Fluke anchors (also known as Danforth anchors) are one of the most popular boat anchors according to West Marine. This is because of their amazing holding power-to-weight ratio. They weigh very little but can hold a lot of weight, making them perfect for boats under 30 feet in length.
They work great as a main anchor for smaller boats (under 30 ft) and as stern anchors for both smaller boats and large boats.
Although they can work on almost all sea floors except rocky bottoms, they work best in sand and mud. There are better options for pebble or grass sea floors such as a claw or a river mushroom anchor, but they should still get the job done.
Before we get into what size fluke anchor you should get, let’s look at the top 3 options available:
Top 3 Fluke Anchors
Best High-End
Fortress Aluminum Anchor
Lightweight Aluminum fluke anchor with 2 adjustable shank angles 32° for sand and 45° for soft mud…read more
Best Bang For Buck
West Marine Performance2 Anchor
A reliable anchor with a modified Danforth style making it great in both hard sand and mud…read more
Best Budget Option
West Marine Traditional Fluke Anchor
An accurately made anchor with an affordable price tag. However, not as feature packed as others…read more
In addition to an anchor, you should also purchase an anchor chain such as this one, a proper anchor line such as this one, and a snap hook to connect them. Anchor chains add weight to help speed up the time it takes for an anchor to sink and they also strengthen the line at the area it needs most. Sharp rocks can damage regular lines but can’t with chains.
If you have a very small boat (under 15 ft), I generally recommend purchasing a mushroom anchor instead of a fluke anchor. These have less holding power but set quicker than fluke anchors.
What size fluke anchor should you get?
The size of your boat will greatly affect the size anchor you should purchase. According to Anchoring.com, fortressanchors.com, and my own experience, below is what size anchor you should get based on boat length.
| Boat Length (ft) | Steel Anchor Weight (lbs) | Aluminum Anchor Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| under 15′ | 4 lbs | 4 lbs |
| 16′-25′ | 8 lbs | 4 lbs |
| 26′-31′ | 16 lbs | 7 lbs |
| 32′-36′ | 22 lbs | 10 lbs |
| 37′-41′ | 33 lbs | 15 lbs |
| 42′-49′ | 44 lbs | 21 lbs |
| 50′-60′ | 55 lbs | 32 lbs |
| 60’+ | 60 lbs+ | 47 lbs+ |
Boats larger than 30 ft should consider purchasing a delta or scoop anchor as their main anchor and use a fluke as a stern anchor only. Check out the article below to learn more about different anchor types.
7 Best fluke anchors
When it comes to boat anchors, there are many different brands. It’s important to understand the good ones from the bad ones. Most of what you find on Amazon is not name-brand, so you’ll never be sure of its quality. So when you are looking for boat anchors, look for brands such as:
- Guardian
- Taylor Made
- Fortress
- Lewmar
- Rocna
- West Marine
These are sold on websites such as West Marine and Cabela’s.
It’s important to purchase from a reliable company because one of the worst things that could happen is your anchor failing and your boat drifting into another boat or shore. So now that you understand this, let’s get into the list.
1. Best High-End: Fortress Aluminum Anchor
When it comes to fluke anchors, nobody makes them better than Fortress. This U.S. made anchor is aluminum, meaning their lighter and more corrosive resistant than their steel counterparts. Because they are made of aluminum, they are able to outperform steel anchors of the same weight test after test.
You can also purchase this anchor with a chain and rope set by clicking here.
Not only is this anchor light, but it can be disassembled and reassembled very easily. This makes it the perfect anchor to store in tight spots if you have limited space.
This anchor also has two adjustable shank angles: 32° for sand and 45° for soft mud. Believe me this helps out a lot, fluke anchors are known for slipping up in mud, but this anchor rarely does.
However, it takes both a skew driver and a wrench to change the configuration, which can be difficult to do on a wobbling boat in the water. This has caused some users to complain about it saying “You have to hold the anchor in your lap, or otherwise let it squirm on the fiberglass deck in order to perform this procedure, being careful not to drop the nuts and bolts.”
This anchor performs much better than traditional steel fluke anchors of the same weight, but not as well as heavier steel anchors of the same length. So although the anchor recommended for your boat may be lighter, it could be wider and longer than the recommended steel anchor.
2. Best Bang For Buck: West Marine Performance2 Anchor
West Marine may not be the most glamorous anchor company out there, but they make reliable and accurate anchors for a very affordable price. You can trust them and won’t have to worry about a faultily made anchor that could cost you dearly.
