The burying anchor achieves its holding power in two ways by a suction created by the particular sea bed in which it is set and by the weight of the material that sets above the anchor. Hooking anchors, on the other hand, get their resistance by literally hooking onto the hard bottom. Steel anchors in this pattern are light in weight to begin with, but aluminum models are even lighter. All have fantastic holding power per pound of weight, especially the aluminum models, giving the misconception that even a very small anchor will hold in bad weather. The sad fact is that the sea bed is never consistent enough to take full advantage of such efficiency and a bit of conservatism is important.
Weeds can be their Achilles' heel.
Heavy, solid construction characterizes these anchors and their weight enhances quick setting. Their smaller fluke areas prevent them from penetrating as deeply as the lightweights and their holding power is usually less in soft sea beds. Single bill patterns are effective in penetrating weed and other sea bed vegetation. The open fluke design of plow and scoop anchors is advantageous in gravel-type bottoms. Anchor designs that can be disassembled are particularly attractive for stowing below.