BS test method that is. Chains matter. Wet sand is not the same as powder dry sand.
Good point. Also, when anchoring a ship, it’s the chain that holds the ship in place. The anchor holds the chain. The more wind or current you are anchoring in, the greater scope (length) of chain required to remain securely anchored. The weight of your chain will usually be several times the weight of your anchor.
No, the anchor is doing the holding - the chain simply keeps the angle of pull on the anchor more horizontal so that it doesn't pull up out of the mud/sand/whatever.
If this wasn't the case, folks would just use a heavy chain alone.
Wrong! That’s the difference between boats and ships. You’ve clearly never anchored a ship.
So please explain why ships have anchors and not just chains. I believe, considering physics, it's simply a matter of scale.
If all you needed was the anchor, you would only need enough chain to reach the bottom and keep the shank parallel with the bottom, so your flukes could dig in. That’s how boats are anchored. With a ship, the weight of the chain and the friction created when the chain is laying on the bottom, is what holds the ship. Typically, you would anchor with a scope of chain that is 5 to 7 times the depth of water you’re anchoring in. That provides the weight and friction required. A soft bottom helps hold because the chain sinks into the mud or sand. The first thing you do when you find that your anchor is dragging is to pay out more chain. That doesn’t make the anchor heavier, it increases the weight of the chain and creates more friction. Basically, the anchor, once the flukes dig in, allow the ship to backdown and pay out the desired scope of chain. The reverse is true when weighing anchor.
