🔍 Key Concepts

• Danforth anchor design – wide flukes that pivot and bury when they can dig in • How different bottom types (sand, mud, clay, grass) affect an anchor’s ability to penetrate and hold • Which bottom types are generally considered good holding ground for small-boat anchors

💭 Think About

• Think about which type of seabed is easiest for broad, sharp flukes to dig into and stay buried versus which type tends to make an anchor skate or slide along the surface • Ask yourself: in which bottom do small-boat operators often complain that their anchors won’t set because the flukes cannot get down through the top layer? • Eliminate the bottoms that are normally taught as good holding ground for lightweight anchors, then see which one is left as the poor-holding case

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on which bottoms (like sand and mud) are commonly recommended as reliable holding ground for most anchors • Consider how a mat-like or very hard surface on the bottom might prevent the flukes from penetrating and burying • Before choosing, picture a Danforth’s large flat flukes: in which material would they tend to slide rather than cut in and dig deep?