Some 4000 years ago, fishermen and other mariners anchored their ships and other vessels by tying a heavy rock at the end of the rope and dropping it underwater. Fortunately, things began to improve when these rocks were replaced by iron hooks that set the stage for modern anchors. Now there are numerous types of anchors available in the market and choosing one will depend on your load, the type of ground for your anchorage, and more. Among these types of anchors is the Northill anchor.
A tide of history
Before the various types of anchors came about, man turned to nature and imagination to make their voyage as safe as possible. After using a rock or stone as the first anchor, the Egyptians came up with the Killick in 2200 BC. The Killick was made up of wood and stone that were compactly designed into 4 bills to grip the ground. Not long after this, the first functional anchors were built in China and East India. These models were also made of stone and wood and were shaped much like the modern anchors of today-except that it only had one arm. Finally, the two-armed anchor came into existence in a Greek island. Most importantly, this model used bronze as material, instead of wood and stones.
The birth of an anchor
The Northill anchor was one of the models to emerge in the 1900’s. The other models were Dormor, Barnacle, Fobo and Danforth. The Northill anchor is a convenient choice for mariners who want a model that they can easily stow in the ship and is not heavy. The removable stock adds gripping power in sandy or muddy ground. This anchor is made up stainless steel that has been welded. The design of this model was actually inspired by the Fisherman’s anchor. Exercise caution when using this anchor in changing currents or heavy winds.
Source by Ilse Hagen