CQR anchors.

[Roberto]

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No it was first introduced by Alain Poiraud (Spade) years before Rocna, then ybw poster Craig Smith and co. began using it, must have been end 90s.
May I add it was vividly (and incessantly) repeated over and over again by the late "Alain d'Hylas" in forum of all languages as soon as the word "anchor" appeared in a thread.

 

[Neeves]

No it was first introduced by Alain Poiraud (Spade) years before Rocna, then ybw poster Craig Smith and co. began using it, must have been end 90s.
May I add it was vividly (and incessantly) repeated over and over again by the late "Alain d'Hylas" in forum of all languages as soon as the word "anchor" appeared in a thread.

Roberto - I bow to your better memory. You are older than me to recall as far back as the early 90's or younger - because you have a better memory

Jonathan

 

[Roberto]

Just checked, Spade company was created in 97, the name being acronym of Société de Production d'Accastillage et Divers Équipements, "Spade" in English came out rather appropriate.
When Rocna was introduced, Alain and Craig Smith made epic (possibly ridiculous) virtual battles in trying and have the last word in modifying Wikipedia articles about anchoring. Alain then retired in Uruguay (and passed away about 10 years ago) while his daughter continued to follow the company, which was eventually sold to STF.

 

[Neeves]

Just checked, Spade company was created in 97, the name being acronym of Société de Production d'Accastillage et Divers Équipements, "Spade" in English came out rather appropriate.
When Rocna was introduced, Alain and Craig Smith made epic (possibly ridiculous) virtual battles in trying and have the last word in modifying Wikipedia articles about anchoring. Alain then retired in Uruguay (and passed away about 10 years ago) while his daughter continued to follow the company, which was eventually sold to STF.

I never knew the origins of the use of the word Spade.

I missed the arguments between Craig and Alain, but do recall Craig who continued the battles with a number of others. Craig was eventually muzzled at the end of the bendy shank saga - and reappeared a few years ago with a stunning photographic history (a thread on YBW) of Peter's ventures in the South Atlantic.

Alain did not quite retire, or could not leave anchors alone, and I believe he developed another anchor The Raya. I did see a photograph of it and I believe Chains, Ropes and Anchors in Auckland made a few prototypes (copies) but it died (or I have heard nothing recently). From memory it was an unballasted fluke anchor (though like Rocna it may have had ballast under the fluke (looked not unlike Manson's Scoop)

Raya Anchor - opinions or experience?

And now that I look - it looks nothing like Manson's Scoop - shows how good my memory is!

Jonathan

 

[NormanS]

I am amused by the notion that roll bars sell anchors. (#120). To my simple mind, the roll bar achieves exactly the same function as the stock on a Fisherman type, in that it ensures that the anchor rotates into the correct attitude on the bottom. I see a roll bar as a necessary adjunct to an anchor which without one, will not work.

 

[Sybarite]

I’ve always used a CQR and the reason is that I’ve never dragged. It was never my choice, the CQRs came with my last two boats, and they worked - so why change? The latest boat came with a Delta, with a CQR back-up. I’ve had to used the CQR kedge in anger as the Delta was so embedded, summer before last, that my rather ancient manual windlass could not cope and I had to buoy it off. So I am quite impressed with the Delta too, and as it works, in no rush to go NG. Anyway, to my eye, the Delta is very much more of a design iteration away from a CQR - it seems the latest iteration from a Delta has only really added a roll bar to gain their NGA accolade. It would seem I have not been unlucky enough to set any of these upside down yet.

In French comparative tests eg the Spade has over twice the straight line holding power of the Delta. The Delta nevertheless gets favorable ratings in value for money.

 

[Roberto]

I believe he developed another anchor The Raya.

Before that he made also the "Oceane" anchor, presented as a low cost alternative to the Spade, though manufacturing did not last long, I do not know for what reason. The Raya seems to have taken several elements from this one

 

[GHA]

If CQR did web access....

 

[Poey50]

I am amused by the notion that roll bars sell anchors. (#120). To my simple mind, the roll bar achieves exactly the same function as the stock on a Fisherman type, in that it ensures that the anchor rotates into the correct attitude on the bottom. I see a roll bar as a necessary adjunct to an anchor which without one, will not work.

Finally an explanation as to why I have never been able to get my Spade to set.

 

[dom]

Finally an explanation as to why I have never been able to get my Spade to set.

Spade has a lead one

 

[JumbleDuck]

If CQR did web access...

I'm reading this on an eight year old desktop computer. It's good enough.

 

[Kukri]

I think that there are three types of response to an anchor question:

(a) people who just anchor without thinking twice about it. Rosie and I are in this group along with, I suspect, most other CQR users.

(b) people who worry about anchoring, either because they normally go from marina to marina or because they are beginners or because they worry a lot.

(c) long term /long distance cruisers who anchor a lot.

Groups (b) and (c) probably have NGAs.

 

[webcraft]

I have a very rough impression from this thread that most people who have problems with CQRs have them in the Solent and other busy areas of the south while most of us who find they work fine do so in less frequented anchorages. Could it be that they really don't like seabeds churned up by constant anchoring but are fine in more virgin territory?

Every realistic anchor test ever done shows that hhp anchors have at least twice the holding power of older designs.

They are also easier to set and reset quicker on reversal.

The CQR is a nightmare to handle because of the hinge, and in hard sand it willjust lie on its side and refuse to set.

