It’s a delicate operation, as it involves a connection that simply cannot afford to fail. Still, there’s no doubt it falls within the realm of DIY – especially for anyone who wants to get to know every corner of their boat a little better. So how to install an anchor in a safe, easy and quick way? The answer comes from the permanent Test Center of The International Yachting Media, inaugurated last autumn at Marina Porto Antico. Here, on a sunny dock in the charming Marina of Genoa, we explain step by step how to replace a boat anchor.
The star of our tutorial – also available on our YouTube channel – is the innovative Olympic anchor by Quick, a brand that, thanks to the many tests scheduled at our Test Center, has its own dedicated station in the marina of Genoa.
How to install an anchor: preparing for the replacement
Installing an anchor – even a fairly heavy one – shouldn’t mean hard work, wasted time or unnecessary hassle. It’s all about handling each step the right way. First of all, make sure you set up the best possible working area by mooring the boat bow-to. That way you’ll be facing the bow roller directly, with your feet firmly planted on the dock.
Using the windlass remote control, you can lower the anchor straight onto the dock and carry out the replacement without exhausting acrobatics or even getting your hands wet. In this situation, removing the old anchor and freeing the chain is straightforward.
This can also be a great opportunity to check the condition of the last section of the anchor chain – the part that’s most exposed. In our case, the first 20 centimeters showed significant wear after three years of use. Fortunately, this kind of issue can be solved quickly and without regrets: we took the opportunity to cut the chain using a good pair of bolt cutters.
How to install an anchor quickly and easily
As is well known, a proper connection between anchor and chain doesn’t just guarantee resistance to shock loads. The best connector is one that allows the anchor to move smoothly both on the way down and on the way up. That’s why, instead of traditional shackles and swivels, purpose-built joints are now generally preferred.
For the Olympic anchor range, Quick has developed a special Duplex stainless steel swivel joint (with mechanical strength superior to AISI 316 steel). Sturdy, polished and fully rotating, it offers smooth movement and secure fastening, ensuring peaceful nights at anchor.
Using the joint is fairly intuitive: the longer cylindrical section is used to secure the anchor, while the smaller conical end connects to the chain. Start by placing the last chain link into the upper housing of the joint, then insert the pin and secure it by tightening the two dedicated grub screws (the correctly sized Allen key is included in the Quick package).
For each grub screw tightened with the Allen key, it’s advisable to apply thread-locking fluid to further reduce the already minimal risk of accidental loosening.
You can now install the new anchor by removing the lower pin from the joint. This pin features a rotating element that should be positioned inside the anchor eye to eliminate friction. Once the joint is in place, reinsert the pin and tighten the corresponding grub screws, and the job is done.
All that’s left is to bring the anchor back into its resting position using the windlass. In the video, we show how a light line can be used to move the anchor safely from the dock.
Quick Olympic Anchor: smart right from the dock
While filming this tutorial on how to install an anchor, we had the opportunity to experience first-hand the quality of the new-generation Olympic anchors: the simple fact that we completed everything in just a few minutes is already a clear sign of excellent engineering.
The latest among Quick’s anchor series offers models ranging from 7 kilograms to 140 kilograms, ensuring full safety for yachts up to 34 meters in length. As another reference point, the Olympic model recommended for boats between 9 and 12 meters in length is the 10-kilogram version.
Among the features that can already be appreciated at the dock are certainly the intelligent mechanisms of the swivel joint patented by Quick. What impressed us most was the self-righting system, which significantly simplifies life for boaters: thanks to the spherical joint design and the specific position of the eyelet, the anchor automatically positions itself correctly when retrieved onto the bow roller.
These anchors, however, have much more to tell. Quick’s technicians worked extensively to shift the center of gravity toward the tip and to concentrate the weight on the front part of the fluke, thus ensuring the best possible holding power. To put these innovations to the test, in the coming months the Olympic anchors on display at the Port of Genoa will undergo far more demanding and challenging trials: here at The International Yachting Media Permanent Test Center, we can’t wait to try out the new dynamometer to test Quick’s products.
The other tests scheduled
Not only Quick: in recent months our Test Center has been carrying out other interesting trials, starting for example with the one designed to measure the durability and effectiveness of Sibelius Light Endurance antifouling by Stoppani, as well as a long-term durability test to assess the resistance of the Selva Black Bass 8 outboard engine (the test began last summer, with the tender and engine combo already exceeding 1,000 nautical miles).
We will therefore return in the coming weeks with the results of these tests and, of course, with new and interesting educational lessons. How to install an anchor correctly is in fact only the first of the topics we will address from the docks of the Marina Porto Antico in Genoa.
