Best anchor for the BC area?

[PEEJAYSEA]

Please don't shoot the New Kid if this has been done to death already!

I have a big danforth as the only anchor on Windthief but am not sure if this is the best for the BC area?

I am wondering if I need something else prior to getting on her the water this summer?

Any suggestions would be most welcome (re anchor's that is)

Regards
Paul

 

[Allan]

I had a CQR which gave me some problems on hard sand. I changed it for a Bruce copy which certainly worked better in places the CQR struggled and matched it when it was good. The Bruce copy has been difficult to break out of some of the thick mud further up the channel. I have now changed to a Delta, although I have not used it too much, it has not let me down yet. It held off Lynmouth a short while ago when there was a lot of swell and wind.
I hope that helps, a lot depends on what you are planning to use the anchor for. A hook for lunch is quite different from one used for long periods or when the sea gets up.
Edit: I've just remembered, We were in Watermouth, which has hard sand in the drying area. A friend arrived after us and put down a CQR bower with a Bruce kedge. In the morning, when dried out, the CQR was laying on it's side, the Bruce was dug halfway in. He now has a Delta.
Allan

 

[bert49uk]

Ilfracombe life boat several years ago, did all sorts of tests for the RLNI, Delta won hands down,

and yes i have seen on several occations a Delta well into the sand while a CQR is lying on its side

 

[Allan]

I would not say this on any of the other fora but, for me, choosing an anchor is quite simple because I have to include price in my calculations. I have seen lots of tests and read plenty of anecdotal evidence (I've even read all of the 1500+ posts of the current Rocna thread!). Of the anchors I can afford, the Delta always comes to the top of the pile. I'm sure the "latest designs" are, in some circumstances, better but not enough to justify 3 or 4 times the price, in my opinion. Add the fact that I couldn't afford one, even if I though they were that much better and the decision is simple.
Allan

 

[watermint]

ther ar books to to tell u a bout anchor,s and what grond thay shood be ues on ?

i carrey on my yacht 5 difrent anchor,s and thay ar the verry big ones and i can just a bout lift them no problem and thay hold the boat well , i do swap them over for mud , sand , shingull , rock , or a stern anchor to hold the boat off when needid

 

[JKay]

I would not say this on any of the other fora but, for me, choosing an anchor is quite simple because I have to include price in my calculations. I have seen lots of tests and read plenty of anecdotal evidence (I've even read all of the 1500+ posts of the current Rocna thread!). Of the anchors I can afford, the Delta always comes to the top of the pile. I'm sure the "latest designs" are, in some circumstances, better but not enough to justify 3 or 4 times the price, in my opinion. Add the fact that I couldn't afford one, even if I though they were that much better and the decision is simple.
Allan

Most sensible post I have read on an anchor thread ever !!!

 

[bert49uk]

Most sensible post I have read on an anchor thread ever !!!

+1

 

[RobF]

IMHO, a Danforth isn't a bad anchor for much of the Bristol Channel as they tend to do quite well in soft mud (sometimes a bit too well). There have been some concerns that they don't reset too well on direction change, but this has not been my experience when i was anchored up by Sharpness.

I think I would want at least one other type of anchor. The delta anchor (and the Kobra 2 which is very similar) would be a good choice of alternative and come at sensible prices.

 

[PEEJAYSEA]

Anchors

All

Thanks for the replies and feedback. A Delta sounds positive as an addition!

As Allan stated - and is the case for most of us I would presume - cost factor is a BIG part of the decision making process. I especially need to consider that as Windthief was pretty much a bare boat when i bought her so I have a wide range of things to purchase before the start of the season! that will lead nicely into a new thread!

Thanks again
Paul

 

[Alcyone]

Another Delta convert. We had a CQR and dragged a couple of times. Missis struggled to lift it, too (no windlass). We now have a 6kg Delta (28ft yacht) and I've only dragged it once, by stupidly trying to set it in thick kelp over rocks. Missis lifts it easy too.

We mainly anchor and rarely marina it. Cardiff - Milford range.

And allan is spot on. There may well be better anchors out there, but the price is very important to me, too.

 

[watermint]

this is 1 of my anchors , its a bit big but dos the job

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Dont know how you can say that any one anchor is the best for the area which varies from soft mud at the Bristol end through hard sand as in Combe and pebbles / rocks off Porlock. One thing I can say is that the CQR was useless in the outer harbour at Combe.

 

[Morpheous]

With the tides around here a suitable ratio of chain to rope and length is as important as the anchor itself. I always use 5 x depth in chain

 

[Allan]

Dont know how you can say that any one anchor is the best for the area which varies from soft mud at the Bristol end through hard sand as in Combe and pebbles / rocks off Porlock. One thing I can say is that the CQR was useless in the outer harbour at Combe.

100% agree Bosun. I would go further, you have to look at the whole situation. For instance, some anchors reset better than others if you are staying over the turn of the tide. Unfortunately things like space, cost and weight mitigate against having a full range of anchors on board. My Delta holds well in places like the Range and Watermouth, it can be a problem in mud as it sinks too far in and can be a bugger to retrieve. My choice is that I will put up with that, others may choose something different. My old CQR dragged at Porlock but my Delta held overnight in a lot more swell and wind off Sillery sands, which has a similar bottom.
Allan