Anchors

[BobAndrew]

Genuine Bruce 7.5Kg £130 or Plastimo FHD 7.5kg (Bruce) £30
Is the genuine a great rip-off or do you really get what you pay for?

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[Jacket]

I've got a bruce copy that cost me about £50 (M-anchor, I think). Used it a lot, including a few gales, and have no complaints.

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[Mirelle]

Don't know about Bruce anchors. With CQR's there is quite a difference between the real thing and the copies.

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[Metabarca]

I have a 10 Kg Bruce copy. No complaints but frankly, unless it were to snap in two, I couldn't really tell you whether the original is better. All I can say is that it digs in as it should (I usually go down to check) and it holds the boat. Nuff said!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[Guest]

It used to be advertised that CQR or Plough anchors as they should be termed .... it's like Hoover and Vacuum Cleaner !!! .... copies were prone to snap shanks and generally less strong etc.

OK so the Genuine CQR has all sorts of guarantees etc. but haviung had both - I have no reason to overspend on this. In buying a GOOD copy and saving monrey size for size - it allows me to go up in size to a decent anchor knowing that it will do the job - instead of the puny little jobs often seen on boats - expecially when supplied with the boat !!!!

well thats my tuppence anyway !!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[alan]

I have to say that just yesterday I saw a small motor boat with what appeared to be a Bruce with the shank bent; on further investigation I noticed that it was an imitation Bruce (don't know if it was a Plastimo). I have not yet seen a genuine Bruce with a bent shank - but no doubt someone will correct me!!

Alan.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Cloke

 

[wiggy]

Has anyone any experience of the Plastimo fortress copy I am interested and is about 20% cheaper.

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[Mirelle]

Yes, that was the old S-L advertising "line", but the price of genuine ones has reduced quite considerably! Two years ago, after wanting a "45" as the bower, rather than the "35" that she came with, for years, and experimenting with a borrowed copy 45 which did not impress me at all, I suddenly noticed the price had dropped to "within affordable range" and I got one.

I think S-L had been overpricing the genuine ones for years, which really generated the copy market.

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[DanTribe]

Some while ago, a friend bent the shank of a genuine CQR through 45 degrees.
He returned it to SL but was told that it was only guaranteed against breakage, not bending.


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[DanTribe]

Re: Checking anchors

Diving to check if your anchor's working seems very conscientious, but slightly over cautious, if I may say.
Does anyone else do that, or am I being too casual?
Dan


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[Guest]

i dive in every time

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[Aja]

Re: Checking anchors

Wouldn't get me doing it. Too bl**dy cold up here!

Donald

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[hylas]

yes, you are right.. bending a CQR shank is not covered by the waranty..

Bending shanks is still an unsolved problem with anchors..

Either you have an anchor with a low holding power and if you will be pulling it sideway.. the anchor will drag and you will not bend the shank (such as BRUCE anchors..)

Or you have a high holding power anchor and then to avoid bending the shank, the shank would have to have a square cross section.. then the shank would be much to heavy and the anchor will not work any longer.. Compromise??

Last spring, the French sailing magazine "Voiles & Voiliers" did a very deep anchor test.. compàring the genuine CQR with "copies"... the difference in holding was "HUGE" The holding of BRUCE copies was very bad..
These results confirm the results of the tests done by Pr John KNOX in PBO July and August 2002..
Yes, a copy can work.. but these tests where quite interesting, comparing cheap copies with genuine models in the same situation..

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[hylas]

Up to my knowledge... there is NO Fortress copies done by Plastimo..
perhaps you are confusing with the GUARDIAN a cheap version manufactured by Fortress??

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[Guest]

Drop forged ....

I believe you about the bend .... but always thought that drop forged gave incredible strength but no ability to bend ???

I also know that many copies are cast and they can shatter on dropping onto rocks ........ but to be honest who drops it that quick .... my chain normally refuses to run that quick - even when ranged ready on deck !!!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

I don\'t know the article

And I am NOT arguing on this one as I have heard this many times and law of averages is there must be some truth in it .... But on comparing my copies in past with genuine - apart from the forged name and a couple of metal ridges along the shank - they were identical in weight and shape.

So why should they have less holding ability ??

I agree that there are some awful copies out there, but care in selecting the GOOD copy pays off !!!!

I have genuine CQR now and to be honest I'm glad it was paid for by previous boat owner !!!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Ivy]

Re: Checking anchors

You must be joking !
the water around here is far too cold for me to be diving in all the time (except in August) I drop my 10kg Bruce copy followed by 10m 3/8" chain and reverse back until I see the bow dip, then I know it's dug in.

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[AlanPound]

Re: Checking anchors

Then, presumably, you add an anchor 'chum'....

;~)

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[Dipper]

I’ve put a 7.5kg Bruce next to a 10kg (good quality) claw and they have almost exactly the same dimensions. The Bruce has a slightly larger fluke area and much sharper edges. Also, Bruce anchors are manufactured from heat treated, cast steel alloy.

You generally get what you pay for!


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[Mirelle]

Thank you; very interesting and logical

It seems to me that the inventor of a new anchor is going to spend quite some time working out the exact proportions needed for the best results. He or she will then then patent these and put them in production.

Someone who seeks to copy the design without actually breaching the patent will therefore have to use less than optimum proportions.

The copy will therefore work less well.

It may still work quite well, but unless the designer of the original anchor made a mistake, which is not likely (the anchor would not have a good enough reputation to be copied!) the copy will work less well.

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