Collapsible Box Anchor anyone?

[breausaw]

Just came across this while cruising the new Cabala’s saltwater fishing catalog, thought it would be a great second anchor; looks a little strange to be hanging off the bow.
The folding characteristics and ability to set and hold without a chain are intriguing.

Collapsible Box Anchor

Just throw it out and it quickly sets in any bottom material. Its fixed scoop design and narrow side panels set it into sand, grass, mud and even rock. Narrow side panels reduce resistance for easy retrieval. Stainless steel stabilizing bar and return spring make it easy to lock open or collapse down for easy storage. Requires no lead chain and only half the anchor line. Galvanized steel construction. This could be the last anchor you will ever have to buy.
Available:
19 lbs.- For boats up to 30 ft.
25 lbs.- For boats up to 40 ft.

[thataway]

I am not impressed by the "Box" anchor. but there are some anchors which seem strange, and seem to work. I don't buy that storage is all that easy. Plus it would not bury well for holding.

[breausaw]

here's the Cabelas link

[Sea Wolf]

Jay-

I'm a little leary of the advertising copy written by the manufacturer that is copied in the Cabela's catalogue. But.....

Give it a try!

Better yet, buy one, then send it to Bob to be included in his anchor testing!

Fun for everyone!

Joe.

[jkidd]

I use one. They are very heavy to haul up and will bring up 20 lbs of mud or sand with it. 2 to 1 scope works good. It is hard to find anywhere to anchor in Utah because of the steep banks. It doesn't dig in on large gravel bottoms, but works well in sand and mud. If the the wind is blowing hard I put this one out. I haven't been able to drag this anchor in sand or mud. I have lost 2 of them one in Lake Powell it wrapped around a cottonwood tree as it was going down. One at Strawberry a friend didn't relize that he untied the bitter end and threw the rope in Bye Bye.

[jkidd]

Oh by the way I don't think there really lost because I do know where both of them are.

[Sea Wolf]

Here's an anchor test of a Box Anchor, a Fortress, and an inexpensive Hooker Danforth in Lake Powell by Pontoon and Deck Boat Magazine.

[hardee]

Joe,

Thanks for that link to the anchor tests. I first saw the box on a sailboat, 26-30ft, here in Sequim Bay, and talked to the owner, who assured me that it had held whenever they had deployed it for the last couple years, in cruising the San Jan's and Gulf Islands to Desolation. He kept it folded on the fordeck, but it opens in a heartbeat, and he did have some chain on, I think maybe 20 feet.

I agree with Bob, it's not traditional, and it won't fit into a bow roller, but still, it makes me curious.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Sea Wolf]

Since it won't fit or look right on the bow, maybe it would be a good stern anchor to keep folded there when not in use.

Maybe it's one of those things that's so non-conventional that you have to use it yourself for some time to get to get a feel for how it works and understand it fully ?

Because we have to trust our boats and our lives to anchors, there's a very cautious, conservative, and conventional set of attitudes toward them and their use.

I'll bet it's hard to break into the anchor world with a new design, and especially a radically different one.

Joe.

[thataway]

The Spade, and subsiquently copies such as the Ronca and Manson Supreme seem to have caught on fairly well. It did take some experience by respected boaters to get enough people to try them. But there is a lot of difference between that and the box. Yes, the box grabs, but does it keep on going down? That is a real test of an anchor--how well it ultimately holds. Also I am suspicious of any anchor which depends on bolts or pins for hinges--if one breaks, the entire anchor is gone. (ie the four folding corners)--

In the test it was described as Blusterly, thunderstorms, Terriable, Stormey etc... the wind was clocked at 15 knots. For many of us that is a normal afternoon breeze. Now if they had tested the anchor at 50 or 70 knots, then I would be impressed. Sure I'll test one if some one wants to bring it to our "anchor test" at Catalina this summer. But I tain't going to buy one, as I did with the Manason Supreme.

My general impression of the "hooker" is not good. The house boat test did not properly use the mud fluke position--but it worked. The mud fluke position is for deep soft mud, and to get the anchor to bury. There is some risk to the anchor if you use this position in other conditions.

They should have compared the Bruce, Manson, Spade or Ronca and the Delta anchors. We have found that Powell is generally pretty easy anchoring.

[C-Hawk]

Not good on rocky river bottom. We use one last year on the Kenai-- all it did was take us down to a slow drift.