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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Anchor size

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 22:47:27

I hope the "nasty" comment wasn't directed at me because rather than trying to disparage someone or discourage anyone from asking about the topic of anchoring, I was only attempting to advise anyone who might be interested that there were several other threads on the subject to be found here although I don't know how to post hot links for them, and I did take the time to offer my opinion on the subject, worthy or not. I certainly don't mind revisiting and offering input once again to anyone who is new around here and in fact, have done so time and time again.

At any rate, as a somewhat old salt who has spent time aboard boats for almost 53 years, including time as a mate on a commercial fishing vessel, has owned a C 25 since '83, has chartered in the Carribean as well as Hawaii, and has had first hand experience trying to set a Fortress under less than ideal conditions, I believe that the primary criteria in selecting an anchor is that it find the bottom quickly, set well and reset well if neccessary, and hold your boat where, when, and as long as you need it to, rather than being constructed of the lightest weight material.

Since there's no one anchor that does it all, it's neccessary to select one that suits the bottom where you tend to sail, and if need be due to varying conditions, carry two types aboard. But they should both be steel. Anyway that's my opinion.

I'm begining to think that in addition to religion and politics, the topic of anchors should best be avoided on these boards.

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Raskal
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2004 : 17:06:18

I'm just coming back to this after a couple of days and first, let me say to everyone, that I had no intention of ridiculing Chris for bringing up the question. Sometimes we like to be wiseguys here at the rhetoric gets out of hand. Mea Culpa, and Chris should bravely ask every question that comes to mind without hesitation.

As for Dave's comment about the aluminum, I would have to point out that in this forum everybody's credentials mainly are the words you put down and how plausible or factual they seem unless you present us with your dossier out front, and in the case of your description of the weight/density issue with alloy anchors you still aren't discussing the point accurately. I don't need to be a marine engineer or have built a walnut shell with a sail to understand the commutativity of tensile strength and weight that lies behind the theory of the Fortress alloy anchors. If your alloy anchor has tensile strength greater than steel for the same weight, then in theory you can get the same performance as the steel anchor in a lighter package. If there's something wrong with that statement, give me a explanation worthy of your technical background. I would never diss anyone on this forum, which I consider a quality place filled with quality people, so take my disagreement as a challenge and not an insult.

Rich K.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2004 : 19:03:06

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If your alloy anchor has tensile strength greater than steel for the same weight, then in theory you can get the same performance as the steel anchor in a lighter package. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

This is the part I'm not sold on. While a lighter anchor may be just as strong as a heavier one, there are many other variables other than strength which have a bearing on "performance".

I've read some of those Practical Sailor articles, but the editors admit they performed the tests in very shallow water to be able to control and monitor the tests well. I'm rarely anchored in less than 30' (the West Coast slope issue Dave described puts the boat too close to shore if the anchor is shallower) and sometimes more than 50'. Those articles don't indicate how the lighter anchors will "perform" in these conditions, including the duration from drop to hitting the bottom (which is important to me).

As for being able to pull up a heavier anchor with lots of chain without motor assistance, an anchor roller goes a real long way towards mitigating this issue.

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Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2004 : 21:10:17

Rich K., The statement that I made and that apparently has been misunderstood is that for the anchor flukes to be adequately strong the aluminum ones are much thicker than they would be in steel. All of the other parts of the anchor are thicker too. Fortress and I presume the other aluminum anchor manufacturers put a bevel on the leading edges of the flukes that makes them appear to be about as thin as the steel ones but if the bevel wasn't there I doubt that they would ever engage the bottom. I have found that the thickness of the flukes make aluminum anchors very subject to grass fouling and difficult to set in hard sand ( I sometimes use them on boats that I am surveying or for some other reason am operating for someone else). On my own boat I try to not use the engine unless necessary, this means that I often anchor under sail and to get the anchor set I often sail by the spot that I want, turn down wind, let go the anchor and allow the line to run, round up toward the anchor line, and snub the line at the beginning of the rounding up. Pretty much the way sailing ships anchor. This means that the anchor is entering the water at maybe four knots. I do not think that a Fortress would ever reach the bottom. When getting underway I also appreciate the ability of the anchor to stay away from the boat while moving ahead slowly since I sail off the anchor as well. In any case I do not have any trouble dealing with the weight of my anchor and chain. Dave

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cclark
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2004 : 00:37:46

Seeing as how I am the one who started this thread, I feel justified in responding again. I want to thank everyone for their input. Here is what I learned from the thread.
I need more than the current 6 ft. of chain rode
I need more that tne current 150 ft. of rope.
I shouldn't try to anchor in more than 60 ft. of water.

I don't much care about the relative thickness of lead vs. aluminum, vs. wood anchors.
As for me personally, I lost the fear of looking stupid LONG ago. I look at this forum similiar to a bunch of guys (and gals) sitting in a bar. Many of my questions can be blamed on a few too many brews. But, as any other drunk in the place, I am happy when somebody listens and takes me seriously.
Thanks again for everyone's input.
Chris

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2004 : 01:20:49

"I need more than the current 6 ft. of chain rode
I need more that tne current 150 ft. of rope.
I shouldn't try to anchor in more than 60 ft. of water"

Chris, I still think you need one more item on your list...

"I should have (2) anchors and rodes set up in my boat"

Style and material of the anchors is a 'religous issue' and hotly debated, but I think the fact that you really should have (2) is not. (Unless you're sailing on a small lake or pond I reckon.)

For my money, a second anchor should be oversized... in my venue, to be swept down into the Humboldt Bay bar during an outgoing tide can be fatal... something I want to avoid. :>)

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