Spade-type anchors are available from an
assortment of manufacturers as the spade
anchor (Figure 22-21), the Bugel anchor
(Figure 22-22), the Sword anchor, the Rocna
anchor (Figure 22-20), the Manson Supreme,
and others. Each has somewhat different
proportions, but they work along generally
similar principles. I haven’t included dimen-
sion drawings of spade anchors here because
there are too many varieties to make such
drawings practical.
Since the spade anchor type is so new, it
hasn’t had the many decades the plow and
Danforth types have had to prove itself. Nev-
ertheless, over the past several years, spade
anchors have tested well and have shown
themselves to have generally good holding
power in most bottoms, as well as to set reli-
ably. A number of independent trials have
given the spade-type anchors the highest
holding power per pound among the assort-
ment of anchors examined. Until further data
are in, I would recommend sticking with the
spade anchors I’ve mentioned. Some light-
weight spade anchors, such as the HydroBub-
ble and XYZ, have shown less reliable holding
results in independent tests.
PART SEVEN: ANCHORING SYSTEMS
Figure 22-16.
Bruce anchor
(Courtesy Imtra
Corporation/Bruce
International
Ltd.)
Figure 22-17. A
Northill anchor
Figure 22-18. Grapnel anchor
Figure 22-19. A folding grapnel anchor
(Courtesy Plastimo)