Anchoring on grass

[rpb]

I am currently based in Italy and find myself frequently having to anchor on a sandy bottom covered in sea-grass.

Last summer with my CQR anchor deployed (and stacks of chain) in a force 7, I think I came close to setting up the world speed record for a boat at anchor - we were dragging so fast.

What is the best anchor for holding on weed?

I would welcome your thoughts.

PB

 

[Spacewaist]

My 65lb CQR is U/s on weed, kelp etc.

I use a fortress (lightwieght danforth lookalike). Usually holds even in a blow.

Another pontification from the Panjandrum of orotund bloviation AD2002

 

[Spacewaist]

My 65lb CQR is U/s on weed, kelp etc.

I use a fortress (lightwieght danforth lookalike). Usually holds even in a blow.

Another pontification from the Panjandrum of orotund bloviation AD2002

 

[Mirelle]

Nicholson pattern Fisherman

as carried by all RNLI boats.

Heavy, of course, and not much use for anything else, except maybe rock.

 

[spark]

As per Mirelle. Get the heaviest fisherman's anchor you can manage with lots of chain. Guaranteed to dig in.

 

[omega2]

Danforth or Brittany will do the job, but in soft muck they go deeper and deeper as the pull increases, so if you have no winch for the last straight pull you could be in bother.

J HAMER

 

[AndrewB]

Fisherman\'s, but ...

I agree with Mirelle that a Fisherman's is by far the easiest anchor to set on grass. But unless it is huge it won't take much load, so with weed on light sand you must expect to drag in a blow .... but at least it will be slowly.

I've found a CQR easier to set on grass than either a Bruce or a Danforth. The trick is to get that all important initial grip, after which it will dig in well. One tip is to sharpen the anchor tip. If you can see the bottom, look out for small sand hollows between the weed, and drop the anchor into one, then as it stretches it will dig into the edge of the weed, holding well Otherwise its a case of laying out plenty of chain, and reversing putting on increasing pressure to nudge the anchor into finding a hold.

 

[Roberto]

In my experience, the only anchor that always held i nweed has been the grapnel, not the folding one but one with a long shank and four to six very sharp arms (forgot correct name). Can weld it almost by yourself, very cheap, just make another one when completely rusted. It does not stow well, but it does not need to be very heavy/big. Also find it useful when attached to the crown of a main anchor (whatever kind) with a short length of chain.

 

[duncan]

so far there appears to be a challenge to your origional assuption more than a consensus!
I would suggest that hte observation that the initial set is the issue hits the mark best....
assumoing that the grass is growing across a soft bottom then an overweight small fluked anchor is your best bet - fisheman or grappnel.
All the others, without exception (IMHO) risk getting the grass over the flukes to prevent corrext 'digging in action'.
Other solutions include anchoring in shallow water and jumping overboard to initially dig the anchor in - not as daft as it sounds!

 

[hylas]

Re: another opinion..

I was las spring 2001 on a 18 tons trawler on St Malo bay with the team of "Voiles Magazine" one journalist, a real old salt with plenty of sailing and anchoring experience.. a photograph and a diver (Also photograph). The reason was to make anchor tests.. (published in the November 2001 issue)
I was larfing when I saw the journalist taking onboard one BIG grapnel and a Fisherman anchor and I asked him why he was taking pieces of Museum??
His answer was clear.. these are the only anchors which works on grass..
Well.. we went on a specific place in the St Malo bay full of grass ("Zostére" type - sorry but I don't know the translation in English:
We trow the Fisherman.. no holding.. we tried several times.. with no results.. He was very disapointed .. then we tried also the Grapnel.. with the same bad results..
I did ask him "Why don't we try the "New generation" anchor?? he was very reluctant, telling me " if neither the Fisherman, nor the Grapnel work" no anchor will work.. but he tried..
At the first attempt the anchor dig in and the 15 kg anchor hold the 18 tons boat backward at full trottle.. at esach trial he had the same results.. If you can read French.. you will read the Journalist's comments in the magazine.. if not you can imagine them..

As a conclusion.. Yes the Fisherman anchor was "the Best" at the Roman and Greek time but now its best use is to decorate your garden..

Now some explanations.. the most important point for grass.. is to PENETRATE and for penetration the "secret" is OBVIOUS, you need a sharp point or edges.. you need the right penetrating "chisel like" angle and you need weight (at the right position. on the anchor's tip)
Neither the Danforth (or its French copy the Britany) nor the CQR have these characteristics.. the Fortress is much too light and these three anchors have the reputation to be very poor in weed..

 

[Mirelle]

Zostere

I fancy, from the Latin name Zostera, that this is what we inhabitants of the Thames estuary call "eel-grass" - much favoured by Brent Geese.

 

[petery]

\'New generation anchor?

I put 'new generation anchor' into Google search engine and got some useful data on fixing big bolts into brick walls using resin!!

I'd be interested to know what anchors available in the UK fall into this category?

 

[spark]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

I think he's talking about the Spade - designed by a Frenchman (hylas, peut etre?), made in Tunisia, available from www.spade-anchor.co.uk

I have been following the trail of this anchor for a couple of years and am impressed by the mounting pile of apparently good results. I intend to get one and try it out next season.

Anyone out there used one and found it wanting?

 

[duncan]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

the delta is also fairly sharp at the tip and leading edges - CQR is the surprising one but the leading edges just get fouled up and the weight/drive doesn't seem to focus on on the
tip enough.
ps I don't think you will find hylas is commerciallly connected with the spade but I am up to be proved wrong - and I am sure he would declare it if he was1

 

[BrendanS]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

He declared his interests in his first post Duncan:

"to be honest, I'm both the author of a french book on anchoring " Tout savoir sur le Mouillage" and the designer and the manufacturer of the SPADE anchor.. I'm not there to advertise for my products.. this is not my Job.. but as a full time sailor I think (perhaps I'm wrong :0) ) that I have some experience to share.. "

 

[Guest]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

I plan to buy a Spade this winter ready for next season. Just a small one, for my small boat, but they look very impressive and I plan to keep the 15lb CQR as a kedge. Anyone else used a Spade here? Any comments?

GD

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

Well M Hylas has stuck his neck out in a way which lots of people with stuff to sell would do well to emulate (actually the chap from MDL invented the technique and has received nothing but a good press on this board for doing so). Good for him. I'm up for trying his anchor. I needed a kedge, so like you I'm willing to relegate the main to the kedge for a season and try out l'ancre de M Hylas. I'm also cheered by his notions of chain then warp, because frankly theres's a limit to how much chain I can carry.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

John - I have also been impressed with Hylas's arguements for the Spade. And yes I am about to order one to replace my CQR, which will become the spare, and I will cutt my 100 meters 10 mm chain in half and add Nylon warp to it.

 

[duncan]

whoops

sry - only new him from the cruising antics and anchoring observations of past. should have read more closely

 

[hylas]

Re: \'New generation anchor?

Hi Ducan..

This is not a secret, just have a look at my CV

I'm proud to be the designer of the SPADE anchor.. :0) But I'm trying to stay as objective as I can..

Sorry if I also have a large knowledge about anchors and anchoring..