Flook Anchor?

[SayGudday]

Gudday. Anyone ever used one of these flook anchors? Just stumbled across it and have never even heard of this before.

FLOOK The Flying Anchor

[downunder]

Not seen or used one.

Looks a bit gimicy to me and only for smaller vessels. Somehat similar to the Danforth anchors.

Not for me but hopefully someone with experience with one will chime in.

Cheers

[SayGudday]

Originally Posted by downunder

Not seen or used one.

Looks a bit gimicy to me and only for smaller vessels. Somehat similar to the Danforth anchors.

Not for me but hopefully someone with experience with one will chime in.

Cheers

Looks like to total crap to me and I'm guessing it's called the flook because it's a fluke if it ever works. But, I'd change my opinion in a flash if a user told me it worked.

[Nemo55]

The principle looks sound,,i have sent for more info..

[olaf hart]

I think they are designed after the style of old seaplane anchors.
I have used one as a lunch hook on sand for years, works fine. I just throw it over the stern where I want to stop, works OK.
Easy to store in the lazarette, just use poly line, no chain.
I WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE BOAT OR SLEEP ON ONE OF THESE.
If the wind shifts, they can fold flat and skate over the seabed.

You can modify them to lock them open, but that negates the "flying" action.

[SayGudday]

Originally Posted by Nemo55

The principle looks sound,,i have sent for more info..

Eagerly awaiting your report.

[SayGudday]

Originally Posted by olaf hart

I think they are designed after the style of old seaplane anchors.
I have used one as a lunch hook on sand for years, works fine. I just throw it over the stern where I want to stop, works OK.
Easy to store in the lazarette, just use poly line, no chain.
I WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE BOAT OR SLEEP ON ONE OF THESE.
If the wind shifts, they can fold flat and skate over the seabed.

You can modify them to lock them open, but that negates the "flying" action.

Well I'll be. Looked a bit questionable to me so thanks for the info.

[Wanderlust]

I have one and find it brilliant.

I would not use it as a primary anchor, because of risk of not resetting, or getting something caught in the mechanism, but for a kedge or emergency it works as advertised.

You stand at the rail and throw it out as far as you can, trying to get it to land flat on the water. With no chain and a heavy nose it glides down and further out. It's hard to tell the glide angle, but could be 20-30%. You could also dinghy it out and then deploy it for a better scope ratio. The fluke area is enormous for the weight, so once dug in it holds like a substantially larger anchor.

I have never used it other than trying it out when I bought it, but think it's a worthwhile tool that may save us from a tow off a sandbank.

I bought it for my 10M mono, so at 10kg it may be a bit undersized for my Lagoon cat. Unfortunately, that's the biggest they make, but at $99 it's a steal.

[SayGudday]

@ Steve: thanks for the feedback, mate. I would never have thought that thing worked so I'm pleasantly surprised to learn otherwise.

[SkiprJohn]

My main anchor is 45 lbs. I really wouldn't be able to throw it anywhere. It seems this anchor has too many moving parts to be stored on deck like most are.

It wouldn't work for me but maybe a small boat lunch hook that can be stored out of the weather?

[noelex 77]

They were promoted a lot in Australia about 15 years ago.
The people that I spoke that used them were not very impressed. With no chain and a design maximised for flying rather than digging in the holding was poor.

[44'cruisingcat]

I have one, got it at a garage sale. Thought it might be OK as a stern anchor. Tried it. It's now back in the shed. Next garage sale....

[Kettlewell]

You can get an aluminum Fortress anchor to sail out quite a ways if it is on mostly nylon line. I have done this numerous times off the stern of my boat in order to get a little more scope. I walk the anchor aft from the bow (with the line outside of everything), then sail it out off the stern, then snug it up to create a Bahamian moor in a shallow spot without having to move the boat or use the dinghy.

[Winds Of Change]

Hi, new to the community here. Though presently land bound, I was a live-aboard from l991 to 2002 (most of that time in Boot Key Harbour, Fl Keys). I had a Flook as my third anchor and in Mar of 93 in the early hours of the morning we had what was then termed as the storm of the century (if I remember correctly Sombrero Reef clocked a gust at 98mph). To be at anchor on a Irwin Citation 34 and wake up to a knock down was to say - wild. For about 6 hours we my vessel was held (with my auxiliary at idle in case of need) by that 22 pound Flook! Believe me when I say it really was a great anchor and I regret that when when I sold Winds Of Change I regret not keeping it as I hope to own again in the future when I retire.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Winds Of Change

Hi, new to the community here. Though presently land bound, I was a live-aboard from l991 to 2002 (most of that time in Boot Key Harbour, Fl Keys). I had a Flook as my third anchor and in Mar of 93 in the early hours of the morning we had what was then termed as the storm of the century (if I remember correctly Sombrero Reef clocked a gust at 98mph). To be at anchor on a Irwin Citation 34 and wake up to a knock down was to say - wild. For about 6 hours we my vessel was held (with my auxiliary at idle in case of need) by that 22 pound Flook! Believe me when I say it really was a great anchor and I regret that when when I sold Winds Of Change I regret not keeping it as I hope to own again in the future when I retire.

Hi WoC and welcome to the forum.

I remember the Storm of the Century quite well. Even in north FL it was a serious blow. Woke us up in the middle of the night and we decided to move downstairs in case the tree over out upstairs bedroom decided to go. Left a lot of town without power for a few days.