🔍 Key Concepts

• Holding ground – which sea bottom type lets an anchor dig in and stay put? • How small-boat anchors (like Danforth or fluke anchors) work in different bottom types (sand, mud, rock, gravel). • The difference between bottoms where an anchor can dig in versus those where it only snags or skips.

💭 Think About

• Think about which bottom type allows the anchor’s flukes to bury deeply and maintain a steady grip, even if the wind or current shifts. • Which bottom type is more likely to let the anchor drag or skip along instead of digging in solidly? • For a small boat, which type of bottom would give you both good holding and less chance of fouling (getting stuck) so you can retrieve the anchor?:

✅ Before You Answer

• Ask: Can the anchor penetrate and bury itself in this material, or does it just sit on top or wedge between hard objects? • Consider whether this bottom type is known as good holding ground in seamanship texts and cruising guides. • Eliminate any options where the anchor is more likely to snag and foul or slide without biting.