wouldn't use the folding anchors on anything but a small tinny myself but that's just me.

Normal prong type reef anchors also had the advantage of being able to bend the prongs to get it out when it gets stuck and then bend them back later.

I used the standard sand anchor for most of my fishing, as i found the reef anchor never really wanted to grab or hold the bottom, but the sand anchor would sometimes do a too good of a job and get snagged on the bottom,

Now i use a plough anchor and have never looked back, it will dig into the sand alot easier as it can pivot left and right as well as up and down and for the reef I just have a cable tie attached to the chain, so when its stuck in the

reef, i can give a solid yank and the cable tie will snap and allow the anchor to be pulled up vertically instead of on the angle (which is why its snagged in the first place) any ways just my 2c lads

I agree with Paul H.

the prong reef anchors are made to be bent if stuck. (have driven mine off many times) and this is the main point. have never lost one but when bent back into shape always holds. I carry two of these and a sand anchor on my boat.

Cable tie the chain to my reef anchor as well - the prongs are reasonably sturdy on mine and don't exactly bend easy so both works.  Wouldn't rely on the reef/prong anchor on sand/mud overnight for obvious reasons.