Primary Anchor

rnbenton

rnbenton

Active member
Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
RO Number
31163
Messages
2,834
(OK, I changed the name of the thread so as no to confuse anyone)

We :) do quite a bit of short term cruising and do a lot of anchoring out with a very wide variety of bottom types. Plus my occasional longer cruises.

Recently while preparing for our trip to the Bahamas I read several things that strongly suggested two types of anchors each with its own rode. I don't have room for that on my 28'er. (meaning my bow sprit and rode locker isn't large enough to carry 2 anchors with separate rode and 2 windlasses ready to deploy)

We currently anchor in mud, sand, oyster beds, rocks and some grass. We've had no real problems with my Danforth but have read several posts/books that recommend a plow type anchor.

So, the question is; if you can carry one and only one type of anchor (on the bow, in the windlass, ready to deploy in any and all types of bottom structure) what type would it be? Danforth? Plow? what? (Yes, I understand that you need an extra anchor for emergencies and when two anchors may be required and I certainly do have one stored below. My question pertains to the primary anchor of choice)

Bob
 
Dang Bob,
I would take the shot, but it's just too easy. Maybe after you get some serious replies. <G>
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bill D.

Dang Bob,
I would take the shot, but it's just too easy. Maybe after you get some serious replies. <G>

Click to expand...


OK, OK, wiseguy. Power Poles are too short! :D

Bob
 
Fortress. Plows do just that in sand. My Fortress FX-23 with 40'of 5/16 High Tensile with 200' 5/8' three strand nylon withstood more than 55 knots of wind with much higher gusts on the north end of Long Island anchored in sand. The boat is a 37' sloop about 10 tons I have tried a Kingston Plow, similar to a CQR, for about one year but would not hold in most anything without plowing or dragging.

Most small boats in Bahamas with experience use Danforth type anchors. Fortress dig in better in grass as the flukes are sharp. I have yet to drag with a Fortress.
 
If you have the money and the space, get a Rocna.
 
I`ve used a danforth in the various conditions in our area, Ct River and Long Island sound with good results. Irecently switch to a cqr plow type and have to say, it has been disappointing. I find it more difficult to set and it has dragged more than once, a problem I rarely, if ever had with a danforth. Just my experience im my area.
 
Bob,

I had two oversized Fortress anchors with me for our 30' boat on our first trip to the Abacos. They performed horribly over there. The comments above about them performing great in sand might be true, but there's a shortage of sand in the Abacos as there's tons of sea grass. For that trip, ever day we had to carefully find a small 3-4' area lacking of grass and try and plant the anchor. I would then dive on it to make sure it was set and pray the winds didn't change direction over night.

On our second trip I took an over-sized Delta plow (with a Fortress as a spare) and was amazed at the difference. The first night the forecast lied and instead of being blocked from the steady 15-20knot winds, our anchorage was wide open with a large fetch. The anchor didn't budge. Here's a picture of what it does in the Abacos grass:

anchor.jpg


All you can see is the shank as the rest easily buried itself.

That being said, we use Fortress 100% of the time when in the Chesapeake. I think they're great anchors. Just not for the Abacos. And I hear nothing but good about the Rocna. I just didn't want to spend that kind of money on an experiment at that point (and now that the Delta plow has proved itself, I'm fine with it).
 
Where did you anchor in Abacos? There are many places where there is mostly sand and sparse sea grass.
 
OK, so if I understand correctly, the consensus is that a Fortress is the anchor of choice for everywhere except where there is heavy grass.

But it seems the Rocna is excellent anywhere and everywhere including heavy grass. Is that about it?

Bob
 
I have never used a Rocna anchor. It looks like it would work fine in grass.
 
Hold off on the Rocna. If it is made in China, it is only a matter of time before WallyWorld has them cheap. They won't hold your boat, but they will claim to do so and look good while your boat hits the rocks.

I have e-mailed my disdain.

JUST DAMN.
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

Hold off on the Rocna. If it is made in China, it is only a matter of time before WallyWorld has them cheap. They won't hold your boat, but they will claim to do so and look good while your boat hits the rocks.

I have e-mailed my disdain.

JUST DAMN.

Click to expand...


From what I read in the Rocna web site the ones sold in North America are made in Canada. The ones sold in Asia are made in Hong Kong. At least that's what I understood.

Bob
 
If you have a plow anchor, such as a Delta or CQR dragging in sand then you are not setting it right. I have used these extensively along the entire east coast of the US, including the Keys and SW Florida, throughout California, including the Sacramento delta area, and the San Juan / Gulf islands in the PNW. The only times i have had the least dragging issue is when I took some kind of short cut setting the thing. The idea that they "plow" is incorrect, they are designed to penetrate downward. Our Hatteras, all 90,000 pounds of her, with a lot of windage, has sat happily on a Delta 88#, 3/8 BBB chain in all sorts of bottom, wind and current conditions for days on end. I have a 60# Danforth HT rigged and ready as a second anchor, and have only contemplated dropping it two or three times. It has stayed dry. When you go to the Bahamas, check out all the cruising sail boats who anchor almost exclusively. You will see CQRs and Deltas galore. The Rocnas are great, I intended to get one, but it wouldn't sit right in my pulpit and was going to be very heavy (weight is part of their formula). I haven't regretted going with the Delta, which I was very familiar with from boats we had chartered, and saved some money doing so, though that was not a consideration at the time. Anchoring is one of the main reasons we love to boat. I added an expensive WASI Powerball swivel, and the combination has done very well, given we have frequently anchored in strong tidal current areas.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
What George said.

quote:
Originally posted by solar

Where did you anchor in Abacos? There are many places where there is mostly sand and sparse sea grass.

Click to expand...


Great Sale, Allens-Pensacola, Guana, Manjack, etc., etc.

I don't remember finding any place that didn't have a lot of grass. The Fortress anchors foul in grass and drag looking like big grass beach balls when you pull them up. The Delta I have just buried itself without question. We do tend to anchor shallow (because we can), but even when passing the more crowded parts of an anchorage, I still remember seeing grass on the bottom.
 
cruising with only one anchor is a lousy idea... it's fine for a day trip close to home but if you're going to the bahamas you need a second anchor, as a back up, as well as in case you need to bahamian moor. there are many places with current and you may need to use both anchors.

you should have room on a 28 footer for two anchors... one on the pulpit and the other one either stored or held in chocks or holders, even aft if necessary.

as too what type of anchor, I like the fortress (I have an FX55 on my boat), although like all danforth it doesn't get in grass and doesn't reset well on a current/tide/wind shift. on a small boat where weight is an issue, they make a lot of sense.

like so many things, everyone has his favorite... the one thing i think all will agree on is that you shoudl oversize the anchor you choose...
 
I've had an oversized (genuine) Bruce anchor for about 8 years now and has never yet dragged. I've been in mud, rock, sand, and weed. However, I was advised that a Bruce doesn't hold well in weed, and experienced captains here say that the only anchor that will work in weed in an old fashioned Admiralty. So, I got one. They're awkward to carry (I got a collapsable one), but captains swear by it in weed. Around here, many weedy areas have little sandy patches, so I try to drop the pick in the sandy bit. As the boat swings, it pulls the anchor a bit under the roots of the weed. After that, nothing will shift it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top