Clay bottoms are perfect bottom types for boat anchors because clay bottoms hold the anchor tight, and it is very hard to retrieve the anchors back. Here are some boat anchors that work well in clay bottoms.
The best boat anchor for clay bottoms is Fluke, CQR, and Delta anchors. All among them are good for clay bottoms because they have a sharp tip on the anchors. So, they will penetrate well in clay bottoms. Sometimes, fluke anchors will take some time or won’t set well in hard clay bottoms.
All anchors are good for clay bottoms. Sometimes, fluke anchors will not set well in hard clay bottoms. Bruce anchors will take time to set in clay bottoms. Fluke, CQR, and Delta anchors are good for clay bottoms. Delta and modern anchors will be the perfect choice for clay bottoms (if you have a good amount in the wallet, then buy them).
As I said, for clay bottoms, fluke, CQR, and delta, anchors suit well. That doesn’t mean that those types of anchors (fluke, CQR, and delta) will work only in the clay bottom. For example, fluke anchors work well in clay, sand, mud, and silt bottoms as well.
Similarly, delta anchors will set well in clay, sand, mud, silt, grass, weed, rocks, and gravel bottoms, and CQR anchors will set well in clay, sand, mud, and silt bottoms. Like that, if you buy one anchor, it will work well in at least 2 or 3 bottom types as well.
Meaning you should not only consider only one bottom type while buying an anchor for your boat. For example, if you purchase fluke anchor (thinking you will go for boating only in sand bottoms). Generally, fluke anchors will not work well in grass, weed, and rocky bottoms.
And, all the time, you may not go for boating only in a specific (or the same place) place. Sometimes, you might change the location, and if you change the location, then sometimes you might encounter some other types of bottom conditions. Then you may not be able to use that fluke anchor. So, you should consider all these things while buying an anchor.
Now, that you have been selecting an anchor for a clay bottom, those three anchors (fluke, delta, and CQR) will work well in clay bottoms. Now, let’s see those three anchors in detail.
To get more info about the different bottom types and the different anchors, check my article on Choosing a perfect anchor for your boat: All you need to know (opens in a new tab). It is a detailed analysis of all the bottom types and their respective anchors that suit for all those bottom types.
1. Fluke or Danforth anchor
Fluke or Danforth anchors are the most popular anchors. Many boaters will use these anchors in their boats. We will now see for which type of bottom types we will use these Danforth or fluke anchors.
Fluke or Danforth anchors are used in the bottoms like sand, mud, clay, and silt. In hard clay bottoms, Fluke or Danforth anchors won’t set as nicely as it sets in normal bottoms. Still, it is a good option for clay bottoms. Fluke anchors are not suitable for rock, gravel, weed, and grass bottoms.
Image is linked to Amazon
Fluke or Danforth anchor (linked to Amazon). Check the price in amazon, and it is worth buying a fluke anchor for clay, sand, mud, and silt bottom.
| Fluke anchors | Setting ability (for 5 points) | Resetting ability (for 5 points) | Holding power (for 5 points) | Robust (for 5 points) |
| Mud | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Sand | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Grass | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Weed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Rock | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gravel | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Silt | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Clay | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Due to its fluke design, it will penetrate well in the clay. These anchors are very light in weight. The stock is hinged so the flukes can penetrate toward the bottom. For some designs, you can adjust the optimal angle depending on the bottom type.
These anchors penetrate well at the bottom. Once, if it sets well at the bottom, then it can develop high resistance. Its lightweight and compact flat design make it easy to retrieve and relatively easy to stow. There is another type of Fluke or Danforth anchor.
The other type of fluke anchor is the Fortress anchor. The Fortress is an American aluminum alloy Danforth variant. It can be disassembled for storage, and it features an adjustable 32° and 45° shank/fluke angle to improve holding capability in bottoms such as hard sand and soft mud.
