Brittany Anchors

[gjeffery]

I am considering new options for anchors. I want to uprate my 7.5Kg CQR type, and am contemplating a 10 Kg Brittany because it is relativelty easy to stow.

There does not seen to be a lot of published data on the Brittany, and I would welcome any comments on how effective these anchors are.

An alternative would be the Fortress. More than twice the cost - and Fortress says its good!

 

[Roberto]

Gj,

they are relatively widespread in France as former regulations required a 2nd anchor, and the Brittany being one of the least expensive it became quite common in lots of boats; if you look it is simply a cutout of steel plate, with very little shaping

I have one (came with the boat) and bagan using it as a kedge (it is a few kg lighter and with less chain than the main anchor), or lunch anchoring. Whenever the wind picks up (I d say 20/25kt) it starts dragging and eventually comes out of the bottom

btw I use all traditional precautions to set the anchor bla bla bla, using the same technique the brittany remains very far below my main anchor efficiency which I find rather satisfactory

Now I bought a light weight alu anchor as a kedge, it will have all the limitations of light weight anchors but at least it will be lighter than the brittany, which will conveniently be brought in my cave -.<)

 

[michael_w]

Never used one, but seen lots bent to bu**ery and abandoned on the foreshore/skip etc. If you want a "flat anchor" try a Fortress.

 

[Sea_Lark]

On my last boat, a 20 foot trailer sailer, I initially had just a Fortress anchor. Never had any troubles, but eventually decided I ought to have a back-up and bought a heavier Brittany, relegating the Fortress to the bower anchor. The Brittany dragged so often, in all types of holding, I switched back to using the Fortress and never dragged again. So, IMHO, a Fortress is worth its high cost and a Brittany isn't worth carrying, even if given free.

 

[CharlesM]

gjeffrey

Are you simply looking for an anchor for a lunch hook, or something for more serious use - ie when you need to stay put regardless or are not on anchor watch? for example when sleeping or ashore with no-one on the boat?

I would say if you wish for an anchor that is serious then I would go for a 'new generation' anchor such as a rocna or spade etc. If an anchor where you are on watch all the time then probably Fortress is fine.

I have no experiance of the Fortress, am intending to get one as a kedge anchor, but would not trust the boat to it in all conditions... it is what some designers would call an unstable design - ie if it starts dragging it can skip along the bottom... but then again - I have no experiance of the fortress or any other 2 blade anchor of that ilk. This is simply based on my reading... and I have probably read a LOT of biased stuff. Some of my reading does say the fortress is very good when it does hold - hence my plans for one as a kedge.

simply my 2 pence. probably not worth the ether it is written on

Cheers
Charles

 

[steve_cronin]

Go to the back of the class! (sp.)

The reason why you've not been able to get any info is because it's spelt "Britany".

Try a Google on this and it appears that the German magazine "Yacht" did a comparison test on this and several similar anchors.

I havn't time to go any further but do doubt this can be tracked down somewhere. Try this

I have a Britany as a stern anchor (we never kedge) but I must confess that I've never used it as it's just too heavy to launch without knocking chunks out of the sugar scoop. On the last boat we had a Fortress as a lunch-stop hook and it DID actually bury itself completely as they claim but one for the current boat would be around £400 so on the few occasions that we moor bows-to we lower the bower on the run-in and attach it to a stern quarter cleat with a strop through a chain link.. The catenery of the chain doesn't foul the hull and in the morning recovery is via the windlass.

Maybe, one day when we spend a lot of time on the boat I'll replace the Britany but for high grab maybe you want something like this! (Only kidding!)

Good luck in your search.

Steve Cronin

 

[trouville]

The Britanys the best anchor in most bottems! Not weed, although it better than the CQR
I had on my 12 ton sailboat a 35lbs CQR 25lbs CQR and 25LBS Britany I found the Britany held far far better in the med in sand small stones mud (so well i once asked a diver reterning to free it!!)

The only times it dident hold were in the mud outside Cannes port Only up to F4 then slow drag(the CQR was worse dragged very fast!!) Capria very rocky even my fisherman dident hold.

over all 99% of bottoms visited my Britany has held wonderfuly even after a wind change its reset the best most effective gereral anchor evermade

Ive slept soundly in bad coditions and my Britanys looked after us!

The CQR, when that breaks out we were off!!! Good kedge though!

I have a 7.5kg Bruce now that i hate! but holds so far??? Im going to change it but i think the Brittanys really only the very very safest from 25lbs and over,really digs in.

I tried a 10lbs britany for the dingy once and it dident hold at all in anything just wouldent dig in but 25LBS shes perfect i wonderd how a bigger one could be broken out!!!!!!!Such good holding

Buy one and try it!! All the others are inferior and far more expensive !!!

 

[scarlett]

I have a 25 lb er in the garage and it is the best place for it. Came with previous boat.

 

[Robin]

No offence Trouville but I've watched hundreds of French yachts drag their anchors and the majority of them had Britany anchors, I watched them deploy them. I would have said I watched them set them, but that is rare, the usual method is to drop it with a little bit of chain in a heap on top, then inflate the AX2 and disappear ashore - I have even chased and re-anchored several over the years that had gone walkies with owners in the bar.

