Association Forum - For those who anchor out

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

For those who anchor out - a good read in SAIL mag

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/12/2006 : 20:14:49

I am a big fan of anchoring out. I run a big Danforth with at least 50 feet of chain - I sometimes shackle on an extra 20 or even 40 feet just so I sleep well. I have only dragged anchor twice with this boat, but that was enough. So when the October issue of Sail magazine came out with a whole section dedicated to holding power and the testing of 14 different anchors - I just had to read up on it.

Surprise! That claw or bruce - max hold 886 lbs!
The CQR everyone raves about - max hold 2,000 lbs!
The WEST MARINE Danforth knockoff - max hold 1,500 lbs!
BUT, the FORTRESS Danforth - max hold 5,000 lbs!!!!

Other favorites were the Delta at 5,0000 lbs and the Hydrobubble at 5,000 lbs. The test seemed fair and really proved (at least to me what works) and what doesn't.... Looks like I know what I want for x-mas!!

sten -
<i>Zephyr</i> '82 FK, SR - Swansea, MA

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2006 : 23:42:50

I'm a Delta fan--particularly with a roller. My new boat will have a Delta on a roller with an electric windlass. Great for single-handed cruising.

BTW, I always suspected that the hinge on the CQR would allow it to drag sideways and break loose... SAIL's test might support that theory. The CQR looks cool and costs a lot, but it appears not to be the answer.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/12/2006 23:47:53

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2006 : 06:45:15

I'll read the article... but at the moment I'm skeptical of the conclusions.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2006 : 11:17:54

Did you notice the magazine has a photo ad for a Catalina 309? It has a little Catalina diamond logo for every boat in the Catalina barn ----- except the C250 (diamonds for C270 and up). We've got the Rodney Dangerfield boat in the fleet.

One thing for sure, they did not test in soft mud or weeds. In those conditions, the CQR would do well. Or at least better than some others. Nothing will hold 5000 lbs in soft mud like the Chesapeak has.

Also surprised they did not test a Bruce.

I anchor my C25 with a 13 lb danforth on 50 feet of 5/16 chain + 250 feet of 1/2 nylon. If it gets rough, I put out another. I have a 3rd, 8 lb, for a stern anchor. But this is southern CA with hard sand bottoms. Good for danforths.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2006 : 12:08:58

IMHO: While tests like this are valuable, there are so many variables to anchor performance that you'd need to spend years conducting tests before you could reach 'real world' conclusions.

Is single-direction low-angle breakout the most important criteria?
Or is the the ability to re-set on a veer... or maybe it should be holding power through a 45 degree swing to original direction of set... or is it breakout at 30 degrees vertical angle?
Are there differences in resistance to shock loading or slow pullout?
Ability to set quickly and effectively?
Now throw in fifty or so general 'bottom types' (very simplified) and the picture gets very muddy. (pun?)

Probably the most important thing to recognize is that no single anchor is best in all situations.

Over time, I think trial and error by the cruising community slowly comes to a loose consensus on anchors... which seems to have changed a bit in recent years. I think reading cruisers reports and looking at what gear they are using give the best indication of what works best (in a general sense).

The CQR plow used to be king on the larger cruising boats but now I see mostly Deltas and Bruce anchors as primaries. The Danforth by far is still the most common kedging/stern/backup anchor here on the Pacific coast and is most common primary anchor on 'bay' boats.

Above probably represents a good common sense selection.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2006 : 10:49:05

Danforths don't launch very well from rollers--the Delta and some others are designed for that. But a Danforth stows better in our little anchor lockers, and a Fortress even comes apart for storage. A friend put a Danforth on a roller and got knicks in her bow from the stock as the anchor spun while coming out of the water--line untwisting, I guess. I and others I know have been pleased with Deltas in various bottoms--grass is usually the most challenging, especially for Danforths. I agree on the study--this one was very limited. Due to tides in my area, a key criterion is re-setting 180 degrees from the initial set--it'll happen every night you anchor around here. What does Practical Sailor have to say?

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

Members Avatar

844 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 16:03:39

The Bruce anchors have been discontinued -- they are no longer being made.

See: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2955.0

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 10/20/2006 16:04:38

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.