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Lost my anchor...what size should I get?

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/25/2011 : 10:11:24

last weekend it got caught on a root or cable or something, I finally had to cut it loose so I need to get a replacement. I sail in a lake, maximum depth is 40 feet, no real currents to speak of. I'm looking for an economical solution.

Peter Powers
1979 TR/FK #1390
~Stephanos~
Bayview Marina,
Lake Ray Hubbard
Dallas, TX

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 10:39:34

Peter.. Forgive me for saying, cause I'm gonna get hammered, but I use 2 modified river anchors. I'm on a lake with stumps and I don't lose an anchor anymore.

I keep a "real" anchor with rode at the ready but the two river anchors have worked well in my conditions ( high banks with cover, predictable winds, protected coves and less that 20 foot depths. )

We usta lose 2 anchors a year.

Edited by - redeye on 07/25/2011 10:52:14

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 10:58:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 Peter.. Forgive me for saying, cause I'm gonna get hammered, but I use 2 modified river anchors. I'm on a lake with stumps and I don't lose an anchor anymore.

I keep a "real" anchor with rode at the ready but the two river anchors have worked well in my conditions ( high banks with cover, predictable winds, protected coves and less that 20 foot depths. )

We usta lose 2 anchors a year.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Interesting, you deploy both at once?

Edited by - on

wegman
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 13:05:12

If your lake has many such hazards, you may want to consider attaching a tripping line to the crown of your anchor. As to economical replacements, a Danforth style anchor of about 14 pounds is inexpensive, fits in the anchor locker, and should be adequate for a lake with a mud bottom.

Before you give up on the old anchor, however, it might be worthwhile to dive and try to retrieve your old anchor. I am not a diver; hopefully someone with experience can comment on this option. There may be hazards involved that I am not aware of.

Good luck.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 13:44:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by wegman
 If your lake has many such hazards, you may want to consider attaching a tripping line to the crown of your anchor. As to economical replacements, a Danforth style anchor of about 14 pounds is inexpensive, fits in the anchor locker, and should be adequate for a lake with a mud bottom.

Before you give up on the old anchor, however, it might be worthwhile to dive and try to retrieve your old anchor. I am not a diver; hopefully someone with experience can comment on this option. There may be hazards involved that I am not aware of.

Good luck.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks.

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 14:26:48

See my anchor sizing reply here: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23625

Includes a link to handy system sizing tables for anchor size, boat size, chain and rode selection.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 15:37:48

I have had to dive for a jammed anchor before. It is a bit scary, especially if you cannot see more than an arms length in front of you. I would follow the anchor line down, in stages if I became anxious. After reaching the chain, sometimes after several tries following getting spooked by fence material, tree roots, etc. I could get to the anchor itself and dislodge it, swim up the rode to the surface, and retrieve the anchor. Forty feet would be a stretch at my age now.
Get a 13 lb Danforth-type anchor, drill a 1/4" hole in the base, attach a shackle and a 1/4" line so you can retrieve it next time, hopefully, by pulling forward.

Edited by - on

danandlu
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 16:25:24

Do not ever dive without a knife. A diver's knife that attaches to the wrist would be wise to bring. It is amazingly easy to get ensnarled.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2011 : 18:11:13

Some Danforth type anchors have a ring in a slot on the shank that you can attach the rode to; if you pull 180º from the direction the anchor is set, it will usually pull free. I don't use the ring because a major wind shift can also pull the anchor, but I think it would work well for your situation. The various table that I have looked at suggest an 11 - 14 lbs Danforth as satisfactory for our boats. The Danforth knock-offs can't be counted on to hold as well as as a real Danforth or Fortress, but a decent one would be OK. West Marine http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=247428&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10105&subdeptNum=10372&classNum=10418

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 06:17:46

<< Interesting, you deploy both at once? >>

Yep. Way out there to either side, or simply drop one as I come in, drift till all the line is out, drop another and pull in the first line till I get them in the middle. Come in at an angle to the wind.

