Anchor Type Approval Certification

Type approval is an abstract endorsement by the society of the anchor’s design, or “type”, which is in turn classified according to its category of performance (see below). The society inspects the manufacturer’s production drawings, then either approve the design or request modifications. This specific stage of the inspection makes no comment with regard to the actual effectiveness of the anchor.

Society Rules supply very little information on the criteria and technical requirements for any given type. It is assumed on the basis of the society’s reputation that their inspecting engineers are capable and professional.

Type approval is therefore a nice stamp of endorsement on the anchor’s design, but it generally means little in practice. Any anchor that would fail this process would not last long in the face of independent testing and feedback from demanding boaters.