Bruce Anchors

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

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I have a CQR anchor that never failed me; I also have a small fortress as a spare which has not been very reliable. So I have decided to purchase a 15 kg Bruce and I will try out with the first opportunity.

However, I read a few bad comments about the performance of the Bruce anchors such as they break out very easily and have a very low holding power. Have you had any bad experience using a Bruce?
 
Parker!!! Fetch my revolver from the library desk...hurry man, dammit...they're starting again :D :D
 
See letter in current YM...

OTOH I know a guy who has singlehanded from NZ to the UK using nothing but a couple of cheap Bruce copies.

It's not what you got, it's where you stick it...
 
17kg (IIRC) Bruce, 25m 10mm chain and up to 100m of warp if needed, 36ft boat.

The Bruce is great. Of course, except in the case of East Coast mud which actually comes up off the bottom and swallows anchors whole, you need to make sure it is actually in, but that is true of any anchor.

We anchor quite a bit when cruising and coasting on passage and feel quite safe sleeping secured by the Bruce.

Also have a toy one, a copy I guess, a bit bigger than a hand, for the tender and surprisingly that works pretty well too.
 
Unfortunately, the reputation of the Bruce has been tarnished by people refering to the much inferior claw copies as Bruce anchors. The genuine version has much sharper flukes, is made of a stronger alloy and has a greater fluke size for the same weight copy.
 
Bruce anchor OK.

Yes dipper, Interesting point about the sharper flooks. I once twsted a small Bruce of some 10kgs.and it took a longer distance to trip into the sand and did not dig in as well as a 30kg one. I then looked at the ,as you say, sharpness or area of tip and found the two to be very similar. In other words the area stayed the same as the anchor weight was trebled.The conclusion is for tripping in the heavier one is superior.They were, I beleive developed for oil rig holding in position. I expect someone will contradict me on this...I have two. A main 30kg on 1/2" chain and a kedge 20kg. Under all conditions and over 26 years use I have only one word for them;...excellent...so I'll say it twice E...........
 
cowpat said:
developed for oil rig holding in position
Click to expand...

True and I believe the mud in deep basins in particular, which is why they are very good in mud. Once winched the bow down on a Moody yacht trying to get one out. While thinking what to do next the bow popped up. Recovered the Bruce with a massive clay ball encasing it; Rubhan Na Croiche bay, Just opposite Caladh Harbour, Firth of Clyde.
 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC said:
So I have decided to purchase a 15 kg Bruce and I will try out with the first opportunity.
Click to expand...

Sadly Bruce anchors are no longer made - apparently put out of business by cheaper copies and buyers who thought they would get the same performance for less than half the price.

If you can get a genuine Bruce then it is a good anchor provided it is big enough, - don't go for one that is lighter than your CQR. I have anchored in winds exceeding 60 knots on genuine Bruce anchors (always had two down, just in case, when winds got in to the force 8 plus range). I also found it reliable on a variety of sea beds. It only failed totally on smooth rock in Norway (where nothing could hold), but often got a grip on irregular rock. The other failure was a herring barrel hoop hooked over the middle point that stopped it from digging in.

Now that genuine Bruce anchors are no longer available have had good results with a 15kg Oceane (cheap cousin of the Spade with a bigger fluke area for same weight) and just bought a larger Rocna for the main anchor.

In practice most anchors perform perfectly adequately most of the time, which is why so many varieties survive on the market, its only in extreme conditions when you discover if its any good.
 
Copy of Bruce anchor

Came with the boat. I don't know who made it, they were obviously so ashamed of it that there was no trademark.
7.5 kg on 25' boat.
Let me down several times.
Last seen in scrap metal bin of local Council dump.
On close examination there were small but presumably vital differences from "real" Bruce.
 
A lot of the chat on Bruce's (and decent copies, especially now the original isn't made) suggests that they only really start to work at the bigger sizes - I've heard 20kg/44lb spoken about as a good threshold.

These people use a Bruce and seem pleased with it after many many nights at anchor. Unfashionably, they also compare it favourably with a Rocna/Manson Supreme:

www.bethandevans.com and particularly here: http://www.bethandevans.com/systems.htm#8.
 
Bruces have been very popular in Sweden for stern mooring, for which they are well suited, and many boats have them on the pushpit all the time. I have used a 10Kg Bruce for this without difficulty, and occasionally at the bow when a 45lb CQR was reluctant to bite. There may be newer anchors that are better, but a Bruce is fine for most uses.
 
The Bruce gets my vote every time. I used to have a CQR on chain as the bower with a Bruce on warp as the kedge. Without fail the Bruce would set, just tossed it over the side and it did its stuff where as I had no end of trouble with the CQR to the point that I have got rid of it and now carry two genuine Bruces.
 
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