Anchor setup for serious crusing - anchor size for 25 foot, 2 tons (4500 pounds) yachts

[geem]

I appriciate the comment. Do you have any particular test in mind?

Just Google anchor tests. There are several done by US and European magazines. They don't all have exactly the same results but you will get the general trend as to which anchors perform well consistently

 

[vyv_cox]

I appriciate the comment. Do you have any particular test in mind?

I find some of the anchor test results quite difficult to believe, particularly ones in which the nationality of the best performer is the same as that of the tester?

One of the best, although done a long time ago in 2006, was jointly funded by Yachting Monthly, Sail magazine (USA) and West Marine. They tested very thoroughly in three different locations/seabeds. You should be able to find it with Google but I can post it from my PC tomorrow.

 

[slawosz]

My 10 and16 kg Deltas on 27, 29 and 34 ft boats were excellent all around Irish Sea, English Channel and North Sea, and subsequently all the way to Greece. I find that so long as the seabed contains some sand these are perfectly acceptable anchors. The only failures we ever had with them was on very hard sand on a surf beach (alongside the entrance to Pwllheli Marina) and in soft mud in Vliho Bay.

I did test a Knox and found it to be rather temperamental, having a somewhat narrow range of seabeds in which it set well.

Are you using anchor swivel?

 

[vyv_cox]

Are you using anchor swivel?

I do, yes. My chain jumps the groove in my bow roller quite readily, so the anchor invariably comes up the 'wrong' way round. Having a swivel allows my wife to rotate it before hauling it aboard.

 

[slawosz]

I do, yes. My chain jumps the groove in my bow roller quite readily, so the anchor invariably comes up the 'wrong' way round. Having a swivel allows my wife to rotate it before hauling it aboard.

Thanks. I have read your article about swivels. Is there a budget swivel you could recommend, or its better to go for expensive one?

 

[geem]

Thanks. I have read your article about swivels. Is there a budget swivel you could recommend, or its better to go for expensive one?

Most people never need them. We have never had one or ever missed one

 

[Bodach na mara]

I use a 20kg Delta for a 34ft boat cruising Western Scotland. Regarding length and size of chain, on a Folkboat I chartered in 1962 there was a 24lb CQR and 45 fathoms of 1/4 inch chain. This was long before pontoons everywhere (well nearly) and was required for places like Tobermory where we had to anchor in 15 fathoms

 

[dunedin]

I was told by a sailor from Grimsby who sailed up and around Scotland a lot that some kind of fisherman was essential as a second anchor for Scottish waters in case of heavy kelp. He had one with broad flukes that folded down for storage, which I believe came from Gael Force Marine.

I’ve only anchored a few hundred times in Scotland, but never needed a fisherman anchor yet. Our second anchor is also a Rocna (from previous boat), but the third is a Fortress (only used once).
PS Swivel was removed 5 years ago as unnecessary comp,cation.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks. I have read your article about swivels. Is there a budget swivel you could recommend, or its better to go for expensive one?

I would go for a Kong but before spending any money decide whether you need one. We have one because with the combination of windlass, roller, chain and anchor that we have we find it beneficial. Not everybody needs one. If you need it, buy one, but not otherwise.

 

[johnalison]

I like this idea of only anchoring in benign conditions. Please Sir, how do I go about obtaining these benign conditions? ?

I do it by choosing sheltered sites and listening to the forecasts. I believe that clairvoyance can be useful too.

I thought the question and the OP’s proposed solution to be perfectly sensible. There is a wide range of kit that would suffice, but I think the chief problem might be carrying sufficient scope, making a reserve line a useful backup to add if needed.

 

[dunedin]

………... Would also rethink your assumption that you will be anchoring in exposed spots in poor weather. The success of such voyages depends very much on avoiding doing just that, and you will find in many accounts that most nights are spent in harbours of some sort and anchoring only in benign conditions. As forum members from north of the border are always reminding us one of the joys of the west coast in particular is the large number of delightful sheltered anchorages where you can seek good shelter and good holding. This does not mean that you should not have good gear, but it is not the same as Skip Novak cruising around Patagonia!

Not sure how much time you have spent in Scotland in recent years, but in the NW of Scotland it is essential to assume that shelter in harbour may not be available in a gale. Usually is in the Clyde, and probably in the area of Oban and Stornoway.
But north of Ardnamurchan there are relatively few harbour berths compared to the number of boats cruising in summer. Mallaig is a particular hotspot, as the only pontoon harbour in the area and few berths (and even fewer tenable in a northerly gale). The harbour was full 36 hours before strong winds last time we tried to go there.
Fortunately lots of good anchorages, as we sheltered strong winds a number of times when Mallaig was full - including Isle Ornsay and Sandaig Bay. Hence the OP is right to go prepared, even if hopefully the anchor gear never gets stressed to the full.

 

[Boathook]

Are you using anchor swivel?