Danforth anchors reset well, and the fortress anchor will not reset like a Danforth anchor. A Danforth will not usually penetrate or hold in gravel or weed or rock bottoms. In the below table, I listed the Fluke or Danforth anchor size based on the boat size (source). The values may vary a little bit if the boat weight is heavy or very light.
| Anchor Weight (in lbs.) | Boat Length (in feet) | Holding Power (in lbs.) |
| 3.5 lbs. | < 10 feet | 160 lbs. |
| 5 lbs. | 10-17 feet | 300 lbs. |
| 9 lbs. | 17-27 feet | 600 lbs. |
| 14 lbs. | 27-31 feet | 920 lbs. |
| 16 lbs. | 31-36 feet | 1300 lbs. |
| 25 lbs. | 36-40 feet | 1600 lbs. |
| 43 lbs. | 40-45 feet | 2000 lbs. |
| 70 lbs. | 45-55 feet | 3000 lbs. |
| 100 lbs. | 55-60 | 3500 lbs. |
The advantages of Fluke or Danforth anchor and Fortress anchor
- Fluke anchors are excellent in normal clay, sand, silt, and mud bottom types.
- Fluke anchors are very light in weight.
- Fluke anchors can be stowed well in the boat.
- Fluke anchors can be disassemblable.
- Fluke anchors are inexpensive compared to other style anchors.
- Fluke anchors will be the right choice for small boats because fluke anchors are lightweight type anchors.
The disadvantages of Fluke or Danforth anchor and Fortress anchor
- Fluke anchors are not suitable for rock, gravel, weed, and grass bottom types.
- Fluke anchors have less holding power than other anchors.
- Fluke anchors will not reset easily if the wind or current shifts.
- Fluke anchors are not the right choice for big boats because these are lightweight anchors and may not work well for big boats.
- The anchor flukes might bend if you use fluke anchor in rock or gravel bottoms.
2. Delta or Wing anchor or Non-hinged anchor
Delta or Wing anchors are also known as non-hinged anchors, and one of the good anchors. Delta or Wing anchors are many ways similar to CQR or Plow anchors. We will now see for which type of bottom types we will use the Delta or Wing anchors.
The Delta or Wing anchors are used in the bottoms like rocks, gravel, grass, clay, sand, mud, weed, and silt. But in the grass, weed, and very soft bottoms, Delta or Wing anchors won’t set as nicely as it sets in normal bottoms. Still, they are okay for weed, grass, and very soft bottom types.
Image is linked to Amazon
Delta or wing anchor (linked to Amazon). Check the price in amazon, and it is worth buying a Delta or wing anchor for clay, mud, sand, rocks, gravel, grass, and silt bottom. But if you are thinking of purchasing a delta anchor, then you should know that sometimes in weed, grass, and very soft bottoms, the delta anchor may not set well at the bottom. Consider that point while buying a delta anchor.
| Delta anchors | Setting ability (for 5 points) | Resetting ability (for 5 points) | Holding power (for 5 points) | Robustness (for 5 points) |
| Mud | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Sand | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Grass | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Weed | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Rock | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Gravel | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Silt | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Clay | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Delta or Wing anchors can be stowed conveniently in a roller at the bow, and have been popular with cruising sailors and private boaters. Delta or Wing anchors are generally good in all types of bottoms, except soft bottoms.
But, Delta or Wing anchor cannot be stowed inside the boat properly because we can’t disassemble a delta anchor. You need to consider all these things while buying a Delta or Wing type anchor.
In the below table, I listed the Delta or Wing anchor size based on the boat size (source). The values may vary a little bit if the boat weight is heavy or very light.
| Anchor Weight (in lbs.) | Boat Length (in feet) |
| 13 lbs. | 17-29 feet |
| 22 lbs. | 30-40 feet |
| 33 lbs. | 40-49 feet |
| 44 lbs. | 47-57 feet |
| 55 lbs. | 53-63 feet |
| 66 lbs. | 57-70 feet |
The advantages of Delta or Wing anchors
- Delta anchors are excellent in clay, sand, mud, silt, rock, gravel, grass, and weed bottoms (sometimes, may not work well in weed and very soft bottoms).
- Delta anchors can be stowed conveniently in a roller at the bow.
- Delta anchors penetrate deep into the bottom and have good holding power.
- Delta anchors will be the right choice for big boats because these are heavy anchors.
The disadvantages of Delta or Wing anchors
- Sometimes, Delta anchors will not set properly or holds less in the weed and very soft bottoms.
- Delta anchors can’t be stowed easily in the boat due to its hinge design.
- Delta anchors take time to set at the bottom.
