Dominican Republic Anchor Data Analysis

1.Typically the shank is three times the length of the arms, or longer.




2.The distance of the arm including the fluke , from the tip of the fluke to the shank, and from that point to the tip of the anchor are equal. Therefore they form a unilateral triangle.




3. The distance from one fluke to the other is typically 2/3 the length of the shank.




4. The angle between the arms and the shank is extremely important for dating the anchor. Before 1550 the angle was 45 degrees. After 1550 the angle averaged 53 degrees but would range from 40 to 70 degrees.

The Caballo Blanco Anchor

Shank = 11 feet

Arms = 2.73 feet

Angle between the shank and the arms = 69 degrees +/- 4 degrees

The Santa Maria

Angle between the shank and the arms = 65 degrees +/- 4 degrees

It is possible that both the Caballo Blanco anchor and the Santa Maria anchor are from the same time periods. However, the angles between the shank and the arms don't fit the description of anchors before 1550.

Last updated: 3 October 1996
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~r317doc/dr/old/html/term.html
Comments: Underwater Science Program
Copyright 1996, The Trustees of Indiana University