zoidberg
Well-known member
Sort this out?
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Anchor problem
- Thread starter zoidberg
- Start date
Neeves
Well-known member
Silly boy,
Its common practice.
Everyone and their dog knows an anchor works because it is heavy. That's why so many have overlarge anchors. The pictured anchor looks far too small for the vessel and the rock has been chosen so that it fills the space between shank and fluke perfectly. When the anchor was chosen it was restricted as it had to fit in the anchor pocket so they could not follow the usual recommendation, 'fit an anchor one or two sizes bigger than designed' - so they have skilfully found a solution. There is no need to remove the rock - its all intentional. I guess they spent a long time searching for a rock of the perfect size.
The technique was common place centuries ago, possibly made famous by the Greeks, and some even dispensed with the steel work and simply used a rock and bit of rope. Following the fad of more technology and complex design we have lost these ancient skills and now need specially designed bits of steel to hold the boulder and give us the weight.
We need to see the anchor on the port side - my guess is that it will be the same OR is next in line for the upgrade.
Really your picture and post simply re-confirms the advice of having a bigger anchor and will be quoted by the experts for years to come. I confess I will consistently argue against the practice and as I'm labelled a heretic my monikor will remain.
Jonathan
Its common practice.
Everyone and their dog knows an anchor works because it is heavy. That's why so many have overlarge anchors. The pictured anchor looks far too small for the vessel and the rock has been chosen so that it fills the space between shank and fluke perfectly. When the anchor was chosen it was restricted as it had to fit in the anchor pocket so they could not follow the usual recommendation, 'fit an anchor one or two sizes bigger than designed' - so they have skilfully found a solution. There is no need to remove the rock - its all intentional. I guess they spent a long time searching for a rock of the perfect size.
The technique was common place centuries ago, possibly made famous by the Greeks, and some even dispensed with the steel work and simply used a rock and bit of rope. Following the fad of more technology and complex design we have lost these ancient skills and now need specially designed bits of steel to hold the boulder and give us the weight.
We need to see the anchor on the port side - my guess is that it will be the same OR is next in line for the upgrade.
Really your picture and post simply re-confirms the advice of having a bigger anchor and will be quoted by the experts for years to come. I confess I will consistently argue against the practice and as I'm labelled a heretic my monikor will remain.
Jonathan
jlavery
Well-known member
A neater job than we achieved at Eigg last year. Large rock firmly wedged in our Vulcan. (Cue quips about a Rockna).
When it appeared at the surface (windlass struggling), it became apparent why the anchor wouldn't set!
It took a "Crocodile Dundee sized" screwdriver and a hammer to dislodge it. While dangling over the bow in 20+kts of course...
When it appeared at the surface (windlass struggling), it became apparent why the anchor wouldn't set!
It took a "Crocodile Dundee sized" screwdriver and a hammer to dislodge it. While dangling over the bow in 20+kts of course...
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Bruce anchors are notoriously good at collecting rocks
Not to be outdone my Rocna has collected a very similar one, but being less enclosed than a Bruce, the rock fell off before being photographed.
Not to be outdone my Rocna has collected a very similar one, but being less enclosed than a Bruce, the rock fell off before being photographed.
noelex
Well-known member
If they had read the YBW forums, they would have known that a 5kg anchor would hold much better and this would present no danger of bringing up large rocks .
.NormanS
Well-known member
I see that the new CalMac ferry, the Glen Sannox has found a problem with her gypsy. It's probably because the chain is too big, fat and heavy. Should have used high spec 6mm. 
boomerangben
Well-known member
Surely the Glen Sannox doesn’t get far enough from the pier to need an anchor?I see that the new CalMac ferry, the Glen Sannox has found a problem with her gypsy. It's probably because the chain is too big, fat and heavy. Should have used high spec 6mm.
thinwater
Well-known member
I got a shopping cart once. In fact, it held quite well. Lots of fluke area? Perhaps the best that lousy Delta ever held.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Opposite for us. After holding us all night in quite wild conditions our Rocna suddenly dragged at about 0700. Hauling it in we found a black bin liner full of discarded monofilament fishing line impaled by it.
thinwater
Well-known member
Obviously, this whole thread is largely in jest.
The shopping cart in question was very well buried in the mud, probably for decades. It was practically a mooring.
