Anchoring tip for visitors to South Australia.

[groundtackle]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Do you mean like this:







But this is a convex plow anchor, in only light weed. Not a roll bar in sight. The weed on the anchor is not attached to the seabed but is clinging to the fluke.

The difference is that this plow anchor is on the seabed. When raised, this anchor was almost clean so the owner has no idea what is occurring.

Some people believe that the flukes of convex anchors don't become clogged in these circumstances. It is simply that when a convex anchor is raised to the surface often weed will fall off before breaking the surface, leaving little sign.

On the bottom, where it counts, there is a very different picture. These types of “giant balls of hay" are quite common on convex plow anchors. Dont believe the fluke of the anchor is not becoming clogged just because when it raised the anchor looks clean.

The secret to avoiding clogging with weed is to have an anchor that sets quickly, and convex plow anchors unfortunately take a long time to set.

To understand what is happening with anchors you need to look at the anchor on the seabed.

Just going back to this for a moment, something I’d like to add to this thread:
1) those still images are clearly not of an excel. You can see the “wing” in the first picture and it is not. If anyone really doubts this just ask and I’ll post a pic of that component of the Excel for comparison. Is that to say an Excel can’t foul? Of course any anchor can become fouled but let’s not imply the Excel is not fast setting or that fouling is a problem for anchors with a convex component.


Nick