Aluminium Excel as primary anchor?

[roaringgirl]

We currently have a 25kg Rocna that's reaching end of (a long and happy) life due to corrosion.

It has served us extremely well over the years and has *never* dragged once set - the most challenging being in 50kt catabatic veering gusts with 80m (that's all we have!) of chain in 27m of water. I would be happy to replace with the same again, but I think the Excel might perform as well or better in terms of holding, without the issue of clogging which might prevent a re-set in a wind-shift. I read on another forum that one owner had a repeatable problem with wind-shifts inverting their excel and it never resetting - comments? What are the steps an excel is supposed to go through in a direction change that make it reset?

Secondly, if anchor *weight* is not an issue determining performance of modern anchors, why not have the aluminium alloy version to make it easier to handle? Are there any real reasons it only seems to get suggested as a second anchor rather than a bower or is it just gut-feel/tradition?

 

[Neeves]

We have been using an aluminium Excel (a No 4 - same size but half the weight of the steel No 4) for 15 years. The steel Excel it replaces is languishing in my workshop. I have read of the owner's experience you mention - it has never occurred with us.

I cannot tell the difference between the 2 models, except the aluminium model weighs 8kg and the steel model weighs 15kgs. The aluminium model costs more - it uses aluminium alloy 7075 in the shank - and that alloy is not cheap. We found that the steel model accepted a 3/8th" shackle but the aluminium model needs to use a 1/2" because the 3/8th" locks up in the slightly thicker shank of the aluminium version. We have been using the aluminium version with 6mm chain (and a decent snubber/bridle)

In tests the 2 anchors have similar hold.

We, the market place, buy anchors by weight - not design. When people talk about anchors they define what they have by weight and the design seems less important. When you buy from a chandler - you buy by weight - design is not a major factor influencing choice. People use weight as a comfort blanket. The hold of the 2 Excels is similar, Fortress (of the same size) outperforms Danforth in many tests, Viking, superficially similar to Mantus, but almost half the weight for the same fluke size has a much higher hold (by good design). In soupy mud the Excel is hardly stellar - use a Fortress (horses for courses).

But if you want to save weight, look at the weight of chain you carry - its much heavier than the anchor (and does very little in terms of hold). We use the aluminium anchor because I have a weight fetish, 38' catamaran.

Jonathan

Edit

I should clarify - we have been using the aluminium Excel as our primary anchor, it sits on our bow roller 365, unless we are at anchor .

 

[NormanS]

We have been using an aluminium Excel (a No 4 - same size but half the weight of the steel No 4) for 15 years. The steel Excel it replaces is languishing in my workshop. I have read of the owner's experience you mention - it has never occurred with us.

I cannot tell the difference between the 2 models, except the aluminium model weighs 8kg and the steel model weighs 15kgs. The aluminium model costs more - it uses aluminium alloy 7075 in the shank - and that alloy is not cheap. We found that the steel model accepted a 3/8th" shackle but the aluminium model needs to use a 1/2" because the 3/8th" locks up in the slightly thicker shank of the aluminium version. We have been using the aluminium version with 6mm chain (and a decent snubber/bridle)

In tests the 2 anchors have similar hold.

We, the market place, buy anchors by weight - not design. When people talk about anchors they define what they have by weight and the design seems less important. When you buy from a chandler - you buy by weight - design is not a major factor influencing choice. People use weight as a comfort blanket. The hold of the 2 Excels is similar, Fortress (of the same size) outperforms Danforth in many tests, Viking, superficially similar to Mantus, but almost half the weight for the same fluke size has a much higher hold (by good design). In soupy mud the Excel is hardly stellar - use a Fortress (horses for courses).

But if you want to save weight, look at the weight of chain you carry - its much heavier than the anchor (and does very little in terms of hold). We use the aluminium anchor because I have a weight fetish, 38' catamaran.

Jonathan

Edit

I should clarify - we have been using the aluminium Excel as our primary anchor, it sits on our bow roller 365, unless we are at anchor .

What makes you think that we select our anchors solely by their weight? Have you researched this, or is this just a wild statement? Maybe your "weight fetish" is colouring your perception. ?
Apart from the demonstrated better performance of some anchors against other designs, there is the question of whether a particular anchor will fit comfortably on the bow roller. These are factors which determine the choice of anchor.

 

[Neeves]

What makes you think that we select our anchors solely by their weight? Have you researched this, or is this just a wild statement? Maybe your "weight fetish" is colouring your perception. ?
Apart from the demonstrated better performance of some anchors against other designs, there is the question of whether a particular anchor will fit comfortably on the bow roller. These are factors which determine the choice of anchor.

I stand admonished

Jonathan

 

[vyv_cox]

What makes you think that we select our anchors solely by their weight? Have you researched this, or is this just a wild statement? Maybe your "weight fetish" is colouring your perception. ?
Apart from the demonstrated better performance of some anchors against other designs, there is the question of whether a particular anchor will fit comfortably on the bow roller. These are factors which determine the choice of anchor.

You may not but reading the FB page 'Anchoring and anchorages' shows that the vast majority do exactly as Jonathan says. Particularly true of our friends from USA, who are great proponents of going one or two weights higher than recommended for their boat.

Also true of the manufacturers of course, who only market by weight as far as I know. I have never seen an anchor marketed by area, which would be far more sensible