In terms of value for money, a boat only has to drag ashore once for an old anchor to prove a false economy. And being confident anchoring out in stronger weather or more exposed anchorages will soon make a ng anchor pay for itself.

- W

 

[NormanS]

Every realistic anchor test ever done shows that hhp anchors have at least twice the holding power of older designs.

They are also easier to set and reset quicker on reversal.

The CQR is a nightmare to handle because of the hinge, and in hard sand it willjust lie on its side and refuse to set.

In terms of value for money, a boat only has to drag ashore once for an old anchor to prove a false economy. And being confident anchoring out in stronger weather or more exposed anchorages will soon make a ng anchor pay for itself.

- W

If, like most frequent anchorers, your anchor is normally on the bow roller, the fact that the CQR has a hinge is of no consequence, as you will never need to handle it. The Fortress or Danforth are the real nightmares, because they can't live on the bow roller, and do have to be handled. Watch your fingers.

 

[Kukri]

Every realistic anchor test ever done shows that hhp anchors have at least twice the holding power of older designs.

“Stocked by all good grocers” Meaningless puffery

They are also easier to set and reset quicker on reversal.

Ohh, look! A “technical term”, used by all good anchor testers. An anchor very seldom “resets” in real life; the boat lies to the bight of the chain on the bottom.

The CQR is a nightmare to handle because of the hinge, and in hard sand it willjust lie on its side and refuse to set.

No, It isn’t. Do as it’s inventor meant you to do and splice a fathom of rope onto the gravity ring. Pick it up with that.

A CQR sets perfectly well in hard sand. That’s what the hinge and the weighted sharp tip are for. Try it some time.

In terms of value for money, a boat only has to drag ashore once for an old anchor to prove a false economy.

Do you habitually follow the unseamanlike practice of anchoring to windward of a dangerous lee shore? Most of us anchor in shelter, where the consequences of dragging ashore are inconvenience and embarrassment.

And being confident anchoring out in stronger weather or more exposed anchorages will soon make a ng anchor pay for itself.

- W

I suppose I anchor off the coast somewhere like Dungeness once a decade. I’ve never worried about riding out a gale lying to a CQR because I have always done so somewhere reasonably sheltered. There are such things as weather forecasts. Getting the anchor back from its expedition to the centre of the Earth, afterwards, can be more of a problem.

 

[dunedin]

Because good enough is good enough. What sort of car do you have? (Disclosure: in my case the answer is a tatty 2003 Citroën Berlingo)

So perhaps we can update the car analogy then (previously a Trabant vs a Bugatti Veyron).

So if a Citroen Berlingo is good enough, so is a CQR. If you think other more recent cars (Citroen or other brands) have benefits worth paying for, similarly perhaps worth updating to a different anchor

Incidentally, I don’t think it is necessarily the case that Scottish sailors are more likely to be supportive of CQR anchors. A walk round places like Ardfern (where boats tend to head out to places where anchoring is the norm) shows perhaps a higher proportion of Rocnas (probably over 50%) than anything else.

 

[JumbleDuck]

So if a Citroen Berlingo is good enough, so is a CQR. If you think other more recent cars (Citroen or other brands) have benefits worth paying for, similarly perhaps worth updating to a different anchor

Well, maybe. I'm not sure that I'd base my anchor-purchasing decisions on how good modern cars are. Actually, I hate modern cars. Work hired me one a year or so ago. It was delivered to the office with no manual, and it took me 15 minutes just to work out how to start the bloody thing.

Incidentally, I don’t think it is necessarily the case that Scottish sailors are more likely to be supportive of CQR anchors. A walk round places like Ardfern (where boats tend to head out to places where anchoring is the norm) shows perhaps a higher proportion of Rocnas (probably over 50%) than anything else.

Yes, but that's Ardfern where everybody is rich, some people are royalty and the chandlery is a Rocna agent.[/quote][/QUOTE]

 

[awol]

If, like most frequent anchorers, your anchor is normally on the bow roller, the fact that the CQR has a hinge is of no consequence, as you will never need to handle it. The Fortress or Danforth are the real nightmares, because they can't live on the bow roller, and do have to be handled. Watch your fingers.

My boat lives on a swinging mooring and I also attempt a few races. My CQR stows on deck for both activities. When cruising I swap to my Knox (modified by the Prof. himself to fit on my roller) but is a complete PIA to stow on deck as are nearly all NG anchors. The CQR works well, has dragged in Craighouse - no surprise there, harvests kelp and has set when others are messing about. The Knox also harvests kelp but does appear to be more tolerant of chuck it over and reverse. If I had to lose one it would be the Knox, the CQR with its hinge and no roll bar would win. ....... oh, and the CQR always turns the right way on hoisting onto the roller.

 

[Poignard]

Suppose a newer new generation anchor were to be put on the market that performed better in tests than the existing new generation ones.

Would you new generation fellows, with fear gnawing at your vitals, buy it and scrap your exiting ones?

 

[dom]

Suppose a newer new generation anchor were to be put on the market that performed better in tests than the existing new generation ones.

Would you new generation fellows buy it, and scrap your exiting ones?

Steady on old chap, win that point and you'll render obsolete a good 50% of this forum

Leaving us to discuss AWB vs. MABs the entire time ☹

Oh, and Franz Kafka would buy a NGA, I think: "Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable" ?