Yes, over the years I've impaled a good many cans, trash bags, and countless sticks. Lots of urban harbors.
johnalison
Well-known member
I’ve never had a problem with a grapnel.If they had read the YBW forums, they would have known that a 5kg anchor would hold much better and this would present no danger of bringing up large rocks
Farmer Piles
Well-known member
We did the Hurtigruten round Britain cruise back in April and they took the ship right up Loch Dunvegan, Skye and dropped the hook. They picked up a rock in the flukes just like the one in the picture. They stopped in the mouth of the loch and spent ages trying to get rid of it, it was the perfect fit. After two hours of dropping it to the seabed and various manoeuvres they had to call in a salmon farm boat with a large crane to dislodge it. Even then it took them a while.
Highly recommend the cruise - my first and we went along with friends. Small ship, 16 000t, just 300 of us onboard and not a fat person in sight. Saw loads of wildlife and the best of the UK
Highly recommend the cruise - my first and we went along with friends. Small ship, 16 000t, just 300 of us onboard and not a fat person in sight. Saw loads of wildlife and the best of the UK
Rappey
Well-known member
The rock is also very clean, not what one would expect from the seabed ?
Farmer Piles
Well-known member
I suspect that we are seeing the underside, so no growth and it has probably been dragged along the seabed.
Neeves
Well-known member
There is another reason for the intentional collection of the large boulder. It has been much discussed at, serious, international levels and is a subject engaging some clever people.
Deep Sea mining - this could be the first attempt to farm minerals from the seabed. Maybe this is not an anchor, it just looks like one, and is a serious attempt to collect manganese nodules.
I'm preparing my Invoice, in multiple languages, to forward to the owner of the vessel but will be recommending use of a Bruce for future trials (I have included a cut for those who have mentioned in this thread the propensity of Bruce anchors to collect rocks (so get on board and post your experiences, with a Bruce, or other anchors).
Jonathan
Deep Sea mining - this could be the first attempt to farm minerals from the seabed. Maybe this is not an anchor, it just looks like one, and is a serious attempt to collect manganese nodules.
I'm preparing my Invoice, in multiple languages, to forward to the owner of the vessel but will be recommending use of a Bruce for future trials (I have included a cut for those who have mentioned in this thread the propensity of Bruce anchors to collect rocks (so get on board and post your experiences, with a Bruce, or other anchors).
Jonathan
NormanS
Well-known member
I've been involved with this method of Deep (or sometimes quite shallow) Mining, for a lot of years now. From personal hard won experience, I can confirm that the genuine Bruce anchor is the epitome of excellence in the quest of bringing hidden gems to the surface.
Like many others, I've had telephone and other cables, old abandoned anchors and moorings, lobster creels, fantastic haystacks of kelp, and of course, boulders.
Now, any make of anchor can pick up the aforementioned, but the Bruce is far and away superior with boulders. It carefully searches an apparently clean seabed, sees an isolated boulder, which quite correctly, it decides shouldn't be there, and with great skill and determination, catches it and grasps it to it's bosom, carefully holding it until it's pulled up to the surface for approval.
Here, can I make an earnest plea to other Bruce aficionados: When you have finished admiring Bruce's offering, before you return it to the deep, please do so away from the best anchoring spot. Dump it somewhere where it will have company of other boulders and maybe a comforting covering of weed, where it can lie unmolested by searching Bruces.
As far as releasing boulders, Bruce doesn't mind how it's done. Either a rapid release to the seabed, or a line through the tripping eye, and then slackening off the chain, are equally acceptable.
Like many others, I've had telephone and other cables, old abandoned anchors and moorings, lobster creels, fantastic haystacks of kelp, and of course, boulders.
Now, any make of anchor can pick up the aforementioned, but the Bruce is far and away superior with boulders. It carefully searches an apparently clean seabed, sees an isolated boulder, which quite correctly, it decides shouldn't be there, and with great skill and determination, catches it and grasps it to it's bosom, carefully holding it until it's pulled up to the surface for approval.
Here, can I make an earnest plea to other Bruce aficionados: When you have finished admiring Bruce's offering, before you return it to the deep, please do so away from the best anchoring spot. Dump it somewhere where it will have company of other boulders and maybe a comforting covering of weed, where it can lie unmolested by searching Bruces.
As far as releasing boulders, Bruce doesn't mind how it's done. Either a rapid release to the seabed, or a line through the tripping eye, and then slackening off the chain, are equally acceptable.
