Anchor Configuration Options.

A

apindrans

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I own a wooden Vertue sloop (25ft, and 5tons), and the current anchor arrangement is one 35lb CQR, 50m of chain, 100m of warp, and a hand operated windlass, and a 20lb danforth kedge.

So far I have not had to anchor the boat as all I have been doing is out of the marina and back again. However, I'm daunted by the prospect of chucking all the anchor gear over the bow and not being able to get it back on board again!

I'm mulling over the different anchoring options I have available.

1. Keep the same gear and install an electric windlass. (Expensive, what happens if the windlass fails?, overkill for a small boat, not sure on the integrity of the current chain)

2. Keep the same anchor, but reduce the length of new chain to 10m (problem of getting anchor abooard, getting the warp to flake through the chain pipe)

3. Get a smaller, more efficient anchor (Fortress or Spade) with chain and warp combination, and use an anchor chum (still problem of getting warp through chain pipe, will this combination be sufficient security for a real blow?)

Your opinions and ideas would be most welcome.
 
Hello Andy,

You have some pretty serious anchoring kit, thats for sure!
Although you dont mention the size of your chain cable (I am guessing 1/4" or 5/16" (8 mm) ?), or the type of hand operated windlass you have.

But please dont be daunted by chucking it all out - we have a 35' boat, 6 tonnes, and she is equipped with a 35 lb CQR and 50 m. of 3/8" (10 mm) chain, along with a hand operated Simpson Lawrence 'Anchorman' windlass, and I can wind this lot in OK, no worries, and I am only 55 kg.
Although we do have to motor up to the anchor, the winch (or me) isnt powerful enough to pull the boat up to the anchor if there is any breeze blowing.

I would basically keep the set up you have - and perhaps you could save some weight in the anchor department by getting one of the new age anchors like a Rocna or Spade or Delta (they are all good) to use as a bower (main) anchor - I would guess that one around 10 kg (22 lbs) should be fine for your Vertue (Craig, what do you reckon?).
Keep the CQR as well though!
 
I had a 26ft 6ton Eventide, with a 35lb CQR that was quite hard work to retrieve. As I like stopping over for lunch when I am out day sailing I rigged a 7.5kg kedge on a lighter line, which proved entirely adequate and never let me down even in quite bad conditions. The few occasions I used the main bower, I suspect the kedge would still have held, but it was a good feeling having all that metal on the seabed when it was blowing a real hooly in an exposed anchorage!
 
An Eventide at 6 tons! Blimey! I note that its the 26ft version but that seems a lot. But I totally agree with you. I have a 35lb CQR and recover it well (if slowly) on a Moyle single action windlass with enough friction through age to add half that weight again. I have looked at the electric option but the power demand and electic infrastructure put me off. But I suppose as age creeps this is the first department to cause a problem. I think I might go down your small kedge option, particularly if I can have slightly better self stowage performance than the bigger bower. I find it's getting the anchor properly stowed after the huffing and puffing that's the last straw.
 
[ QUOTE ]
on a Moyle single action windlass

[/ QUOTE ]

apologies for the diversion but is this a Moyle?

windlass.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
1. Keep the same gear and install an electric windlass. (Expensive, what happens if the windlass fails?, overkill for a small boat, not sure on the integrity of the current chain)

[/ QUOTE ]If you have to spend $ any way you look at it, then why not upgrade the capabilities of the anchoring tackle. A windlass shouldn't be mandatory on a small boat like yours. A lighter and more efficient set-up will easily out-perform the existing solution, and be more easily man-handled.

[ QUOTE ]
...and use an anchor chum (still problem of getting warp through chain pipe, will this combination be sufficient security for a real blow?)

[/ QUOTE ]An anchor chum won't make any difference to the anchor's performance and will only add weight and complexity.
www.rocna.com/boat-anchors/kellets.php

[ QUOTE ]
I would basically keep the set up you have - and perhaps you could save some weight in the anchor department by getting one of the new age anchors like a Rocna or Spade or Delta (they are all good) to use as a bower (main) anchor - I would guess that one around 10 kg (22 lbs) should be fine for your Vertue (Craig, what do you reckon?).