Unlike the anchor at the number one spot, this anchor is made of galvanized steel alloy and not aluminum. This means these anchors will be heavier and look uglier. However, on the flip side, having a heavier anchor isn’t always a bad thing.
For example, aluminum anchors can struggle during high wind as the boat might drift too fast to even let the anchor get to the bottom. A heavier anchor will most likely not have this problem.
This anchor would be great to use as a stern anchor because you could store it out of site and only bring it out when it’s needed.
3. Best Budget Option: West Marine Traditional Fluke Anchor
The budget option is another anchor made by West Marine. This anchor may not be the prettiest or have any glamorous features, but it gets the job done.
As of the time I’m writing this, the price points start at $42 for the 4lb anchor and $130 for the 26 lb anchor. That’s around 28% cheaper than West Marine’s Performance2 Anchor and 50% cheaper than the Fortress Aluminum anchor.
The vast majority of reviews for this product are positive, and that’s for good reason: it saves people money. Although this anchor does struggle in grassy, rocky, or clay bottoms, all fluke anchors do. This one does just a little more due to its outdated shorter design.
This anchor will be miles better than any knockoff or off-brand model you could get at places like Amazon, and it still cost around the same. Check out this video to learn more about this anchor.
4. Best looking: LFX Aluminum Fluke Anchor
This is another high-end aluminum anchor from a premium brand. It’s lightweight and gets the job done just as well if not better than any fluke anchor on the market.
This anchor has all the features and looks amazing; however, this comes with a high price tag. Although it’s still around 8% cheaper than Fortress Aluminum Anchor at $200 for a 10lb anchor, it’s still significantly more expensive than other non-aluminum options available
But in my opinion, the perfect engineering and design make this anchor worth the price. One reviewer even said that “this anchor is a steal at this price” after it perfectly held his boat and 2 others with no movement in a stream.
5. Most affordable available: Bass Pro Shops Fluke Anchor
When it comes to affordable fluke anchors, nobody makes them less expensive than Bass Pro Shops. At the time I am writing this, an 8 lb anchor only costs $35. That’s 32% cheaper than my best budget option at $52 for an 8lb anchor.
Although this anchor is very affordable, it lacks craftsmanship. One reviewer even commented “Worst anchor I’ve ever seen” and “I’ve got little grandchildren that could weld better than that. There were bird that were razor sharp around the holes drilled”.
However, the majority of reviewers noted that the welding was spot on and the anchor works perfectly. So, if you want an affordable option, this anchor will most likely fulfill your needs, and if not Cabela’s has a very good return policy.
This will undoubtedly be better than any knockoff or off-brand available on websites such as Amazon or Aliexpress.
6. Best jet ski or small watercraft anchor: West Marine Slip Ring Fluke Anchor
Regardless of which way slip-ring anchors land, they will still easily set, unlike traditional fluke anchors that may need to be readjusted to set properly. These work great as stern anchors as many times stern anchors don’t land in the perfect position or main anchors for small watercraft such as a PWC.
I would only recommend this anchor to people who need a secondary anchor and have a boat under 21 feet or have a very small watercraft. This anchor will struggle to hold larger boats, especially in rough or windy conditions.
But that being said, having an anchor that readjusts and sets easily makes your life so much easier, especially for setting up a stern anchor.
7. Best anchor lines: Acco Galvanized High-Test Chain and West Marine Premium Prespliced Three-Strand Anchor Lines
Having the proper anchor chain and rope is very important. Having too weak of a line or chain can cause it to break and possibly causing a disaster. It’s important to have both a chain and a rope. Chains are there to protect the most vulnerable part of the line. Unlike ropes, chains won’t be damaged by nearby sharp rocks or coral.
In order to connect the two, you’ll also have to purchase a snap hook which can be found for very cheap.
Last look at my top-rated fluke anchors
Best High-End
Fortress Aluminum Anchor
Lightweight Aluminum fluke anchor with 2 adjustable shank angles 32° for sand and 45° for soft mud…read more
Best Bang For Buck
West Marine Performance2 Anchor
A reliable anchor with a modified Danforth style making it great in both hard sand and mud…read more
Best Budget Option
West Marine Traditional Fluke Anchor
An accurately made anchor with an affordable price tag. However, not as feature packed as others…read more
Related article: Plow/Scoop Anchor Review (Delta, Rocna, Vulcan, and CQR)
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