Anchor tests

The rebar "anchors" are often used in rocky or reef areas by fishing boats. They are pretty much sacrificial. I would not trust my boat on one overhight--and just where do you stow that?

I had heard that Bruce was no longer making small anchors-I found this on the internet "NOTE: Bruce anchors have been unavailable in the United States since late 2004. Bruce has been producing most of their anchors in a foundry in Brazil for the last several years. This relationship was terminated in 2004 when Bruce had plans to move the production to another foundry. There have been numerous complications with this plan and the situation still remains unresolved today. "
 
Good grief, Bob, you've made this thread a trip back into anchoring memories. We were anchored in a cove in Isla Del Espiritu Santo, off La Paz, Mexico. Beautiful day, and just as the sun set the off-shore wind came up. As usual. As you know, all Mexican shrimpers use rebar anchors. The shrimper anchored next to us drug (away from us) and reset that anchor every hour. Finally gave up and left. Our CQR held, but the charter boat with the same anchor drug. Scope issue, I guess. Anyway we never swam with the dolphins, but left the next morn for Mazatlan. After an overnighter, we picked the squid off the decks and went to Mazatlan Marina.

I'm getting the boat ready for Avalon, and after every frustrating task, I read what you wrote, and it helps. Keep going.

Thanks, Boris
 
This is the one I use and it has never let me down. I haven't weighed it, but it must be 35 or more lbs. You can see where it goes, the whole unit pivots. I lift it with a buoy/puller. C.W.
Custom_Thunderjet_Columbia_River_Anchor_001.sized.jpg
 
St_Johns_trip_158.jpg


eeny, meeny, minee, moe Which anchor will work today. Depends on the ground, the seas, and the weather. Use one, two or three at the same time. That is always the question. I have found one is no better or worse than the other depending on conditions.

32 lb Danforth ( Storm anchor ) far side, Fortress close left, Stainless grapple, Claw (Bruce) in fairlead.

captd
 
Thanks for the detailed analysis Bob. You remind me of the Professor from the Back to the Future movies when he says "please excuse the crudity of this model". Ha ha! That was a detailed, expert analysis of anchor holding properties.
 
Hi Bob, thanks for the great info. I noticed you tested a 22 pound Delta and that Dora Jean uses the same anchor. I was wondering what size anchor you would recommend for a 23 Venture. I see Delta recommends the 14 pound anchor for 21-31 foot boats. That is the size I was planning on using unless it is too small in your opinion. I use 30 feet of chain and often can't use a lot of scope.

Thanks,
Bill
 
I have 15ft of 5/8 chain on my fX7, I have to say in 2 years I cannot remember a single occasion when it did not hold the first time.

I could not demand more from a anchor.

the fortress is VERY light, I would not expect it to hold much without some chain.


James
 
Best Day,

I have 28 ft of chain and 270 ft of 1/2" 3 strand rode (rule of thumb -- chain is length of boat, more is generally better but weight forward sometimes becomes an issue). I believe in one size up than recommended, I sleep MUCH better. But the 22 lb Delta would definitely be an overkill for your V23, I'd go next step down. If the 14 lb is the next lower, then that's the one (you'd be near the bottom end of the scale).
 
I purchased a Fortress FX-11 to replace a 13lb Danforth.(both anchors are of similar dimensions) I made it up with 25 ft of 3/16ths chain and 250 ft of 7/16ths 3-strand nylon line. I got and installed the mud palms.

On a visit to Lake Mohave I tried to set this anchor many times. It would never set. I returned the anchor to West Marine and resumed using the Danforth 13 lb anchor with the 3/16 ths chain and line. The Danforth set and held every time.

I was hoping to lower the weight of the gear and get away from the rust stains. Oh, well, back to the old standby.

I have used Bruce anchors for the bow anchor on three boats now, and I can depend on the Bruce. The Danforth was the stern anchor on the C-Dory, and before that I used it on my trimaran sail boat.

Thats my experience, your may vary!!
 
My feeling when the Fortress first came out (and I was boating on the West Coast) that weight was essential for anchors to set. I have mostly used large CQR's on my cruising boats and HT Danforths (12 or 35lb) on the racing sailboats. I had the general impression that a CQR had to be 35 lbs to penetrate the "crust" of the sea bed. I still believe that weight plays a role.

Definately the conditions are what determine the best anchor. I carried a 22 lb Bruce for about 6,000 miles after rescuing a boater who lost his boat. One day in Honduras I needed a "small" kedge anchor to pull the 62 foot, 60,000 lb boat off the dock in about a 15 knot breeze. I put the Bruce out with 10:1 scope, and winched the Bruce back to the boat 4 times. This was in coral sand, with a bit of a crust. I put my trusty 12 Lb HT Danforth out--and winched the boat right off the dock. So in that condition the heavier Bruce was worthless--the Danforth worked very well. Incidently that Bruce was what the other cruiser was relying on, when his boat drug ashore and was lost off the cost of Mexico, although the Bruce was "appropiate" in size for his boat...He failed to power set it.