I did use a kong anchor swivel but my anchor still came in upside down 50% of the time. Main problem was windlass to close to bow roller. Removed swivel a couple of joints less that could fail.

 

[Neeves]

Sailing is meant to be a pleasure, not an SAS training course - consequently you should focus on being where the strong wind is not. If you devine from this thread what you need - then you will have the gear should the forecast or your interpretation be optimistic.

Once you have chosen your primary anchor, and there are many to choose from, then I would add a Fortress or the Lewmar equivalent, both are aluminium and both are demountable.

Your choice of primary can be any from Rocna, Supreme, Excel, Spade Epsilon, Knox, Kobra (have I missed one?) and they will all offer the same security - your choice is actually, can you store it, is it available in a chandler near you, how much does it cost? The convex anchors Rocna and Supreme will lift mud and you really need a decent deck wash (or dangle the anchor off the bow as you motor out of the anchorage and let the sea wash the anchor for you).

6mm chain, length determined by local knowledge (people here), a decent snubber, good shackles and an extras length of nylon if the rode length suggested necessary is simply too heavy - so you extend length with nylon (of the same strength as the chain)

If you feel the need for a swivel - use a Boomerang

I suspect you might need more background on developing your ideas, don't be afraid to ask. Much better you bore the assembled audience than fear being ridiculed for have a long anchor thread.

I may have missed it but a key piece of information missing is - do you have a windlass, manual or electric. What is the size of you bow locker (if its small - where are you going to store all this stuff?)

Jonathan

 

[chris-s]

Asked the same question here last summer for our 23’ boat and ended up with a 10kg Rocna, 20m of 7mm chain and 30m of octoplait. No regrets, and I’m sure any other modern high-strength anchor would have been equally as good. Well, actually, the only regret is that it is all now too small for our new boat.

 

[[194497]]

I’ve only anchored a few hundred times in Scotland, but never needed a fisherman anchor yet. Our second anchor is also a Rocna (from previous boat), but the third is a Fortress (only used once).
PS Swivel was removed 5 years ago as unnecessary comp,cation.

That's good to know. I don't have huge faith in the fisherman anchor myself.

 

[Tranona]

I like this idea of only anchoring in benign conditions. Please Sir, how do I go about obtaining these benign conditions? ?

If you look at the link here Round Britain summary of the trip including costings I think you will find that Roger did almost exactly what the OP is proposing except he went anti clockwise and did not anchor at all. The point I was making is that it is possible to choose whether to anchor or not. Therefore it makes sense to only anchor in settled conditions. Does not mean he should not be prepared but that anchoring in extreme conditions that would test his anchoring gear can be avoided.

 

[roaringgirl]

If it were me, I'd stick with 6mm chain, plus a good length of rode just in case, a good SHHP bower (Excel, Spade, Rocna) and a Fortress as a spare.

 

[NormanS]

If you look at the link here Round Britain summary of the trip including costings I think you will find that Roger did almost exactly what the OP is proposing except he went anti clockwise and did not anchor at all. The point I was making is that it is possible to choose whether to anchor or not. Therefore it makes sense to only anchor in settled conditions. Does not mean he should not be prepared but that anchoring in extreme conditions that would test his anchoring gear can be avoided.

I have no idea about your level of experience of cruising in Scottish waters, but be advised that if you sail in these waters, and never anchor, you miss all the best of it.
There is a world of difference between cruising in an area, and a quick dash round. I don't know which the OP is proposing, but I'm sure it'll be enjoyable.
When I started sailing in these waters, anchoring was the only option. There were no pontoons, visitors moorings, etc. Increasingly, facilities are being provided, a few of which are safe in all conditions, but equally, many are only safe and comfortable when the wind is blowing in certain directions.
The sad fact is that people see from information received, that there are pontoons at "X", decide to go there for shelter from forecast bad weather, and find when they arrive, that the pontoons or moorings at "X" are not at all sheltered. Fortunately there are many good natural anchorages, which are.

 

[slawosz]

Regarding tests, mentioned above - I am with @vyv_cox - I think they maybe not fully objective. I think that its very hard to test things like anchors as you don't have proper testing environment - although repetitive tests help.
Anyway, I think mentioned test from 2006 is in this video:

 

[slawosz]

I’ve only anchored a few hundred times in Scotland, but never needed a fisherman anchor yet. Our second anchor is also a Rocna (from previous boat), but the third is a Fortress (only used once).
PS Swivel was removed 5 years ago as unnecessary comp,cation.

I know you own Rocna, how about length of chain and scope?

@Neeves I dont have windlass, instead I went for gym membership If the trip will finalize, I will store anchor in the locker - preferably, but the chain might end up being stored under the second floor I would build for the trip - for better mass distribution - taking into account the need of quick access. Obviously, being in the area where it would be likely to use anchor, I would move chain to anchor locker (which would have access from inside for a trip), and anchor to bow roller.