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Illustrated
Techniques...
The
"STEALTH"
Anchor
Click on picture below for enlargement.
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1.
Description |
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The Plowshare type, and
symmetrically designed diamond shaped anchor, is constructed
of two broad, arrow-shaped flukes beveled along the edges and
joined at the open end of the arrows. The shank is hinged at the center of the
crown, centerpiece, which has two pointed bills, designed to
withstand great tension. Only one bill is performing at a
time.
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3. GRIP
position |
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The GRIP position, standing
on three points: the tip of the shank, on one of the fluke
wings and the tip of the forward aimed bill. The pressure
of the bill is approximate 55% of the anchors total weight
that allows fast action to set in any type of seabed. See
# 11.
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5.
Added weight |
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When penetrating deep, bottom
material accumulates on top of the upper fluke and thereby
adding weight to the anchor, which helps for an even deeper
penetration.
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7.
The flukes |
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All fluke surfaces are aims
in the same direction of penetration and when completely
embedded these surfaces also compresses the bottom
material for a strong hold. A completely balanced hold
provides for a total stability in the seabed
with no tendency to break out.
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9. Angle of GRIP |
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The grip angle in the GRIP
position is approximate 38°, which decreases to about 31° when
cutting through the seabed. When using the angle adjustment
bolt, this reduces above angles with approximately 10°, for a sharper cut.
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11.
GRIP sequence in the seabed:
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A) The GRIP position. See # 3.
B) The pointed bill penetrates immediately with ease.
C) The fluke tip plow cuts into the seabed like a
scissors.
D) Most of the flukes are embedded.
E) Digging deeper to a horizontally balanced hold.
F) When completely buried the anchor cuts into more dense bottom material.
See # 3 & 4, also "Techniques".
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13.
Fluke areas and one pointed bill |
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The large fluke surface
retains a strong holding power, particularly when lower
and upper flukes are embedded.
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15. EASY
TO RECOVER |
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The fluke design makes the
break out from the seabed easy while rotating when
hoisted. The grounding power lies in the back at the
widest part of the anchor where also the axis of rotation
is located, behind the breakpoint. See #14.
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17.
Performance
on rock and stone |
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The performance on rough
rocky seabed is unique. Its arrow-shaped flukes (stock)
continuously steer the extended, forward pointing, bill in
a steady GRIP position however the anchor slides and turn
around upon the rocky bottom.
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19. 360º
veering with wind and current |
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One of the greatest benefits is
the 360° veering ability, sideways rotating, without fouling
or loosing its hold. This due to the bill that sits deep in
the seabed, making the anchor rotates around this. When
veering the anchor tilts slightly to one or the other side,
like a banking airplane, while still cutting through the
seabed. The acting force on the centerpiece makes it turn
horizontally balanced while fighting and
remaining imbedded until hoisted.
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21. Releasing 1.
(from cables, pipes
etc.) |
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If caught on
a taut line, pipe or other underground objects, releasing
the anchor is relatively easy by letting out more scope
and pulling the anchor tight and around approximately 70°
or more in either direction. The outer
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fluke part
then catches and acts as a new pivot point, which
will release the bill.
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23. Releasing 3.
(from a mooring line) |
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Freeing
the anchor from a foreign mooring line or cable is easy.
When resistance occurs from the object, let the anchor go,
preferably 1-2 meters (4-6 feet) above the bottom and the
anchor then swing out and away from the object, leaving it
free to be hoisted. If NOT
successful the first time, try a second time!
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25.
Releasing 5.
(with a trip-line) |
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Mooring in a known difficult
rocky bottom, wreckage... etc. a trip-line should be used to
save your anchor. The anchor comes with a trip-line
attachment hole in the back of the crown. With the cable wired
to the ring, it is important to make sure the anchor crown can
move freely. Use only this method in a well-planned
mooring in fair wind. In stronger winds, this method can be
fatal, making the anchor useless. NEVER use this method for permanent or over night
anchorage. Any vessel must be attended at all time when moored
in heavy weather conditions.
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27.
Backing the
anchor |
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We recommend backing your main
anchor to gain greater holding power and security, when
exposed to rough weather conditions. Use this method
only for NON shifting winds.
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29.
When used as a drag
anchor |
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A rare quality is using the
anchor as a drag anchor, by using a shorter scope, 1.5:1 to
2:1ratio. Motored at low speed the anchor rakes the bottom,
withstanding high tension from occasionally snagging the
bottom and finally catching the cable or
net... etc.
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31.
Anchor marker |
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To show the position of the
anchor when moored is sometimes very important especially,
where many yachts moor together. Showed arrangement is
practical as it always shows exact and it
compensates for tidal currents.
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33.
Cleaning the anchor by towing it |
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Cleaning the anchor by
towing it at a speed of ~1.2 knots is very effective. The
water then lifts the flukes as shown the lower bill retracts
into the shank, preventing it from catching foreign objects.
The anchor follows the boat without jerking.
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35.
Stowing
possibilities |
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Stows in several practical ways:
1) Bow anchor on the stem-head roller
2) Standing secured on its crown, holding chain and line
ideally. Lay the chain around the extended bill.