In reality the average boater rarely "tests" his anchoring gear. The home made anchor in one of the posts above, may work fine in certain bottoms, but with a significant blow, I suspect that it would drag very rapidly. Also I would ask how many of us power set their anchor? My usual technique is to let the anchor set--then gradually apply force--ending with full power in reverse. I take ranges, either with several stationary reference points ashore--or at least with several bearings with an very accurate hand bearing compass (reads to one degree).

I started using the Fortress FX 16 in Florida, where we have soft sand or mud. It works very well, despite its light weight--and even without a chain under those conditions. I would not expect the Fortress FX 16 to set in sand with a dense crust or heavily impacted sand.

For the CD 22 or Venture 23, the Delta 14 is most likely very sufficient. This is what I have on my CD 25. I will also be carrying the Manson 25 this summer. But the Delta 14 works fine, and seems to hold fine with full reverse.
 
This anchor package has been sold, thanks!

I have an lightly used Simpson/Lawrence anchor that is for sale. It's a Delta Fast-Set plow type 14 lb galvanized manganese alloy hardened steel anchor with 15 feet of 1/4" G-4 high test galvanized chain, 150 feet of 1/2" three strand nylon rode, and a canvas duffel style bag for the rode to fit in. Rated for 21-31 foot boats. I'm asking $150 plus shipping charges for it. The anchor rode is spliced for use with a windlass. PM me if interested.

Link to manufacturer's website HERE.

It's currently in my Sea Ray up at Shasta Lake. I replaced it with a larger similar 20 lb plow anchor, 30 feet of 5/16 chain, and 200 feet of 5/8" three strand nylon rope when I added a "brutish" Simpson Lawrence Horizon Express (1500 class) windlass. The boat weighs about 8000 lbs and is 26.5 feet at the waterline.

bcee_1.jpg

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Boris,
You can see the chain looped on top of the grapple, It is under the rode on the other two. 20 ft. on the 32 lb danforth. Short one on the fortress. I take the fortress out in the pudgy, and use it for a stern anchor. when needed. Has a short chain. Fortress has to have some chain and start the pull with small jecks by hand. Once it diggs in it will hold as well or better than others.

captd
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.

I spoke with the West Coast rep for Delta Anchors and he was very helpful. I described my boat to him and asked if I should use a 14 pound Delta with 30 feet of chain or a 22 pound Delta with 17 feet of chain (I need to keep the weight reasonable since I'm pulling the anchor manually). He said that the 14 pounder should be plenty for my boat. He also said that because the Delta Fast Set is a plow type anchor they recommend 30 feet of chain to be used with it.

So it sounds like a 14 pound Delta Fast Set is in my future.

Bill
 
Bill (Best Day). If you are anchoring at the Isthmus, there are a number of places where it is in excess of 100 feet. Thus you will need considrable rode. If you can tuck back in close to the beach at the East side of the cove, with bow and stern anchors, that is one of the few places there where there is good protection and a clear anchorage. (Little Fishermans).
Close to the beach--the water is much shoaler and easier anchoring. Most other coves in the channel Islands it is best to anchor fore and aft. So get a good stern anchor too. This keeps the bow into swells, and makes riding at anchor much more comfortable.

Hopefully you will have a windlass with that amount of chain. It is harder on the hands than rope rode.
 
Bill (Best Day)-

I agree with the recommendation to use the 14 lb. rather than the 22 lb. Delta Fast-Set.

You might want to think about the total weight of the chain and anchor, however.

1/4" chain weighs 0.74 lbs per foot, so 30 feet of it will weigh 22.2 lbs.

This means your total weight to raise (other than the rope) will be 14 + 22 lbs, or 36 lbs.

That not all that difficult from, say, 50 feet, but if you're talking lifting it from 100 or more feet, it may be challenging, especially for someone who is older.

This is where a windlass really comes in handy! (Or a teenage son training for football, just ask BC!)

I have 100 feet of chain that weighs 74 lbs and a Fortress FX-16 anchor that weighs 10 lbs on my C-Dory 22. When it's all deployed, it's very difficult to raise this 84 lb. combo manually for this 65 year old!

Fortunately, I have a windlass! Just push the button!

It might be worthwhile to note that much of the time the whole anchor set up won't be lifted, as at first only part of the chain is lifted, then the whole set up, then it gets lighter as the chain gradually comes aboard.

Free Advice: Get a good pair of gloves for manual anchor work!

An anchor buoy set up can ease the load if you don't have a windlass.
4628913.jpg


Anchors aweigh!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
When we lived on the "other" coast we used the anchor bouy set up many times in 100+ ft of water.
Works fine as long as you are careful not to run over the rode and get the speed set to where it pulls the anchor without risking to rip off the transom if it is really stuck. After a while you refine the technique and open up once you are sure the anchor has broken out.
It does have the advantage that it washes off most of the mud.
Disadvantage is that you need lots of free space around you.
In the end you still have to pull it all on board but it's a lot easier than a vertical pull.

Merv & Kathy
 
C-Pelican":3lyi341y said:
Joe,

Have you actually used that anchor buoy set up?

Jeff
Click to expand...

Jeff-

No, I've never used it myself, but we've talked about it before, and a number of Brats have used it with good results!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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