Multi-million dollar oil rigs rely on the same physics that apply to the anchors in our test, so there is plenty of data on anchoring technique.

Our test generally mapped the protocols used for testing much larger multi-ton platform anchors, but our smaller anchors recorded much more significant improvements in holding power than the big oil-rig anchors.

This is likely because oil platform anchors have good initial sets because they can sink deeper into firmer, better holding soil, while the lighter yacht anchors’ initially set 

The adjacent graph shows the results of slow long-duration pull-tests with a 2-pound Mantus Dinghy Anchor (blue), a 35-pound Manson anchor (red), and data from a study of similar oil rig anchors (green). The time intervals indicate the interval between slow, long duration cyclical loads that testers applied to mimic a boat backing down, or the effect of summer wind patterns.