Observations from one Aleutian operation:
The problem with that is that freezing spray=rough seas, and rough seas mean that anchors will bash against the hull all day long if they are not hawsed. Not the worst thing in the world but unsettling for the crew to listen to.
I’ve been in plenty of icing situations where the ice was several feet thick on the bow. It takes many hours just to uncover the windlass etc. from the ice. The anchor is not the issue. It’s the several feet of ice covering windlass, devils claws, etc. Once the windlass in dug out I’ve never had a problem with the anchor dropping. Just freeing up everything else.
Anyone who wasn’t tried to de-ice just the critical parts of a 240’ long boat like the windlass has no idea of who many man-hours it takes. And that’s with chainsaws and jack-hammers. Steam would be nice but we don’t live in that world. Heated pressure-washers do nothing.
Just an observation from one specific trade.
(I wasn’t on the voyage below but it gives an idea of the challenges.)
