Active Anchors release settings, collar lock and pivot stop

Key points

• Check the model and whether a removable pivot stop is fitted.
• A collar release setting is not a rated holding capacity.
• Collar lock and a separate pivot stop are different features.
• Do not transfer a force quoted for DF300 to another model.

What the collar controls in a releasable setup

Active Anchors describes the collar as moving between positions along the spring shank. In a releasable configuration, those positions change how the spring mechanism resists the movement that leads to release.

The manufacturer's fishing-anchor guidance gives approximate release forces for a DF300 when pulled vertically. That is a specific example, not a load rating for the whole range. It does not establish how much wind, current or boat displacement a setting can accommodate.

Normal holding and intentional release apply load through different relationships between the rode, shank, flukes and ground. A single number describing one pull direction cannot summarise all of those conditions.

What the lock position means

The written guidance identifies a collar position in which the anchor will not release. That removes an assumption readers can otherwise carry from a short demonstration: having an Active Anchor does not mean release is always available.

Some manufacturer artwork uses storm-related names for the lock position. We describe its mechanical effect here rather than treating the label as certification for severe weather. Disabling release does not, by itself, establish suitability for a storm, unattended boat or particular anchorage.

Before relying on the mechanism, match the instructions to the unit in front of you. A setting name remembered from a video is not enough to identify the current arrangement.

The removable pivot stop on larger models

The larger-vessel explanation describes a separate stop fitted at the rear of the anchor assembly. With the stop installed, the anchor loses its release function. The collar then relates to the force involved in changing fluke pitch within that stop-fitted arrangement.

This is why the stop deserves its own check. Moving the collar does not make the separate stop disappear, and instructions for a releasable setup cannot simply be applied to a stop-fitted anchor.

The current TMP range identifies the DF500 and DF600 as models with a removable pivot stop. Check the product and instructions for the exact unit rather than applying a general weight threshold taken from an older page.

Why we do not give one numbered chart for every model

The manufacturer's sources do not all describe the setting count in the same way. The reset page describes release positions plus a separate lock; other application pages group the positions differently. A reader could reasonably mistake those descriptions for interchangeable instructions.

Rather than turn that inconsistency into an apparently precise universal chart, our recommendation is to use the current model-specific instructions and obtain clarification where the unit and diagram differ. Ask about the model, revision, collar positions and stop status together.

Do not use an approximate DF300 release-force example to calculate settings for another size. The sources do not establish a scaling rule that would support that calculation.

A better way to check your setup

Record the model, identify whether the pivot stop is present and use clear photographs to show the collar and pivot arrangement when asking for advice. That provides a much better starting point than saying the anchor is on its middle setting.

Our view is that configuration clarity should come before a performance discussion. Use the Active Anchors article directory for available explanations, or contact TMP Global if the supplied instructions and your unit do not agree.

Frequently asked questions

Is the lock position the same thing as the pivot stop?

No. The collar has a lock position described in the manufacturer's guidance. The applicable larger models also use a separate removable pivot stop.

Can I expect release with the pivot stop fitted?

No. The manufacturer states that fitting the stop disables release. Assess the anchor as that configuration, not as the releasable setup shown elsewhere.

Does a harder setting give me a certified higher holding capacity?

The sources do not establish that conclusion. A release setting, fluke pitch and real holding performance are different quantities.