The Anchor

The anchor

The anchor is a pretty simple device, so you might think. There are many different designs, and the plan for setting an anchor is a little more complicated than just throwing it overboard.

Designs

The temporary anchors

Basic design consists of a central bar (the shank), a bottom piece (fluke or palm), and a point to penetrate the bottom. Where the shank and fluke (or palm) meet is called the crown. The shank usually has a ring or shackle to attach it to a cable.

Hook design: small fluke with heavy, narrow shank to penetrate rocky, seaweed, coral, or hard sand.

Plough: kind of like the old farm plough. It is a good, general anchor for most bottoms.

Fluke: have a large bottom piece. This is to dig it the bottom and have a lots of resistance to moving.

Sea: these use the water itself to hold a vessel; it is not much more than canvas and a rope.

There are other designs for temporary and permanent anchors.

Placing an anchor

It not just throwing it overboard. You need to know 4 things: 1, is the area for the vessel offer protection from the current and expected weather; 2, is the seabed good for holding the anchor; 3, how will the tide affect the anchorage; 4, is there enough room for the vessel to swing.

If all 4 points are agreeable, you need to drop the anchor. It should be down wind or down current; choose whatever is stronger. The vessel needs then to stop, the anchor dropped until it touches down, and the cable let out under control to keep it straight. Sometimes in a storm a weight needs to be placed on the cable/chain to lower the angle and act a shock absorber in difficult weather conditions. Some other methods in heavy weather include two anchors set at 45 degrees or even 90 degrees so the vessel will face the strong winds. There are other method also.

All this is interesting. The anchor is necessary equipment. But what about people and storms of life that we face. Some face tremendous difficulties. What anchor is there for them? Our hope in the Lord Jesus is our anchor. He said, "I will NEVER leave or forsake you." And in Hebrews it is written, "God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place. Jesus has gone there ahead of us, and he is our high priest forever, just like Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:18-20)