Anchor advice?

NUTMEG

NUTMEG

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www.theblindsailor.co.uk
All right. Apologise upfront. Websites perused etc. books read and so on but would still value opinions.

I currently have a Cornish Crabber 24' Mk1. The one with a lifting plate and no headroom.

Sail mainly on the east coast mud.

She has a huge plough type anchor and a 7.5kgm Bruce, 20 meters of 8mm chain and 20 meters octoplait.

The big plough is a pain to keep on the foredeck, bowsprit and other stuff in the way and staysail sheets love grabbing it. The smaller Bruce would fit in the roller out of the way.

Would it be reasonable to stow the big hook in a locker and reserve it for overnight sleeping aboard and use the Bruce for lunch, waiting for tides etc?

Does a 7.5kgm Bruce sound manly enough for a fairly heavy 24 foot gaffer?

I don't sail in gale force conditions or anchor (out of choice) in exposed places.

No comments on anchors please I can not afford a new one!

Steve
 
I believe a 7.5kg Bruce is the recommended size up to about 26 or 28 ft and 20m of 8mm chain should be adequate.

I think I'd feel inclined to get shot of the plough if it is as huge as you imply and perhaps get a smaller "lunch hook" in its place unless anchoring in exposed positions, in strong tides or high winds is your normal activity
 
I was never happy with a Bruce because it did not always set - but that was in the Med. with some hard sand or sea grass. With your area, mostly mud, it should be fine. So stow the plough, but keep it for those rare occasions when sh!t happens - an unexpected storm when the Bruce is not enough, for example.
 
Sophie19 said:
All right. Apologise upfront. Websites perused etc. books read and so on but would still value opinions.

I currently have a Cornish Crabber 24' Mk1. The one with a lifting plate and no headroom.

Sail mainly on the east coast mud.

She has a huge plough type anchor and a 7.5kgm Bruce, 20 meters of 8mm chain and 20 meters octoplait.

The big plough is a pain to keep on the foredeck, bowsprit and other stuff in the way and staysail sheets love grabbing it. The smaller Bruce would fit in the roller out of the way.

Would it be reasonable to stow the big hook in a locker and reserve it for overnight sleeping aboard and use the Bruce for lunch, waiting for tides etc?

Does a 7.5kgm Bruce sound manly enough for a fairly heavy 24 foot gaffer?

I don't sail in gale force conditions or anchor (out of choice) in exposed places.

No comments on anchors please I can not afford a new one!

Steve
Click to expand...
For the past 16 years i have use a genuine 10 Kg Bruce on the East Coast. Boat is 7 tons @ 37`(15Kg recommended). prior to that it was on my Co32 for 10 yrs.
your Bruce will be perfect, Hamford Water can be problematic due to pipe weed
I have just changed to a Fortress FX16 as it is the correct size for 37` & much lighter than a 15Kg Bruce, i do not stow my anchor on the stem head.
i do have a 35Lb CQR that has been stowed under a quarter berth for 34 yrs & never seen the water yet. I have nothing against a CQR & it the anchor was permanently stowed at the stem hd roller i would use one. They are still std equipment on new Oysters
 
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I can't offer advice on size. butover around 24 years I have used CQR, Danforth and Bruce Anchrs in East Cost mudMy big Bruce was good, but it has come out once or twice when swinging. My 1st choice would therefore be a heavy CQR with chain. I never now use warp with or without chain for anchoring.My main lesson has been that it is chain that'does it'. The longer and heavier the better.My advice is forget the rope.It undermines the wole setup - I don't care what the books say!
 
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