The general rule of thumb for very mild conditions is to anchor your curtain every 50’ to 100’, which happily matches the length of individual sections, meaning you can simply count the number of panels, add 1 and plan on that number of anchors. In more active conditions, you’ll need to take additional factors into account, such as shape of your enclosure as well as expected current, wind and wave conditions. In more extreme conditions, this may require the assistance of an experienced technician to calculate individual anchor loads and determine placement of anchors to ensure the intended shape is maintained. In cases where wind or tidal action will change the curtain load back and forth, you may need to anchor the curtain on both sides to support it as movement ebbs and flows. These considerations can quickly become complex and for this reason, it’s important to plan your placement of anchors even before you’ve ordered the panels, in case custom sizes or configurations are required.
Another important factor to consider is the type of anchor you’re using. Some types of water anchor, such as plow or fluke types, are inexpensive and easy to use, but work best in a firm sand, mud or silt bottom. A hard crusty layer can make them difficult to set properly. For rocky bottoms, a deadweight anchor is a good choice. Made of concrete or steel, these anchors rely on their weight and suction, but the buoyancy of the water reduces the effectiveness of that weight, so this kind of anchor sometimes requires in excess of a ton. For more challenging bottoms, there are other types of specialized anchors available.
