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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

anchor size

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dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/23/2003 : 13:13:56

i have had a danforth anchor since the late 80's.
the marking on the anchor says d 750.
i took the anchor off my catalina 22 after i sold it and used it on the 25.
i have finally realized that i have a tough time getting it to bite.
sailing on an inland lake with silt to sand to hard clay bottoms.

what type and size have others seen in these conditions to work?
i know how to set an anchor i think i might be undersized.

would prefer to keep it in the anchor well.

thanks
dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr
sailing carlyle lake in southern illinois

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svmoxie
Past Commodore

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USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 15:27:34

Dave,

For those bottom types the Danforth / Fortress is an excellent anchor. I am guessing that the 750 designation is for a 7.5 lb anchor which is a bit light for the C25. A 12 or 13 pounder would work better.

A second choice would be a Bruce or Claw anchor. This is what I use and it works very well. I have a 22 lb Bruce which is actaully a bit oversized for my boat and two 12 lb danforths as back ups. One is in the anchor locker, the Bruce is on a roller, and the second is storeed in the cockpit lazerette.

Clif Thompson
Treasurer C-25/250 National Association.
svMoxie '81 25 sk

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 20:50:02

dave,

Re: "<i>... silt to sand to hard clay bottoms ... what type and size have others seen in these conditions to work?</i>"

I'd guess that the best type of anchor for those conditions would be a Danforth style. I also like the looks of the Fortress, and the've had good reviews.

I use a 22# Claw stored on a bow roller with 30' of chain and 250' of 7/16" nylon. Also on the bow is a 20# or so Danforth High-tensile hanging from mounts on the pulpit with 20' of chain and 300' of 3/8" nylon. I think the Danforth would fit in the anchor locker if there weren't so much rode in there. I also carry a 13# or so Danforth with about 10' of chain and 100' of 3/8" nylon as a spare/stern anchor stored in the port cockpit locker. And also a light sentinal or kellet with a 10' or so leash and a big bronze snap hook.

Most of that might be overkill for an inland lake. It gives me a feeling of confidence in coastal waters.

-- Leon Sisson

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2003 : 00:36:41

Leon, what did you use for your kellet ?

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2003 : 02:23:23

ClamBeach,

Re: "<i>Leon, what did you use for your kellet?</i>"

I used one of those folding grapnel anchors, maybe 5#, with the flukes held closed with one or two long zip-ties. I shackled a big bronze swivel snap to the anchor shank, and tied the 1/4"x10' leash to the same shackle. There's a loop tied in the other end of the leash.

To use it, I first anchor normally and get the anchor backed down and dug in. Then I drop the leash loop over one of the bow cleats. Next, I reach down and clip the swivel snap onto the rode outboard of everything and let the kellet slide down if it wants to. By the time it's needed, it will have slid down to the extent of it's leash. This setup isn't about significantly increasing the holding power of the main anchor. It's main purpose is to hold a slack rode down deeper than the swing keel, rudder, and outboard.

While anchored in Lake Sylvia, Ft. Lauderdale waiting out weather, I had the anchor rode wrap around the keel in tidal currents twice in two days (pre-kellet). That motivated me. Depending on conditions, the consequences of that situation can vary from slightly embarassing oops to serious screw up. It was so un-seaman-like. After improvising the kellet from stuff laying around the boat, I've never had a kellet equipped slack rode get caught under the boat. It's so compact that I stored it in the anchor locker with the rodes while cruising. Back in day sailing mode, I keep it in the cockpit locker.

-- Leon Sisson

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2003 : 10:26:32

Learn somethin' every day! Thanks for the explanation, Leon.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2003 : 15:06:25

Leon:

Great idea! If a wind change is forecast, I slide a three-pound mushroom (dinghy anchor, cheap at West marine) down my rode from the bow on a bronze snapshackle carrying its own retrieval line (1/4"). My main anchor is a 14lb Delta on rollers, twenty-five feet of chain and two-hundred feet of 3/8" nylon line. I also have a snag line tied to the front of the Delta to ease retrieval if it should catch under a rock (or cable, or something...)

