What is this pls.

[soerencarlsen]

Hi all
found this in the bottom of a locker, I do think it has something to do with anckoring but not sure, have never seen it before, it is heavy, maybe lead. with a bit of chain and rope.

thanks Soren

[sailormed]

Mushroom anchor, maybe for the dinghy.

[boatman61]

Depth sounder/bottom tester..
Melt some wax onto underside then drop off bow.. haul back in after it hits botton and examine for sand.. gravel.. shell or mud..

[soerencarlsen]

Thanks !

[noelex 77]

It is the right shape to be a small mushroom anchor, but if it is made from lead is is probably a kellet sometimes known as an anchor angel or chum.

[Benz]

That is some serious chain for a small mushroom. I doubt it was used as a sounder, since you don't want heavy chain on a sounder--you want thinner line for better feel.
Whatever it was, you probably don't need it.

[boatman61]

I doubt it was used as a sounder, since you don't want heavy chain on a sounder--you want thinner line for better feel.
Whatever it was, you probably don't need it.

Some things should be taken with a pinch of salt..

[NYSail]

I would also think a Kellet...... bit looks like too much rode. Usually just a length of heavy chain to attach, though I never have used one

[soerencarlsen]

Originally Posted by soerencarlsen

Thanks !

well I am not 100% sure of material it just the weigth of it "heavy" and plastic coated with 3 holes in the lower part.

[Sailmonkey]

It’s next to useless imho

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...05_153_003_512

In my experience these are anchors that don’t scale well. A huge mushroom makes a great mooring in mud, a small mushroom is a novelty.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Benz

That is some serious chain for a small mushroom. I doubt it was used as a sounder, since you don't want heavy chain on a sounder--you want thinner line for better feel.
Whatever it was, you probably don't need it.

It's the chain that gives it any hope of holding the dinghy.
I use those for the weight under the flopper stopper cones, sans chain.

[Kita]

Originally Posted by sailormed

Mushroom anchor, maybe for the dinghy.

Agree!

[Cpt Mark]

If you are considering a drogue like the Shark for example, you'd use that to help keep the drogue in the water for max benefit rather than have it skip. But it would have to weigh enough

[zeehag]

it is a dinghy anchor for beach landings.
we used em all the time in sd. we also used em in barra de navidad to keep dinghies off riprap. ever try to get home in a riprap torn inflatable??? hahahahaha

[TrentePieds]

Søren:

It's a "mushroom" anchor - so called for obvious reasons. You have also seen it referred to in this thread as a "kellet".

A kellet is used to weight down the middle of your anchor rode to give the length of it nearest the anchor a better "angle of attack" and therefore confer better holding power on the "hook". The kellet also softens the blow when the rode "snubs" when there is swell running in the anchorage.

The "mushroom" is also a handy little thing for anchoring your dinghy, if that is ever necessary. I don't see that as happening often, because you dink is either with the "mothership", on the beach, or alongside the dinghy jetty in a marina.

Someone suggested that it may be a "sounding lead" (lavet af bly) used for measuring the depth of water. but for that use you'd have it on a piece of "cod line" rather than on a chain. A "sounding lead" is shaped like a bell and has a substantial hollow in the bottom of it into which you place tallow or some other viscous fat so that the lead, when you haul it in, will contain a sample of the sea bottom.

If I judge rightly by your name, you sail in waters where the bottom is mainly sand, and the holding power of the bottom is generally good. But even so, a mushroom is really not much use for occasional anchoring of a "real" boat, since its effectiveness depends on its having had time to bury itself deep in the sea bottom.

For interests sake, where DO you sail :-)?

TP