Anchors, chain and mooring.

[Petercatterall]

I know that this has been done to death recently but this is more a case of asking 'are my proposals which are based on recent advice sound??

As we plan to adventure out a bit more this year (not just day trips) I want to (need to) improve the capabilities of my gear somewhat.
I need a second anchor and proper equipment for shor and long term mooring to a bouy.
Boat is a heavy Colvic Atlanta 32' ketch.
Currently I have only a 30lb plough anchor with 40yards of 8mm spliced to 40yards of 16mm 3 strand.
I intend to buy 15yards of 8mm chain to use with a second anchor and also for on my long term mooring (passing it round both forward cleats and the samson post and through the bow roller to the bouy)
For my second anchor I had thought to buy a 15kg plough, use the 15 yards of chain and 3 strand warp as required.
Is this sensible?
Is the chain from chandlers allways galvanised (thinking of rust on deck)?
Are the Kobra folding anchors a possible (more stowable) alternate to the plough?
Just out of interest I was looking at and comparing Delta, CQR and plough anchors, they all are alleged to perform differently but all seem basically the same to my untutored eye. The Plough and the CQR have a joint which I guess may help as the angle of pull alters. Are they really so different?
As always your advise (even the conflicting stuff) will be apreciated and is eagerly awaited!!

 

[Sea Devil]

It all gets a bit emotive & there are lots of ways of skinning a cat but....

I was so impressed by my Fortress anchor. I swore that if I ever started from scratch (instead of having 5 anchors as I do now) the 2nd one would be a Fortress.

Really impressive holding power, digging in power and when you need to deploy a 2nd anchor - if only to drag the bows round into the swell - it is so light and easy to handle.....

 

[dickh]

8mm chain sounds a bit light - go for 10mm as you are a heavy boat. Genuine CQR and 'plough' anchors look similar but a CQR is MUCH stronger(and more expensive). For long term mooring to a bouy why not use a heavy nylon strop? Not noisy like chain and as long as it is protected from chafe where it goes through the bow roller/fairlead should last for years. I would say use a minimum of 25mm diameter three strand nylon.

 

[fireball]

For standard mooring bouys we've alwaysed used a nylon 3 strand strop AND a slightly longer chain, both shrouded in the cheapest plastic hose possible... if the rope breaks or otherwise parts company with the boat you've got the chain as backup, if the chain breaks its either badly maintained or too windy ...... and you'll've probably lost your mast already!!

On deck - both the mooring lines are tied down with a lighter line over the cleats - stops the mooring line from comming undone and the chain loop from jumping off the cleat.

Don't ask me about anchors ....

 

[snowleopard]

oooh, you're going to be in trouble! when alain hylas sees you saying that the spade and CQR are the same!

no they work on quite different principles but are all fairly effective overall.

you obviously don't worry too much about weight but the space taken by a second anchor can be a pain. i started with a delta and wanted another anchor for emergencies. in the end i chose a fortress which lives in bits at the bottom of a locker. it has the added bonus in that it's the only thing that will hold in really soft mud.

 

[TigaWave]

Your well into the size of ground tackle that should make you feel pretty secure.
The MCA guide which must have been based on something?
is 13Kg Main 6Kg Kedge on 8mm and 6mm chain.
This is the minimum requirements for vessels from coastal to ocean, but definately seems on the light side.

 

[hylass]

Hi Snowleopard..

I didn't read that Petercatterall has been saying that the CQR and the Spade anchors are the same!..

Petercatterall says: " I was looking at and comparing Delta, CQR and plough anchors, they all are alleged to perform differently but all seem basically the same to my untutored eye."

I agree.. Delta, Kobra and CQR are all "plough" anchors.. I will say that Delta and Kobra are different and better than the CQR..

By the way, I just learn today that the Dutch sailing magazine "Zeilen" has published in the January issue, a summary of all anchors tests done around the world..
The anchor wich arrive at the first place is .. (guess..)

And the conclusion of the journalist, at the question "Which main anchor to choose?" answers.. Any anchor you want.. as long as it is a SPADE.. :0)..

I'm trying to have the article translated from Dutch to English..

 

[Cobra25]

This company are professionals in the mooring field:

http://www.eyecochain.com/index.asp

Speak to Rod

BOL

 

[William_H]

It seems to me that you should have a radically different type of anchor available for different bottom types. Now maybe it is all mud around UK but here you need an Admiralty pattern for weed as anything else certainly Danfroth type just ball up with weed. This is just a different consideration and not necessarily good advice for you. Olewill

 

[snowleopard]

you're right, i read that bit too quickly.

 

[hylass]

Hi William_H,

"You should have a radically different type of anchor available for different bottom types. "
"You need an Admiralty pattern for weed"

You express there common beliefs..

I hope you will accept a completely different opinion..

By experience and after doing several series of tests, on my own or with Nautical magazines, I have found that either Plough anchors or "Fluke" (Danforth type) anchors, works well in identical sea bottoms and doesn't work in difficult situations such as hard sand, coral, weed...

Then I will have a different suggestion.. Look at anchors which works well in difficult conditions.. they will also work with a good holding ground..


Concerning the "Admiralty pattern " this type of anchor is completely obsolete.. and any "new design" type of anchor give far better results in weed than the Admiraty anchor..

 

[Petercatterall]

Thanks again to you all for the good (and not to contradictory!!) advice.
This weekend I 'found' a large folding fishermans anchor (about 30lbs) hidden deep in a locker!! Thogh not ideally what I wanted (or you recommended) I think that I will give it a go.
There should be some decent holding in mud and sand and ity would certainley catch on any rocky bits.
Thanks again guys.