Releasable boat anchor

An improved releasable boat anchor of the double-acting type for anchoring a boat and for releasing itself from an underwater obstruction in which said anchor may be captured, said anchor comprising a fluke body and a shank, said shank comprising an intermediate portion pivotally connected to said fluke body and an outer portion pivotally connected to said intermediate portion, said outer shank portion having means for attaching an anchor line to said anchor, said anchor having two alternate anchor drag positions, an intermediate release position and a full release position, said intermediate shank portion cosisting of at least one member axially fast and another axially moveable in respect to said fluke body, said axially fast member being pivotally connected at its lower end to said fluke body and at its upper end to said outer shank portion, respective cooperative means on the outer end of said axially moveable member and on said outer shank portion whereby pivotal movement of said outer shank portion controls the axial movement of said moveable member, said intermediate shank portioan being disposed at an acute angle with respect to said fluke body and being axially aligned with said outer shank portion in each of said anchor drag positions, respective cooperative locking means on the inner end of said axially moveable member and on said fluke body which are relatively moved into locking engagement with each other in each of said anchor drag positions, said intermediate shank portion being disposed at an acute angle with respect to both said fluke body and said outer shank portion in said intermediate release position, said angular positioning of said outer shank portion in said intermediate release position moving said axially moveable member so that the locking means on the inner end thereof moves clear of the locking means on said fluke body, said intermediate shank portion being disposed in a substantially straight line position with respect to said fluke body and being axially aligned with said outer shank portion in said full release position, the locking means on said axially moveable member moving behind the locking means on said fluke body in said full release position so that the pull on said fluke body is substantially from the rear thereof.