[/ QUOTE ]Sure, a Rocna 10. That'll provide an anchor sized to hold the boat in pretty much all conditions. You could get an alloy Spade of the same size if you really wanted to save another 5Kg. But expensive. I wouldn't put Delta in there as "new age" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The other thing to do is reduce the amount of chain to what you'd need for typical anchoring, so you don't have a flaking problem the majority of the time. E.g. typical depth 4m? +1 to the roller = 5, so 25m would always give you at least 5:1 scope on all chain... 50m of chain is totally unnecessary unless you're needing to anchor in very deep water and don't like using rope.

Also, look at a lighter high tensile (G70) chain of comparable strength.
 
Crikey Andy, if you're mostly sailing in Port Phillip [max depth 12m, sand bottom] you're over-tackled. The A.Y.F. Blue Book would recommend something like 5m chain and 50m of warp, I think. I no longer have a copy, having lent mine [you know how it is with lent books] but you'd be able to get one from Boat Books. If you plan to sail up to the Great Barrier Reef you'll need that 50m length of chain to stand up to the coral.
Peter.
 
Rocna Anchors!!

The Yachting Monthly anchor tests showed some pretty impressive results for the Rocna anchor, but I read somewhere (YM?) that the the roll bar made them awkward to stow, and a bit diificult to retrieve off the anchor roller.

If I could save 15lb in achor wight that would certainly be a bonus.
I will seriouslu consider your suggestions.
 
Reply to Peterduck:

Once I complete the restoratoion of Corio Vertue I would like to do some cruising to Wilson's Prom and down the East Coast of Tassie - hence the need for reliable, and comfort giving anchor gear.

However, I like Oldharry's method of using a lighter kedge for lunch time anchoring.
 
The granite so common from the Prom across Bass Strait and down the East Coast gives rise to a coarse sand bottom, and an approximation of the performance of anchors in this sand can be gained by dragging a teaspoon through sugar. In short, you need anchors which are really going to dig in deeply.
Peter.
 
We have a 38' 12 ton with 45lb CQR anchor and chain no warp. In fine weather I pull the anchor up by hand and when its blowing use the manual winch and a little ahead on the engine to help. Secondary anchors are a large fishermans with nothing attached but an anchor cable ready. The anchor cable which consists of 10m chain and then 60m heavy warp is attached permanently to a Bruce anchor.

Our 45lb sits permannently in the stemhead bow roller, and is lashed and pinned to prevent movement in a seaway. For an extended passage the anchor lives on the deck. I would prefer to keep it down below but its a bit of a lump to be hoofing around the deck in a seaway.

Its sounds like you have a fairly hefty anchor already, it just needs as much chain that will fit in your locker + warp that can easilly be attached. On smaller boats we used to have the bitter end of the chain made off to a bolt in the boat but with extra warp attached also to the bitter end so if we needed all the chain out we only had to pop a (well greased) shackle.

Modern anchors are great for anchoring, Fortress, Delta and would have no hesitation in using them on our own boat if we could afford them. But I think you should pick your anchors according to holding ground in yout preffered anchorages.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The other thing to do is reduce the amount of chain to what you'd need for typical anchoring, so you don't have a flaking problem the majority of the time. E.g. typical depth 4m? +1 to the roller = 5, so 25m would always give you at least 5:1 scope on all chain... 50m of chain is totally unnecessary unless you're needing to anchor in very deep water and don't like using rope.

[/ QUOTE ]


"Typical depth 4m", eh? Don't you have any tides in your hemisphere - or haven't you done the course?

Sometimes I think you must do all your sail-cruising on the local municipal reservoir, for your advice to others seems firmly based on a benign, unchanging and constant-depth seascape more likely to be found in a Terry Pratchett 'Discworld' novel than on this planet.

There should be a YBW Health Warning attached to your postings......


/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
The next time that you're in the Geelong swindlery have a look for a S.A.R.C.A. anchor. They're produced in Gembrook [or thereabouts] and I saw that the Water Pollis are using them.
Peter.
 
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