Typically, anchors are made of cast steel, the fittings and the shanks of housing anchors, of forged steel. Anchors vary in weight from wherry anchors, weighing 30 pounds, to those carried by aircraft carriers weighing over 30,000 pounds, with the chain approximately 1,400 feet in length.

Ancient anchors consisted of large stones, basketfuls of stones, sacks filled with sand, or logs of wood loaded with lead; these held the vessel merely by their weight and by friction along the bottom.

What Material is Marine Anchor Made of? Typically, marine anchors are constructed of metals with high corrosion resistance levels, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze. To further enhance the longevity of these anchors, they are often treated with protective techniques such as galvanizing or electroplating.