Anchor size

[Don Case]

I'm messing with ways of making anchors for the Discovery1789. I made this one from wood following the dimensions from Mondfeld's book. It looks huge to me. Does this look about right to you or is this maybe one of Mondfeld's mistakes?

 

[Y.T.]

Looks quite proportional. I was also very much surprised when I found how large the anchors on my Victory model were supposed to be. The anchors that came with the kit were two-thirds (2/3) of the correct size.

 

[Don Case]

Thanks YT Good to hear. I was originally thinking I would have to silver solder some small bits for the anchor and I was thinking maybe 1.5 inches long. This is 3.25" long.

 

[Uwek]

For my feeling it is looking in scale and in correct size

but you can check the size with this table



found here

The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship​

ANCHOR-MAKING.-Vol. I. | Historic Naval Ships Association

 

[Don Case]

Thank you Uwe, I had found these two charts but they didn't have the second half that showed size of ship to size of anchor. Thank you for that. The Discovery was 330 tons so I made the anchor the right size. They sure were big.

 

[Jwallkc]

s were huge... Much bigger than you'd think when you finally stand next to one. It could take up to four hours to weigh the largest ones when getting underway. However big you think anchors on a ship might have been, double it.

 

[bill36]

1. They look proportionate to me; better too large than too small. Also remember that they would be broken down (and maybe stowed below) on a long voyage.
2. s would not be carried in the shrouds for any longer than absolutely necessary.; they would break up the ship in heavy weather.
3. Very few (probably none) ships were lost because they had large anchors used properly. Many ships (lots of them) were lost because they only carried small (and/or too few) anchors; usually because cheap owners would not spend the money for required complament of anchors.

 

[peter6172]

Yes the bower anchors were very large but ships did have a range of anchor on board dependant upon the anchorage and weather. Bower, Stream, and Kedge are examples that one ship may have on board.