There are lots of things I like about France, French and especially Breton people, but the Britany anchor isn't one! We make it a point always to anchor well clear and preferably upwind of anyone using such a useless device. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[blackbeard]

Well, I've just acquired a 10 kg Britany as it's the only 10 kg anchor which will fit the (UK Hunter 245) locker. Interesting to see how well it performs, and interesting to see the divergence of views (on this and many other threads). I suspect it may be a case of smaller anchors just don't dig in but larger ones do?
One view which I definitely hold and which seems to agree with everyone else's - small (eg 7.5 kg) Bruces (or at least Bruce lookalikes) don't do it - just can't be relied to to dig into hard-ish surfaces, don't like weed and don't, in my experience, like soft mud. Mine has been relegated to kedge. I'm told that larger ones, 15 kg or more, are better.

 

[chrisb]

good piece of kit i carry mine 17kg on the bow roller and use it extensively.only dragged once but that was in a heavilly weeded part of ria muros northwest spain with gusty f7 and i expected to have problems as every one was dragging. i carry a bruce similar weight but have never needed to set it.before anyone asks i do cruise extensively and spend many nights at anchor every year.

 

[hylass]

Forget about the « Britany » anchor.. it’s completely obsolete now..

Its only advantage is its cheap selling price..

Its main disadvantage is, like all “Flat” anchors, under load it has the tendency to corkscrew.. (This is why the Fortress and the Danforth have this cumbersome strut at the back of the fluke.. (see the attached curve)
I consider it as a DANGEROUS anchor.. as when you set it, it seems to grip and to hold, but if the wind build up, the anchor can break out without warning and the chance to reset is low..

Peaceful anchorages..

Alain

Holding curve of the Britany anchor.

 

[beneteau_305_553]

I have the 12 kg britany and its the best anchor I have ever had. It has always gripped first time and seems to dig in the more load goes onto it. If you look at large commercial ships, their anchors are very similar to the britany.

Most folding anchors have relatively light weight flutes but the britany is from 12 mm thick galvanised steel plate.

Like all anchors it needs chain. I have only 10 m of 8 mm and the rest is 14 mm octoplait.

 

[duncan]

[ QUOTE ]
acquired a 10 kg Britany as it's the only 10 kg anchor which will fit the (UK Hunter 245) locker

[/ QUOTE ] probably not the best reason to aquire one but not unusual

mind you price and fitting the bow roller aren't brilliant reasons either!

I would back a bruce against a brittany of same size in just about any conditions (both equally poor in weed/sea grass!)

 

[Neil_M]

I have one & last year relegated it to secondary status, partly as the alternatives (I use a Delta as primary anchor now) perform better but also as the Brittany was so awkward to handle/stow and dug chunks out of the topsides under retrieved very carefully. Can't recommend it I'm afraid.

 

[rwoofer]

You might want to look at the FOB anchor which is a superior version of the Brittany and not much more expensive ie. still cheap. I bought a 16kg one for about £90 as my kedge anchor. Haven't used it much, but it has held everytime.

If you compare it with a standard brittany, the plates at the swivel end are much larger, which I believe ensures a better angle of attack and hence better digging in.

 

[craigsmith]

[ QUOTE ]
I am considering new options for anchors. I want to uprate my 7.5Kg CQR type, and am contemplating a 10 Kg Brittany because it is relativelty easy to stow.

An alternative would be the Fortress. More than twice the cost - and Fortress says its good!

[/ QUOTE ]G Jeffery, why exactly are you wanting to upgrade from your CQR?

This is a question no-one here has so far thought to ask you, and I also find it strange that you are seriously considering a Britany as a primary anchor.

The CQR is an "all rounder" type anchor (albeit now an outdated and not particularly good one).

The Britany is a specialist design, intended for use perhaps as a kedge, relatively cheap to build, easy to stow, and also probably fairly useful in rock. This does not make it a good all-rounder.

Look at the graph posted by Hylas and think about what it means.

The Fortress is similar in characteristics. High holding power but very unreliable. Easily damaged.

There are better options to both. Widen your range and do some more research. Look at "serious" boats around your area. Offshore cruisers. What are they using? Search for "anchors" on this board and read through some of the previous debates.

What is your boat. Where do you anchor. What is the typical seabed. How many anchors can you afford to carry (in terms of weight)? Four others each for a specific situation? None? What do you want the anchor to do for you. Anchor securely overnight? Fish? Never really use it at all?

 

[gjeffery]

Many thanks for that. I have a lunch hook, and am looking for something better.

Unfortunately most comments tend to support what I had read, and don't want me to rush out to buy a Britany, even though they may be maligned through not being properly set!. One advantage of the Fortress must be the ability to carry a larger anchor in a small boat where, say a Spade would be difficult to stow. the Kobra looks interesting though.

Interesting report published by Fortress but quiting a "French Regulatory Tests" in 1992, presumably before Spade.

Britany 20 kg Holding Power 490 kg
Bruce 20 kg 1300 kg
CQR 20 kg 1748 kg
Fortress 7 kg 2150 kg


I would be more impressed if I had the original report.

 

[rwoofer]

If you look at some of the french sites you will see that the FOB does have the stamp of approval from one of the official shipping agencies, unfortunately can't remember which one.

I chose it because it folds flat and does not have the long bar that fortress and danforth anchors seem to have. That way I could afford the space to have a 16kg anchor as my kedge.

 

[Roberto]

I bought the FOB Light, it is an alu alloy anchor with the same shape as the steel one, it can be dis/assembled in ten seconds (fortress seems to be more complicated, and costs 1.5 to 2 times more), has the two angles for sand and mud bottoms, and at 7.5kg for 12-14m boats will hopefully serve its purpose well as a kedge, with an option open as tertiary anchor if everything goes wrong /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

a couple of cruisers I know have used it all around the world and have been more than happy, not much of a statistics I know but will see if I can contribute to the positive overall impression /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif