2nd Anchor

tjanna

tjanna

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My new to me boat currently only has one anchor, which is a 20lb CQR. I had intended on buying a Danforth as a spare for back up, mainly because it can be stowed away folded. Having read the latest PBO I am now a little confused :confused: maybe I should forget the practicalities of space and buy a Bruce for a better hold, if need be.

I've not done much anchoring in the past to be honest, something I'd like to increase this coming season. Is it common to have a spare anchor? I had one on my last boat, albeit unused. What's the general feelings, any recommendations?

Thanks Gareth
 
I've always carried two, the 2nd can be used as a kedge or to take pressure off the main anchor for whatever reason.
With a CQR, a Danforth style would be my choice as it compliments a plow for different seabeds. In fact it is what I carry along with a Delta.
 
I would suggest that it's pretty important to have some sort of second anchor. You might foul your main anchor and need to cut it free, and you don't ever want to be out without some sort if anchor. It's also extremely useful in case you need to reduce swinging room in a tight space, or to increase holding power.

The actual type doesn't really matter. Conventional wisdom suggests that your kedge should compliment your bower. So a danforth (or guardian, or fortress) is popular because it gives good holding for weight on softer seabeds, where your bower might struggle. Additionally, I have heard that Danforths are happiest with a straight pull, which is likely to be the case for a second anchor. Being nice and light, for their power, they can feasibly be dinghied out e.g. If you are aground and need an anchor astern to haul yourself off.

We carry, let me count, four anchors (!) which is by accident rather than design. In addition to a 16kg Delta copy as bower, we have a 15kg folding fisherman's and a 20kg Danforth (a bit big but it came with the boat). There's also a 10kg. Bruce which came with the boat, I should probably sell that. We used to carry a miniature Manson Supreme (about 4kg) which was brilliant for dinghying out.
 
You must have a second anchor - as Kelpe has pointed out you might have to lose the primary. Also handy if it gets to blowup a bit - but I have found then that the strain is not divided between the two anchors uniformly, but from one to the other as the boat yaws. And it is PIA trying to recover the second. As for type, chose one that compliments your main anchor - I bought my boat with a Darnforth (main is 20Kg Rocna), but if starting from scratch I would chose a Fortress - fold flat(ish), good holding power for its weight in a variety of bottoms. Attach it to a decent bit of chain - 10m of 10mm (or even 12mm) would not be too much, with 50m of anchorplait.
 
We use a Guardian (the utility version of the Fortress, both of which look somewhat like a Danforth but are made of aluminium) as our kedge, attached to 5 metres of 8mm chain with as much rope as required for the situation. We use the kedge as a second anchor during significant blows (laid out at about 60 degrees to the main), when mooring bows to a quay and sundry other times when a quickly launched additional anchor is required. It has not let us down once set and usually sets first time.

The advantage with the Guradian/Fortress anchor is it is lightweight, making it easy to stow anywhere without upsetting the balance of a lightweight boat. It also makes it easy to deploy and recover.
 
I'd invest in a Fortress but buy it to the size recommended for your yacht and if you lose the first one (anchor) then your second anchor can become the primary. Fortress disassemble and can be stored in most deck lockers. But on the basis you might need it in a hurry I'd have it assembled and stored on the transom (with a second rode some chain and nylon) stored accessibly in a milk crate or bucket that drains (is it a contradiction to have a self draining bucket?). Fortress are alloy so light and can be deployed and retrieved by hand without need for subsequent medical intervention. They are also easy, because they are light, to deploy from a dinghy.

I would not buy a Guardian - even Fortress suggest they are only a lunch time hook.

If you are relatively happy with your CQR the other alternative is to upgrade (and then you will be even happier!) and keep the CQR as your second anchor. The downside is almost all anchors other than Spade and Fortress.Danforth are difficult to stow (except on a bow roller).

I have not read the article to which you refer in PBO (edit - living in the Lucky Country - by the time the issue gets here I forget the reason I need to have a look, close edit) but can you actually buy a genuine Danforth in the UK or Europe? We all call that design a 'danforth' but there are many variants and even small differences in design make a huge difference in performance of any anchor. Most copies stood next to the original have obvious differences and some are very, very different. Danforth are much maligned - but are a very successful and enduring product - some of the criticism is of clones - not the original. You do not design a product in 1939, it still be available, it be much copied - without it having some extraordinarily useful features.

Jonathan
 
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Farnham, Surrey - I assume you sail somewhere around the Thames Estuary somewhere? Lots of sand & mud? A Danforth will make an excellent kedge for emergency use. Plenty around cheap second hand, they fold flat & can be conveniently stored in a locker.

