Anchor Test in November YM

[wotayottie]

Why no comment on the concurrent Sailing Today test or is it a name not to be mentioned on YBW?

The writer mad a half hearted attempt to pull info from three tests together (why only three) but at least it did include tests done by an independant authority in Oz.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The ST test seemed to come down heavily in favour of an anchor most of us have never heard of, which had several samples in the Oz test, thereby raising doubts about impartiality. It also included out one or two of the 'better' performers in Euro tests.

 

[stevepick]

'Mreally?

<yawns>

<googles>

DEAR SWEET EVER LOVING CHRIST ON A BICYCLE HOW MUCH????????????????????

Anyone want to buy a brand new, unused, genuine 30lb CQR? Would swap for Rolex, Bentley, lifetime supply of caviar or similar.

Did you really google a new lewmar drop forged CQR Orbister?? A 16Kg one "suitable " for my boat comes in at £550 (RRP £650 !!!! FFS). My Rocna cost around £330 IIRC. So there you have it you can pay a fortune for a pish anchor or spend a fraction and gets something that works every time first time. On "my" row of fingers in the marina my boat lives at, my neighbours - who are all regular users of thier boats - there is 1 cqr, a delta, a rocna and a manson, I think there maybe another cqr at the end. A daft straw poll , I know.
I am sure you have had magnificent results with your CQR, but when I bought my boat it came with a plastimo cqr copy in a "lunchtime" size . I knew I needed proper anchor, so I bought one

 

[Bajansailor]

The RNLI carried out a very comprehensive set of tests on different anchors about 16 / 17 years ago up near Oban - I think their main reason was to try and find an anchor that worked consistently well in kelp and rocks.

Up until then all of the offshore lifeboats were fitted with massive Fisherman anchors, as these were deemed to be the best all round anchors available - never mind that a Fisherman for an Arun weighed somewhere around 150 - 175 lbs, and required a major logistics operation to be put in place to launch or recover it, even with a davit and 3 large crew members to help.

These tests were long before anchors like the Rocna, Spade, Bugel et al were popular (or perhaps even invented). I was working then in the design office (would have much preferred to help out on the trials! ), and helped the R & D Manager to analyse / write up the results.

IIRC, the tests included Fortress and Danforth anchors - I seem to remember that these got mashed up / mangled pretty quickly when being asked to do what a large Fisherman was accustomed to doing, although there was general acknowledgement then that not a lot could beat them in sand or mud.
The tests also included Bruce and CQR anchors, neither of which impressed anybody very much it seems.
The overwhelming 'best' anchor (based on all the data available) turned out to be the Delta - I would have thought that it would have been comparable to say a Bruce or a CQR in rock and / or kelp, but the tests determined otherwise.

I think that it was only after it was fairly conclusively proven that a 55 lb (or thereabouts) Delta was consistently better all round than a 150 lb Fisherman that the larger offshore boats were allowed to be fitted with a Delta and a Fisherman, rather than two Fishermen.

I wonder if they have carried out any more tests recently on the newer generation anchors?

 

[mikesailor]

CQR, etc

I recently spent an uncomfortable night at anchor in a force 7. In a bay, depth 4m, scope 7:1. probably sand. The anchor set immediately. The yacht sailed back and forth. The sea was not bad. The anchor held.

I had replaced the supplied 45lb anchor with a 75lb believing that weight over the point was significant. I always lower the anchor on a 2:1 scope, reverse to set under increasing power, extend the scope to 7:1. I doen't think I have had a failure.

I have a bruce at the stern with chain. This has failed at force 6 when bow on to a quay. I am thinking of replacing the latter with a kobra 2. Its a limited expense and it will again be at +60% of the recommended weight.