Age of a ship thru size of anchor????

[BVI Hunter]

OK - any advice is most welcome!!!

is it possible to date a ship if the anchor had a chain (links) or rope etc?

is it also possible to determine the size of a ship from the size of anchor?

using the following sketch;

Google Image Result for http://yukonharbor.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/joann-smith-anchor-nomenclature.jpg


I have;

direct line across from palm / bill / tee approx. 5 ft
shank approx. 8 ft

 

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[Mackaydon]

This may assist you:http://nautarch.tamu.edu/pdf-files/Jobling-MA1993.pdf
Don.....

 

[BVI Hunter]

This may assist you:http://nautarch.tamu.edu/pdf-files/Jobling-MA1993.pdf
Don.....

thanks

but link does not work (?) for me anyhow!

 

[dennco2000]

I can print it out and hand deliver it....

 

[ivan salis]

as time went on ships got bigger --bigger ship need bigger anchors *

 

[BVI Hunter]

as time went on ships got bigger --bigger ship need bigger anchors *

I know I didn't want a too technical an answer, but c'mon......

 

[Mackaydon]

dennco,
You may wish to reconsider your offer to print out the reference. The site is a Thesis on the subject --162 pages.
Don...

 

[Mackaydon]

BVI,
Try accessing the reference from this site: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/anth/abstracts/jobling.html
Don.....

 

[ivan salis]

plain simple easy - the answer is yes - I try to keep it simple --easy to understand the why an how of it. == the types of anchors and their designs and size and material made of can def help in figgering out the age and type of vessel it went to.-- military vs civilian style -- iron with wood stocks or fully made of iron / steel --differant fluke designs --as a 27 year merchant seaman with a 300 year old sailing family background anchor's can tell you a lot.

 

[dennco2000]

I'll do whatever it takes to get an invite from BVI.... LOL. Okay maybe a flashdrive then.

 

[BVI Hunter]

plain simple easy - the answer is yes - I try to keep it simple --easy to understand the why an how of it. == the types of anchors and their designs and size and material made of can def help in figgering out the age and type of vessel it went to.-- military vs civilian style -- iron with wood stocks or fully made of iron / steel --differant fluke designs --as a 27 year merchant seaman with a 300 year old sailing family background anchor's can tell you a lot.

ok- so an iron (?) anchor with the sizes I described - any guesses to the date?

 

[aquanut]

BVI, The anchor you have is probably a secondary anchor. The ships were required to carry at least six anchors of various sizes back in those days, yours being the smallest. Full size galleon anchors were up to 20 feet tall. Even smaller anchors were aboard for the longboats. I'm no expert, this is just some info I picked up along the way. Need a pic of yours.
Aquanut

 

[ECS]

BVI, The anchor you have is probably a secondary anchor. The ships were required to carry at least six anchors of various sizes back in those days, yours being the smallest. Full size galleon anchors were up to 20 feet tall. Even smaller anchors were aboard for the longboats. I'm no expert, this is just some info I picked up along the way. Need a pic of yours.
Aquanut

So you are saying that size doesn't matter,but how it is used.

 

[aquanut]

So you are saying that size doesn't matter,but how it is used.

I think that a picture of the anchor would better serve our purpose here.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

So you are saying that size doesn't matter,but how it is used.

I tell my wife that all the time.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[BVI Hunter]

I think that a picture of the anchor would better serve our purpose here.

I agree, but that would then "prove" I have found what I have found ..... I prefer the "hypothetical"

 

[Mackaydon]

I wouldn't rely on any one gun or anchor to tell the entire story. Anchors, and especially cannons, were transferred from ship to ship and from vessels of one country to another (due to capture and salvage). To me, the finding of just one piece (say, one anchor or one gun) is only an indication of what might be; not positive proof. It's only one piece of a puzzle and needs to be corroborated with further evidence.
Don.....

 

[aquanut]

I agree, but that would then "prove" I have found what I have found ..... I prefer the "hypothetical"

Try Drawing the anchor...

 

[Jolly Mon]

It could be the working anchor from a smaller merchantman, privateer, slaver or military vessel. It is certainly too large to be from a mere boat. For every galleon or nao sunk in the new world, probably 100 smaller vessels were lost. As stated, though, it could be the kedge from a much larger ship.

Chain did not come into general use as a rode material until after 1815. If the anchor in question shows no sign of having a chain attached...in other words, no shackle...then it quite possibly could date from the 18th century or earlier, though of course, this would only be a clue and not definitive proof.

Also remember that the introduction of chain as a rode material allowed a significant reduction in anchor size for vessels of all sorts. An Admirality type with an 8 foot shank and an all chain rode would be sufficient as a working anchor for a quite substantial vessel indeed.

 

[ivan salis]

lets see a cast an iron anchor 8 foot long x 5 feet wide --as a has been stated --most likely a secondary type anchor --the type of design is very late 1700 to early / mid 1800 era time frame wise is my best guess --if off a military or larger type vessel it was most likely a secondary anchor -- if of a smaller type vessel however it could be its everyday or main "working" anchor

ah upon a bit of research found out the first "iron stock" used on a anchor was recorded as 1804 --it is a kedge type design --aka as a fishermen's anchor by some --used by both military and civilian vessels

by the size /weight given --it could have been used on a about 200 to 250 ton --frigate sized military vessel or similar sized civilian ship.