Association Forum

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

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

anchor

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

quilombo
Captain

Member Avatar

USA
301 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/27/2008 : 21:46:50

anybody know the correct anchor for my 78, I sail around manhattan, and the currents are pretty fierce, so just want to get the right one, right now Im using a danforth type? came with my boat, looks kinda small, and someone mentioned its important to use a chain leader on the anchor,
is this correct

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2008 : 22:20:08

I'm not familiar with the waters around Manhatten, but Danforth style anchors are very good. An 8 lb Danforth anchor is rated for boats up to 24 ft. That, with about 10' of chain should be sufficient for most anchoring situations in calm to light weather/current conditions. I would go up to the next size, 13 lbs. for my primary anchor, at least 12-15' of chain, and at least 150-200' of 3/8" line, more if you anchor in deep water. Keep your present anchor as a spare. For your anchor locker, buy a roll of perforated rubber matting used to line drawers in tool boxes or refrigerator vegetable bins, to cushion the anchor while stowed and to allow air circulation for proper drying. Some people also take old tennis balls, cut a slit in them, and put them over the ends of the anchor arms to add cushioning while stowed.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2008 : 22:27:22

Danforth is a good anchor for general purpose, but it really depends on the bottom. For winds up to twenty kts. 14 -16 lbs. is adequate. I use a 16 and have yet to drag in mud with or without weeds, sand, or zebra mussels.

There have been several threads on anchors, and they are about as emotionally charged as outboard discussions. There have been good tests by Sail/Cruising World, Practical Sailor, Boat/US, and West Marine. Practical Sailor cautions that tests are valid for a specific situation and should be used as a guide, not a blanket recommendation. Different anchors do well in different situations and scope <u>can</u> be more important than style. Search the forum and Boat/US -WM, check the others if you have access. Like motors, there is no best, but some may be better for you. Consider handling and stowage as well as holding power for a general anchor; storm anchors are allowed to be less convenient in exchange for holding power.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2008 : 22:44:05

On our 250, the primary anchor is a 22 lb Lewmar claw with 25' of 1/4" chain & roughly 300' of 3/8 rode. Our secondary anchor is a Danforth, I'm not sure of the weight, but I'm pretty sure it came with the boat. It has only about 6' of chain & 100' of 3/8 rode.

If I were looking for a new anchor it'd be a Fortress, probably an FX-11. I'd put at least 15' of chain on it, although in your situation I might double that. The more chain you have down the better your holding angle. You want your angle to be as near to parallel to the water's surface as possible. You might also look into a kellet or sentinel anchor, which can help as well.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2008 : 22:53:31

David P's response came while I was writing - I guess they made different weights in different years, or it could be different models. I use a Danforth Standard with 10 feet of chain, good recommendations go as low as 5 feet in our size boats, but less chain equals more scope and abrasion on an unknown bottom. You'll see many numbers for scope (deck to bottom, not just depth), but 7:1 has worked for decades for overnight in moderate conditions and more doesn't hurt, its just less convenient. 3:1 for a lunch stop with an anchor watch and nothing to drag into is OK but 5:1 is a safer number, especially for a relaxed afternoon on the hook.

Parallel to the bottom

Edited by - Dave5041 on 04/27/2008 23:04:41

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 08:35:10

I have two Fortress anchors, a 7 and an 11. I had a Dansforth clone and found it too heavy so I went aluminum. The reviews on the fortress speak for themselves; the weight is priceless.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 11:28:00

Anchoring is an art and a science, it is also a potential boat saver.
(motor quits on a lee shore, deploy anchor)
You need to familiarize yourself with proper usage of the anchors suggested here. A 5,000LB boat in a current is a lot to handle, you need the right gear, which means 10-20 ft of chain attached to your anchor, then your anchor line and perhaps a kellet.
Always have two anchors.

There are lots of good books and videos on how to anchor.

Edited by - on

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.