In the lazarette, I have the po's 11lb Danforth with 5' of chain and 150 feet of rode.

I operate in often crowded anchorages in the summer, and it can be intimidating to anchor next to those $500,000 boats, so I need to have a system that is reliable, quick and easy to deploy and retrieve single-handed, and that will HOLD. I love the bow rollers, and the Delta is tip-weighted, and holds well in sand, mud and even grass. I use a carabiner tied to a padeye in the chain locker to catch a link on the chain and secure the anchor on board. I can weigh anchor, tie off and be back in the cockpit in thirty seconds (very important--C25's reach quite quickly even without any sail up!)

There is a great book on anchoring ("Staying Put"). I forget the author's name. He claims every boat should have a minimum of three anchors: two to control the boat in a strong current, and one in case you have to cut free from the other two in an emergency.

Dave on "Wood Duck" (#2616 - SR, FK)

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2003 : 17:01:13

Dave E: Can you tell me what roller you're using for that Delta? I also have the 14# Delta (a terrific anchor) and am planning to install a roller if I can convince myself that it fits the boat and holds the anchor properly. Do you pin the anchor as well as hooking the chain? Are you keeping the rode in the locker along with the Danforth and its rode? (I'm wondering if I could fit all of that in.)

Thanks,

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - dave bristle on 09/25/2003 17:02:22

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2003 : 19:07:45

Although I'm not 100% certain, I believe the "750" refers to the anchor providing 750lbs. maximum holding power, rather than its actual weight. I seem to remember that this designation was assigned to the standard 13lb. anchor as opposed to the "hi tensil" model which provided something like 1100lbs. at a weight of 12lbs.

Mark, Silver Girl '83 fin keel tall rig #3744

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2003 : 10:41:57

Yes, 750 refers to holding power and that IS the standard Danforth. We have a used marine stuff place nearby ("Nautical Trader") and there are always several danforths for sale. The way to tell the standard from hi-tensile is: the standard has the inside edge of the fluke (Palm, or blade) turned in going one way on one side and t'other way on the other. The hi-tensile has a "T" shape on the inside of each of the flukes, sort of like the top of an i-beam, same effect to provide rigidity and strength. This allows the fluke to be stronger and thinner, and to penetrate better in the bottom. The 12H or hi-tensile 12 is a peach of an anchor for the correct bottom, with a little chain and decent scope will hold an ocean liner IF properly buried in mud/sand, but will not penetrate deep weeds/grass and will sometimes "skate" over hard limestone bottom, as here in FLA. Up North they would do the same on rocks unless a point dug in, I used to carry two Danforths, a Plow, and an old wilcox-Crittendon Herreshoff pattern traditional anchor, so as to be ready for anything. Now I use a Bruce first, a Danforth backup, and the W-C in the bilge just in case. Regards, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2003 : 10:42:05

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deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2003 : 22:59:41

DAVE B:

My Delta 14lb anchor sits on a Windline bow roller (I forget the model number, but it has three mounting points, and its mounting plate is about nine inches long, and is referred to accurately in another recent thread on anchoring). I through bolted it to the foredeck, the underside of which is accessible from the chain locker. It sits at an angle to clear the stem fitting. The locker easily takes all the rode for the anchor. I put a U-bolt into the back wall of the chain locker and the end of the rode has a thimble and is shackled through that to the U-bolt. Also I have attached a carabiner to six inches of line through the u-bolt, and I use the carabiner to snap a link of the chain to keep the anchor on board. For long trips I wrap a bungee around the rollers to keep the anchor in place, but it is not really necessary. My Danforth sits in the lazarette (for use as a stern anchor and in emergencies when I don't have the time or luxury to go forward).

Dave on "Wood Duck" (#2616 - SR, FK)

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