Stockless anchor

Patented in England in 1821,[1] it eliminated the stock of the Admiralty, making it both easier to handle and stow.

Though it did not hold as well as an Admiralty, the trade-off proved acceptable and the stockless anchor became widely popular, and it remains so.

[3] The simple geometry of its design makes breaking it from the bottom a relatively easy and reliable procedure.

[4] The shank being able to pivot while the flukes are embedded in the sea floor minimizes wear on attachment hardware.

[5] In terms of disadvantages, the stockless anchor is shown to perform poorly in soft cohesive bottoms such as soil or sand compared to other anchor types made specifically for that type of bottom.