Keeps the boat in one position.

Works for me.

I kept having a problem with one anchor, and the boat swinging around and wrapping the line around a tree. The anchor was not stuck but the line would winch up a tree branch.

The modified river anchor seems to let go even when it hangs. We've had that happen twice, once for me and once when the Grlfrnd was out. Winch it and it lets go.

If I think it's gonna blow ( in the Fall and spring ) I'll be using the bigger danforth, but I leave these in the anchor locker for much of the year.

We have some relatively small coves on lake lanier and this makes it easier to anchor a little closer to shore. Gives me a few more options to anchor up.

Edited by - redeye on 07/26/2011 06:48:55

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 07:56:30

It's not a real Danforth, but an economical slip ring anchor from a decent manufacturer for moderate conditions:http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product2_11151_10001_434602_-1____ProductDisplayErrorView

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 09:45:42

<< not a real Danforth >>

I usta use these at the beach, with a sand bottom. Also using two, cause the boat would not swing to the backside of either one. worked great. They are also kinda light (nice). The chain helps hold them down.

They pull up really easy.

On a 22ft Stamas powerboat.

Edited by - redeye on 07/26/2011 09:47:04

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 09:50:37

West Marine # 4565552

I think I'm using 2 of the 18 lb modified river anchors.

Edited by - redeye on 07/26/2011 09:56:21

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 11:43:59

Hey, Ray, we all forgot to "hammer" you!

"You fool!!! You idiot!!! How could you possibly use those horrible anchors? You make me sick!!!"

How was that? Now you should feel good about predicting our response correctly. By the way, your river anchors look just fine for Lake Lanier. It's local knowledge that we need, that's for sure.

Happy sailing!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 11:59:24

<< How was that? >>

Pretty Funny! I feel pretty funny about what works sometimes, and scared someone might try to use it somewhere it might not.

Anyhoo.... Peter... what'd ya get?

At the beach, we'd often use whatever anchor showed up at the Yard Sale/ Antiques store.. People find them all the time down there. I almost bought one at a gas station out in the middle of nowhere last weekend.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 12:19:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 << How was that? >>

Pretty Funny! I feel pretty funny about what works sometimes, and scared someone might try to use it somewhere it might not.

Anyhoo.... Peter... what'd ya get?

At the beach, we'd often use whatever anchor showed up at the Yard Sale/ Antiques store.. People find them all the time down there. I almost bought one at a gas station out in the middle of nowhere last weekend.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Haven't done anything yet, but I realized I have a spare on the boat, one of those naval type anchors which I got as part of a deal when buying a C-25 sail. I read somewhere they don't need an anchor chain? Could this be right?

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 13:05:37

Looking at this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HJDBKK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2ENTBEZKGXKVW

This:

http://www.amazon.com/Seachoice-Anchor-Lead-Chain-Shackle/dp/B000N9T7JI/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_b

and this:

http://www.amazon.com/Nylon-Anchor-Heavy-Galvanized-Thimble/dp/B001139HGS/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_b

price for all three with shipping is Items (3): $62.86
Shipping & Handling: $17.34
Total Before Tax: $80.20
Estimated Tax To Be Collected:* $0.00
Order Total: $80.20

Sound like a decent deal?

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2011 : 14:24:52

The anchor is cheaper than WM, depending on shipping, but all layed nylon line and chain aren't the same. I am less comfortable with line and chain from unknown sources. P/S testing found some Chinese chains breaking at less than half their rated safe working load; P/S recommends buying only US or Canadian made chain.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2011 : 05:20:53

<<>

They all need a chain.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2011 : 15:16:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 They all need a chain.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Nah--they don't need no steenking chain--they make a perfectly good paperweight without it, as long as the wind isn't over 4 knots.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2011 : 11:32:28

The no chain commentary stems from the joke that they are worthless unless they a a ton or more. They really are pretty worthless on a small boat. A few links of the chain they hang on on an aircraft carrier would sink a C-25.

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