A question was raised by one of our supporters.
I am very interested in the evolution of anchor designs. I have recently been drawn to the Viking anchor design. There are not many reviews in the public domain, and none discussing the CONVEX assembly option as compared to the CONCAVE option.
It occurs to me that the CONVEX configuration may have a different setting angle, due to the tip being further down from the shank. Also, there may be less packing of hard substrate in the center of the fluke, perhaps allowing the fluke to penetrate easier/deeper. Furthermore, after pulling out of the seabed it might reset easier (again because of less mud packed on the fluke).
- This has been an issue with most of the other CONCAVE anchor designs on the market.
I would really appreciate it if you could share with me your thoughts on this interesting CONVEX option and also post your commentary on the Viking Anchors website.
Answer:
Dear Ashley,
Thank you for your email and your interest in our anchor design.
During the development of our anchors, we carefully researched both convex and concave fluke shapes. We discovered that concave anchors tend to accumulate mud around the crown—the junction of the fluke and shank—which can cause imbalance and make resetting difficult.
To address this, we initially gave customers the option to assemble their anchor either concave or convex. While a convex fluke shape can help prevent mud buildup on muddy seabeds, we found that the concave shape offers slightly better holding power overall.
Additionally, we introduced holes in the fluke to reduce the vacuum effect that causes mud to stick, further enhancing anchor performance in challenging seabeds.
The angle between the fluke and the shackle hole is critical. After extensive testing, we determined that:
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A narrower angle allows the anchor to set quickly but yields lower holding power.
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A wider angle (up to 30-40 degrees) increases maximum holding power but makes setting difficult in hard or weedy seabeds.
This angle remains consistent, regardless of whether the anchor is assembled concave or convex.
Following our discovery that fluke holes reduce mud accumulation, we now advise against assembling the anchor in the convex shape, as the concave design provides better hold in most seabed conditions. Moreover, design improvements to the tip connection prevent incorrect upside-down assembly.
Best regards, [Viking Anchors Team]
