🔍 Key Concepts

• Anchor holding ground types (e.g., mud, sand, rock, shale) • How conventional anchors (like stockless or Danforth) dig in and hold • Differences between penetration and friction for anchor holding

💭 Think About

• Think about which bottom type allows an anchor to dig in deeply and form a solid plug of material around it, rather than just scraping along the surface • Consider which type of seabed is too hard for an anchor to penetrate, and which is so soft that the anchor might slowly drag through it • Ask yourself which bottom type is generally preferred and often mentioned in seamanship texts as ideal for anchoring

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which bottom type provides good penetration plus firm resistance once the anchor is set • Eliminate any options where the anchor blade or flukes cannot bite in at all • Eliminate any options where the bottom is so soft that the anchor may gradually pull through under high load