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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

One anchor fits all...

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/04/2005 : 01:38:26

Any suggestions on which anchor works well for all bottom types? Needs to be less than $200.

All bottom application anchors, per West Marine:

p 708. West Marine's 2005 catalog lists a new anchor called "Oceane".
See more detail at: http://www.oceane-anchor.com/Site%20anglais/US/default_US.html 26lb anchor for our 25 foot boats. Price $190.

p 709. Delta Fast-Set anchor: 14lbs $138.

I'm leaning towards the delta fast set due to low weight and $$$. Anyone have experience with these anchors?

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus 1984 C25 #4679

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 06:43:16

Hi Albert,
I have a Delta fast set, 14 pounder, 20 foot of chain, and 200foot of rode spliced onto the chain, and a swivel.
When I trailer down to the keys there is a lot of grass flats in the anchorages and it holds. A danforth doesn't hold in the grass worth a darn, I can attest to that.
I have an 89 wing, with a deeper anchor locker. I first went to the delta website and got the dimensions to make sure it would fit

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 07:20:52

A Bruce clone (claw)should be on your consider list. A 16 lb will meet most needs and a 22 lb will meet demanding needs.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 09:38:15

Albert,<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Any suggestions on which anchor works well for all bottom types? Needs to be less than $200.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I have a 22# Claw on a bow roller and a 20# Danforth High Tensile hanging from the pulpit. Both have about a boatlength of chain and 250' of nylon rode.

The Claw seems to be a great all around anchor which sets and resets quickly and reliably in most bottoms. I've heard they can drag in soft mud or loose sand. The Danforth style is of course is at its best in soft mud or loose sand.

Here's a two anchor combination I'd consider:<ul><li>A 22# Claw with 20' to 30' of slightly oversized chain, and 7/16" or 1/2" nylon rode for overnight and heavy weather.</li>
<li>A standard size Fortess with 10' to 15' of standard size chain and 3/8" nylon rode as a lunch hook, and to use as a second anchor to keep the boat from hunting while using the Claw as primary, and to back up the Claw overnight in a soft bottom.</li>
<li>(I also keep a small Danforth with 10' of light chain and 100' 3/8" nylon in a cockpit locker.)</li></ul>
-- Leon Sisson

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 10:11:35

There have been many tests over the years trying to identify the best characteristics of various anchors, conducted by publications (Cruising World, Practical sailor, English Yachting monthly,etc) or by manufacturers (Simpson-Lawrence, Danforth, etc). Some tests involved dragging anchors with a tugboat and strain gauge, some with winches ashore, some in actual small vessels, etc. The outcomes vary, and never seem to agree exactly, and your own personal experience may not agree with the test results: For example, I once had a Bruce 22 lber hold a 31 foot sedan power boat in conditions which seemed impossible to me that it could hold (I had two other anchors ready to go if needed) and yet it held and was the devil to get back aboard again. The Bruce in one test was said to "hop and drag" and not really ever set completely--not mine! For many years the charter skippers in the Caribbean relyed more on CQR Plows than any other, and I think if I were forced to pick one all-round anchor the CQR would be my choice, but the expense is painful. I now use one Danforth hi-tensile and one Bruce clone, with a big hi-tensile in the garage if I go cruising agin, as a storm anchor. Also have an old Herreshoff-pattern Wilcox traditional kedge which I used up North a lot. Would love a plow but cant afford it. Hope these suggestions helpful, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 11:44:48

This is the anchor I'm interested in getting. If I could only figure out a storage method/place. Tested very well in different bottom types, but I don't think there is one anchor that works for all bottom types.

One downside, it's $250 for the size that fits our boats.

[url="http://www.noteco.com/bulwagga/"]Bulwagga anchor[/url]

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reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 13:35:30

I like the Claw; mine is 16 lbs and holds every bottom so far attempted. My second hook is a smaller Danforth but it's rarely used.

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 13:42:31

I have the 16lb Claw clone and have been satisfied with it. I have a 16lb Danforth as a stern anchor and back up. This combo has worked well for me in coastal and lake applications. I only have 15 feet of chain on both. Unless you are anchoring under severe conditions like a few here have said, I would just like to warn against getting too heavy an anchor/chain set up. Obviously we want to be safe, but on the other hand pulling the weight of anchor and chain from the bottom can test even the youngest, strongest back. It would be nice to have a little power assist.

Having a bow roller solves the storage problem.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 13:53:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ronrryan
 ...Would love a plow but cant afford it...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

[url="http://www.marisafe.com/Store/viewItem.asp?ID=301011451&CID=30100000&FLT=301011451#"]Galvanized Plow Anchor[/url]

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2005 : 21:19:23

Don, thanks for the heads-up! I was not aware that Plastimo seems to have done for the Plow what was previously done for the Bruce. Ron srsk Orion SW FL

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John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2005 : 00:35:42

The Delta fast-set 14 with 30 ft of chain works great and it fits in the C25 anchor locker. It holds in a lot of different conditions and bottoms. I feel very secure using this system.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2005 : 09:27:58

I would like to find an anchor that, when retrieved, doesn't bring along 20lbs of muck and seaweed!

My usual routine when hauling up the anchor is to splash it as many times as necessary to get the mud off of it, then manually extricate the entangled seaweed. What a way to top off a pleasant and relaxing afternoon on the hook!

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2005 : 10:52:28

Don... no mud....

More reasonable is dealing with the mud... either by a rope n bucket or a blaster pump and hose. I use the latter but assume a rope n bucket work as well.

Do any of the canvass collapsing buckets work well? They'd be easy to store possibly on the underside of the anchor locker lid.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2005 : 11:10:51

I bought my collapsing bucket from Northwest river supplies
www.nrsweb.com
I also got my double acting hand pump to inflate my dingy

Their camstraps are the best thing to fasten things down when hauling your boat.

Edited by - on

cvwall
1st Mate

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USA
56 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2005 : 08:52:49

Best bet is not to rely on just one anchor type, or just one anchor. there are situations commonly encountered when setting out two anchors is the preferred method. I have a 13# Danforth on 12' of chain and 200' of 1/2" nylon in the anchor locker, and a 16.5 Bruce on 25' of chain and 250' of 1/2" nylon in the cockpit locker (the Bruce and the chain are in a plastic crate, with the rode coiled on top; easy to get out whenever I need to). Have at least one fluke-style anchor for sand and mud, and a plow or claw for clay, shell and weeds. Don't forget some light line and a float to mark the anchor and for help in recovering it if it fouls.

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