anchors!!

[BSJ2]

who carries a 2nd anchor on board? and if so how did you size it? ie against weight of boat or as used for secondary anchoring only use smaller anchor to stop swing etc? as presumably would be delivered into the sea by hand and hauled up by hand so weight plus chain/warp critical?

 

[gianenrico]

Same holding power as main, (which is CQR) just lighter as it's a FOB LIGHT: if one does not hold due to seabed type, chances are the other will. 10 meters chain (instead of 50) + 50 meters of rope.
Cheers
Gianenrico

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Just a small 5Kg Danforth to use as a kedge, alongside out main 25lb CQR....

 

[snowleopard]

I carry 2 extras - both Fortress Aluminium. One is one size down from the recommended main anchor size and is light enough to be thrown overarm if desperate. The other is 2 sizes up and would hold the QE2.

 

[Guest]

Large fishermans .... probably 15+lbs ..... stowed under fwd bunk ..... hasn't been out in 8 years !! Fitted with 5m chain and 20m warp.

Thinking about making a garden or wall decoration of it !!!

Boat before - I had a small delta .... too light and useless ... and also a medium 15lb grapnel - much more use ! OK - I would never hang to a grapnel ... but it was good for kedging while easing onto the beach ...

There was a bucket of about 3m chain and then I would shackle on my heaviest-longest mooring line .... really long one kept for towing really ...

 

[David52]

Having read far to much about anchors recently I have a bloody great danforth as a back up to my main 35lb CQR.

In theory the danforth (please don't shout me down at once) has one of the best ratings for holding power although not as inclined to set as CQR or Bruce. I have heard the Danforth and it's cousins being described as "storm" anchors because generally once it's in it tends to stay in. On a brighter note it has remained inert in a cockpit locker for so long if I ever did need it I'd need a shovel to find it!

 

[vyv_cox]

And a third. 35 lb Delta as bower anchor, Fortress with similar theoretical holding power as a kedge, 25 lb CQR just in case. Actually there's another too, a small grapnel for the tender.

 

[ex-Gladys]

DOn't have one yet but intending to add a kedge. Undecided as to what, but lighter than bower (35lb CQR) and different design - possibly bruce

 

[john_morris_uk]

Like Snowleopard, I carry a Fortress - but in our case just the one. One size larger than suggested for our boat. Combination of chain and nylon line as a kedge warp/rode/line...

 

[BSJ2]

ok thanks all. anyone know of deals to be had or just shop around chandlers??

 

[David52]

depends what you want but I recently sold a 25lb CQR on ebay - rather bizarrely there are a few there.

 

[snowleopard]

The question of what a second anchor is for didn't really get an airing. Here are a few possibles:

-Your main anchor has got fouled and you have to slip it until you can get a diver down so you need a spare

-You want to stop for lunch and can't be bothered hauling the big hook up again in an hour's time

-Space is tight so you want to lie to two anchors

-The bottom doesn't suit your main anchor (soft mud, rock or kelp

-It's forecast to blow a hooly and you'll feel happier with something really big down there.

Points to consider:

A different type to your main anchor to cover more types of bottom (a Fortress is really the only thing for a very soft bottom, a fisherman or grapnel is best for rock).

Light weight and/or compact shape for easy stowage

Something seriously big for storm conditions.