Anchor Buddy

Everyone has their ideas as to what is the best anchor, no point in saying what's 'decent' or 'an upgrade but anything is', that is your personal opinion; while the cost v usefulness of a buddy was the point of the thread...
 
Well! I never expected such a level of assistance and opinions. I always considered myself as very decisive, clearly not where anchoring is concerned.
On balance, I will go with the anchor upgrade and forget the Anchor Buddy.
There appears to be only one stockist of Rocna in Scotland at Ardfern so I will speak to them on Monday. Taking the Rocna sizing chart it appears they are suggesting a 10kg as sufficient for a 31' @ 4200kgs circa £250. The next size up is the 15kg @ £320. Based on the premise that you should always go for one size up, I will suss out the fitting practicalities. Thanks for the link to the comparative profile diagram that was interesting, it showed that there is very little difference between the Rocna and the Delta in size profile at least.
Thanks Guys
cdogg
 
Seajet said:
Everyone has their ideas as to what is the best anchor, no point in saying what's 'decent' or 'an upgrade but anything is', that is your personal opinion; while the cost v usefulness of a buddy was the point of the thread...
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I will not get into an argument about which anchor is best, but there have been so many tests that without fail put the three 'new generation' anchors as top performers and the CQR and Bruce very near the bottom that 'personal opinion' doesn't enter into it. We are all well aware that anomalies occur for a whole raft of reasons but it's difficult to ignore the overall results of ten or a dozen independent tests.
 
cdogg said:
On balance, I will go with the anchor upgrade and forget the Anchor Buddy.
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Having made that decision, dont forget to consider the three contenders:

Rocna, Manson Supreme, and Spade.

Before I got ill and sold the boat, (I'm better now!), I had made the same decision to upgrade, and faced the same choices. In the event, it would have been the Rocna due to it being available in Lefkas, had we made the planned trip to Greece.... but we didnt.

I couldnt see a real difference between Manson or Rocna. Several users here had similar experiences with both. Spade seemed to be incredibly more expensive.
 
If value for money is an issue, then the highly regarded Kobra 2 is worth thinking about. It came through published tests well; a 16kg costs about £100 IIRC. We replaced our 35lb CQR with the Kobra 2 this season; dug well in first time on all ninety or so anchorings, except for one occasion that took two or three attempts - a kelp patch at Carsaig Bay west of Tayvallich.

I really can't see the point in spending a multiple of that figure.
 
26 ft boat
West Coast of Scotland
Often singlehanded, so lifting and relaying a nightmare.
Likely to be visiting Canna (infamous holding)
Likes to sleep soundly

16 Kg Manson, (oversized I know) 35 metres chain, 45 metres multiplait, fits in the bow roller.

Never failed, slept soundly, always worked first time, even in a gale in Canna. Happy.

I might have bought the equivalent Kobra but I found out about it too late.

And a "Where is that?" (precisely please)

DSCF0040.jpg
 
noelex said:
40K with gusts to 65K predicted here soon, seems like a good reason to have the best anchor irrespecive of cost.
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Exactly. But spending more doesn't guarantee anything. We've anchored many times in 8s and 9s on the west of Scotland (and Ireland) using a CQR without incident. The advantage of our new Kobra2 is that it sets extremely well, and first time, which is a major consideration when laying and lifting a 16kg anchor and up to 50m of chain by hand.
 
Very helpful chap called GUY at Ardfern Yacht Centre (Scottish Rocna dealers) has agreed to a 'trial fit' basis - of course if I damage it, I have bought it, fit or no fit. Seems very good service. competitive price too. I will try the 15kg as recommended for my boat size/weight.

Incidentally, I have visited Canna on a few occasions, to be fair, always with a genuine CQR which left me with no nightmare memories. However, things have moved on, now I have nightmares about possible nightmares!
Cheers
cdogg
 
Seajet said:
I've just looked up the 'anchor buddy' - Then I saw the price - near as damnit £200 !!!

Unless it comes mounted on its' own plinth with a spotlight to show you have £200.notes to burn, the concrete in a bucket suddenly makes sense...
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I made my own - a role of lead flashing rolled round a U bent (with Rt angled ends) length of heavy duty (4-5mm) brazing rod, encased in a length of plastic drainage pipe.
It weighs the same as a 10 mtr length of 8mm chain, and can be kept aft to reduce bow weight.
 
Seajet said:
Unless it comes mounted on its' own plinth with a spotlight to show you have £200.notes to burn, the concrete in a bucket suddenly makes sense...

.
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Here's mine. A 25lb length of lead window sash weight. It is very compact for its weight and, being square in cross-section, it won't roll around the deck and nip your fingers.

It is also handy for drudging operations, and as a temporary anchor to hold the boat's head to wind when backing out of an awkward marina berth

I plan to make a proper s/s stirrup for it this winter.
 
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I've also seen a sash weight used very effectively as a damper on mooring lines between two boats rafted up when there was a bit of swell.
 
Conachair said:
Artical here - http://www.petersmith.net.nz/boat-anchors/kellets.php
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I'm aware of this article rubbishing weights, but I found 10kg of lead just far enough down the rode so that it never touches bottom a great improvement using a cqr and fairly light rode.
It's a good tool to have in the box at the very least.
Particularly comes into its own if there is more chop than you'd hope for.

I would have one for sure, but my next boat will also have a bigger/better anchor than a 'Rorc minimum' cqr.
 
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