3) Hang deep and secure over the push pit. The durable
HANS-Bag comes with drainage holes and a protective 1"
polyethylene tube that stretches the bag sides apart.
4) Pulled onto a horizontal bar, platform... etc.
Secure the anchor firmly when NOT in use.
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2.
Landing on the seabed |
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The anchor always lands on one
of its four sides. When pulled it flips up to the GRIP
position within ~1- 2 times its length ready to penetrate the
seabed. This quick action comes from the relatively short
length of the fluke, bill, and the
momentum-developed form the distance hinge to the bottom.
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4.
Horizontally balanced |
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The anchor becomes quickly
horizontally balanced, when pulled from the GRIP position,
because bottom material acts with a force onto the bill,
centerpiece. When perfectly balanced NO forces act on
either side of the bill. See # 11.
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6. No
fouling |
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The
design eliminates virtually any possibility, for foreign
objects; to foul the embedded anchor therefore considered
as NON-fouling anchor.
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8.
Involved penetrating forces |
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Gravity forces,
- Momentum forces hinged well above bottom.
- Friction forces against the bottom material when pulled.
- Compression forces generated between the
flukes.
- Veering forces, from wind, current and wave actions.
Working together above force makes the anchor set quickly.
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10.
Performing angle changes |
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When the upper fluke is embedded
as well, the counteracting forces from both flukes join just
under the shank and the anchor is completely balanced. This
sharp cut in the seabed makes the anchor not break out and therefore superior
to most other anchors. The denser bottom the stronger hold!
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12.
Beveled edges |
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The beveled flukes optimize
the penetration ability.
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14.
Angle adjustment bolt |
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The grip angle reduces when
inserting a bolt in the angle adjustment hole in the shank.
The break point changes from the tip of the fluke to the bolt
against the
bill ideally used for
larger scope ratios as 10:1 or more, in a distress situation.
Use NO adjustment bolt by normal anchoring.
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16. Forces of momentum
when hoisting |
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The applied vertical,
hoisting, force is approximate 8 - 15 times less than the
forces of momentum in the bottom material. This makes it much
easier to release then most other anchors.
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18.
Catching on
stones |
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The extended pointed bill
gets an exceptional strong hold on rocks and stony
bottoms. The design of the flukes generates a strong hold
when performing in soft
bottoms.
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20.
Superior strength |
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High sideways forces can be
applied as the upper bill is retracted into and supporting
the shank. This excellent feature allows the anchor to
take care of almost any situation by itself. Unless anchor
is jammed among rocks as in picture #18
shows. See above.
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22.
Releasing 2.
(from rock) |
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If caught on a rocky edge,
cleft, coral... etc the best method to release the anchor
is to moving the boat to a point just above the anchor and
then try to shake it lose. In softer rocks as limestone
and corals, it then works itself out to be free. To save
the corals this is defiantly the only
method! See #21.
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24. Releasing 4.
(with a chaser) |
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Use a
chaser or chain to free the anchor from a difficult situation. A 60
cm. (2 feet) long heavy chain is ideal to use sliding it
down over the cable and then
retracting the fouled anchor.
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26.
Anchoring in seaweed |
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Let the
anchor go with a free fall to the bottom. The anchor then
falls with the shank down and with high speed it
penetrates into the soft seabed underneath the
seaweed. Let out a scope of 5:1, applying any force to
the cable and let just the wind and wave actions set
the anchor for a secure hold. Do NOT power set the anchor
unless the captain decides otherwise.
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28.
Scope |
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An adequate scope ratio (length
of cable, from anchor to the bow and depth, bottom to the bow)
is essential. Never use less then a minimum scope of 3 times
(3:1) and increase the scope as weather conditions worsen. See "Selection Guide."
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30.
Permanent
anchoring |
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Lowered, hanging perfectly
horizontally (in the ring and the trip-line hole), to an
exact predestinated location, it sets itself ready to be
pulled into the seabed. This mooring technique is ideal
for securing various vessels in harbors, at shoreline
moorings and for permanent buoys.
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32.
Cleaning the
anchor manually |
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If filled with clay it is
best cleaned by simply lifting it out of the water and dropped
back again. The impact force will loosen and eliminate most of
any remaining debris.
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34.
Lifting the
anchor on board |
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When hoisting turn the
extended and aggressive bill away from the boat's freeboard,
to avoid any contact that can damage the hull.
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36.
The HANS Bag |
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The HANS Bag allows an extremely
practical and convenient way to stow the mooring gear. It
saves valuable storage space, and makes it always quickly
accessible when needed. The Bag hangs on the inside of the
push pit along with HANS, 5-7Kg. /11-15Lb, working anchor on
the outside. When hoisting the anchor, drop the line simply
into the bag as it comes and when let go the line just runs
out as it lies. When the anchor is not used The Bag lid hooked
onto the anchor holds it down, when
not used. It also protects the mooring line from UV-rays. See
#35.
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37.
Handling |
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A safe way to carry and
handle the anchor is by gripping it around the retracted
bill and the shank with the extended bill turned away from
your body
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