Having said that I haven't used my kedge for 20 years (at which time it happened to be a folding fisherman's). So it's not a big deal.
 
We carry a Fortress on 50m rode (10mm chain and warp) stored in cockpit locker in large plastic bucket ready for deployment. Bower anchor is a Delta. However been thinking of moving it to pushpit mounted "bucket" as has been suggested above. Used them like this on charter boats in Greece and it makes deployment very easy. On the other hand they're not always used off the stern.
 
The Guardian is the 'utility' version of the Fortress. It has two significant differences (apart from the price) from the Frotress. The shank is not profiled and highly finished but a straight bar and there is no way to alter the blade angle (the Fortress has two angles).

I have used both anchors in high winds and have found that no matter which one I used, once it was set (and they set easily in most bottoms) the it was not going to come out. They will reset in some bottoms but not in deep, soft mud, where the blades become clogged with mud.

Why all this? Just to point out that the Guradian is not a 'lunch hook', it's a somewhat less 'finished' version of the Fortress but one that we've found works at least as well as the more expensive cousin.
 
No one can make a stement that you MUST have a second anchor because it all depends on your sailing style and habits. If you have a largish boat and like to anchor in remote places then yes you should have a spare anchor of different type to the main. Different anchors for different bottom types. Danforth is very good for soft sand but iuseless in weed.
If as OP says he had a spare anchor on his previous boat and neverr used it then perhaps he does not need a spare for presnt boat unless he voyages in a different way.
For myself I would not dream of having a second nachor ona small boat that can not stand the weight and because I have not dropped an anchor in many years. So it all depends good luck olewill
 
Some of us are required to carry an anchor to meet regulations. Some others are required to carry 2 anchors. They are deemed a safety device (though it must be one of the few safety devices for which there are no requirements as to its usefulness, which seems to be something of a mockery).

Many anchors cannot set in weed - as you point out anyone can find fault in broad statements - I think you need to define 'weed' and many anchors (except Danforth and Fortress) are useless in thin mud. If you carry a CQR then a Fortress seems an acceptable design that will work where the CQR does not.

I carry lifejackets, have an EPIRB etc - and have never used them. And I will continue to carry them.

It depends on what you mean by a small boat but a small Fortress weighs zilch and if your small boat cannot stand that extra weight, over and above the weight of the anchor you do carry, you must sail a Moth.

Jonathan
 
Fortress is the best secondary anchor. Its light weight is a great plus in an anchor that be rowed or even swum out with a fender.

The Guardian is worth considering if you are on a budget. One difference that has not been mentioned is that only the Fortress has the lifetime warranty against bending. This is great. Fortress will send you out a new part to replace a part bent for any reason.

Another anchor worth some consideration as a secondary anchor is a FOBlight.

However, the first priority for an effective anchoring system is to have the best primary anchor. This is the anchor that will keep you safe most of the time. In the OPs case I would update the primary anchor to one of the new generation anchor designs keeping the CQR as the second anchor. At 20lb the CQR is still quite manageable to be carried to the stern or launched from a dingy. If funds permitted I would replace (or supplement) the CQR with a Fortress.
 
Another vote for Fortress as second anchor, folding & light weight, easily stowed in cockpit locker attached to 5m chain & long length of anchorplait rode so ready for deployment if required.
 
William_H said:
No one can make a stement that you MUST have a second anchor because it all depends on your sailing style and habits.
Click to expand...

Totally agree Will. I think a 2nd anchor is a bit like a liferaft. Before my current yacht I had a 21 foot Westerly Jouster. Solent area, Chichester and Poole. No 2nd anchor and no liferaft. Never needed either and didn't see the need to carry them. Current yacht a 44 footer which we take everywhere, 3 good anchors and a liferaft.
But I do agree with other peoples choice of the danforth as a spare.

Chris
 
Our main anchor was a 40lb CQR our second anchor was a Fortress and our storm anchor was a monster Fortress. We used the second anchor about a dozen times in a V in strong winds but fortunately never had to use the storm anchor.
 
We have a Fortress as the second/kedge anchor, sized one size up from recommended but as it's lightweight is easy to get out of the locker(I stow it assembled with 10m chain + 30m anchorplait) , the bower is a Manson Supreme which replaced a c*** plough anchor. Both are ideal on the east coast mud.
 
I thank you gentlemen for your input. I have decided to go with the majority and a fortress it is! I didn't realise that the price would double with a length of chain and rope.:eek:

Gareth
 
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