3. CQR or Plow anchor
CQR or Plow anchors are also known as hinged anchors, and one of the good ones for anchoring. Many big boaters will use these anchors in their boats. We will now see for which type of bottom types we will use these CQR or Plow anchors.
CQR or Plow anchors are used in the bottoms like clay, sand, mud, silt, rocks, gravel, grass, and weed. But in grass, weed, and very soft bottoms, CQR anchors won’t set as nicely as it sets in normal bottoms. Still, CQR anchors are okay for grass, weed, and very soft bottom types.
Image is linked to Amazon
CQR or plow anchors (linked to Amazon). Check the price in amazon, and it is worth buying a CQR or plow anchor for rocks, gravel, clay, sand, mud, grass, weed, and silt bottom (sometimes, may not work well in grass, weed, and very soft bottoms). But, the problem with CQR anchors is the hinge, the anchor may roll sideways if the wind or current changes. Consider that point while buying a delta anchor.
| CQR anchors | Setting ability (for 5 points) | Resetting ability (for 5 points) | Holding power (for 5 points) | Robustness (for 5 points) |
| Mud | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Sand | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Grass | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Weed | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Rock | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Gravel | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Silt | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Clay | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
CQR or Plow anchors can be stowed conveniently in a roller at the bow, and have been popular with cruising sailors and private boaters. CQR or Plow anchors are generally good in all types of bottoms, except soft bottoms.
The only problem with CQR or Plow anchors is that it won’t set properly. Generally, it takes time to set due to the hinge. And another problem with CQR or Plow anchors is it will roll down if the wind or current changes. So, it might be an issue for many boaters.
This anchor is a big one, and due to its hinged design, it is more difficult to stow it in the boat. You need to consider those things while buying a CQR or Plow type anchors. To prevent those problems, they invented non-hinged types of anchors known as Delta or Wing anchors. Many modern anchors are also designed similarly to a Plow style anchor. Some of them are Rocna, Manson Supreme, Mantus, Spade anchors.
In the below table, I listed the CQR or Plow anchor size based on the boat size (source). The values may vary a little bit if the boat weight is heavy or very light.
| Anchor Weight (in lbs.) | Boat Length (in feet) |
| 15 lbs. | up to 20 feet |
| 20 lbs. | 20-30 feet |
| 25 lbs. | 22-26 feet |
| 35 lbs. | 26-45 feet |
| 45 lbs. | 32-58 feet |
| 60 lbs. | 45-65 feet |
| 75 lbs. | 52-72 feet |
| 105 lbs. | 70-90 feet |
The advantages of CQR or Plow anchor
- CQR anchors are excellent in clay, sand, mud, silt, rocks, gravel, grass, and weed bottoms (sometimes, may not work well in grass, weed, and very soft bottoms).
- CQR anchors can be stowed conveniently in a roller at the bow.
- CQR anchors penetrate deep into the bottom and have good holding power.
- CQR anchors will be the right choice for big boats because these are heavy anchors.
The disadvantages of CQR or Plow anchor
- Sometimes, CQR anchors will not set properly or holds less in the grass, weed, and very soft bottoms.
- CQR anchors roll over to the side easily than other anchors.
- CQR anchors take more space, and can’t be stowed easily in the boat due to its hinge design.
- CQR anchors take time to set at the bottom.
Related posts
Check my article on Choosing an anchor for your boat click here
Check my article on boat anchors for Offshore (oceans or seas) click here
Check my article on boat anchors for sand bottom click here
Check my article on boat anchors for mud bottom click here
Check my article on boat anchors for grass bottom click here
Check my article on boat anchors for weed bottom click here
Check my article on boat anchors for rock bottom click here
Check my article on boat anchors for gravel bottom click here
Bottom line
All anchors are good for clay bottoms. Sometimes, fluke anchors will not set well in hard clay bottoms. Bruce anchors will take time to set in clay bottoms. Fluke, CQR, and Delta anchors are good for clay bottoms. Delta and modern anchors will be the perfect choice for clay bottoms (if you have a good amount in the wallet, then buy them).
As I said, one anchor will set well in different types of bottoms. So, choose an anchor that works well in the place where you will go for boating and some neighboring places as well. By doing that, one day if you go to another place for boating, then it will help you a lot.
