large Luke stowed in three pieces in the bilge is
nice insurance for a major blow. Also, because
these anchors have clear hooks as their arms,
they can grab in rocky ground where some
modern anchor types may not set.
More modern anchors, such as the plow,
Danforth, and claw types, give more holding
power per pound, and—equally important—
are considerably easier to launch and retrieve.

“NAV Y” STOCKLESSANCHORSSpeaking of
ease of launch and retrieval, one of the most

convenient ways to deploy and retrieve an

anchor is via hawsepipes on the side of the

hull, up at the bow. (We’ll look at this in detail

later.) Westeney Smith probably invented the

first stockless anchor widely accepted for

Chapter 22:Anchoring Systems, Anchor Types, and Anchor Selection

Figure 22-4.

Merriman-

Herreshoff-type

three-piece anchor

Figure 22-5.

Herreshoff

anchors stowed

on deck