Dare I say it, the "A" word ... Anchor advice ....

[dazautomatics]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

Our boat is only 35ft and about 8tonnes. We have a 20kg Bruce and have used it all year with no dragging what so ever.

The Bruce was donated by my parents, who bought it from a boat jumble to use secondary anchor on their Atlantic circuit, in there 18 tonne 50ft sail boat. But actually used all the time as it was better at holding than the main CQR (Twice the size)

I have always been an advocate of spending money on good quality equipment, but the cheap replica Bruce has proved itself repeatedly.

Darren

P.S. Me thinks the chain size is just as important.

 

[Troutbridge]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

I got my Rocna from Boyd Boats Ltd in Dublin
www.boydboats.ie
I've just about finished equipping a boat for a probable circumnavigation. Bluudy expensive, but then I'm working now and can 'almost' afford it, whereas once I've left I won't be working and definitely won't be able to /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ChrisE]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

Another vote for a Spade, we have a 20kg, bought from bluewater(?) in Jersey, hence ex-VAT, ours cost under £400 (about £350 from memory) in 2005. It sits just where the CQR used to albeit making life a bit difficult sometimes when trying to pick up our mooring.

Having used a CQR for 10 years with no drags once set but plenty of work trying to set, am sold on the Spade which just sets and holds, even in places like Studland Bay which can be a real sod to get a pick to stick.

Not saying that that others aren't up to the job, just a happy hooker /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[captainslarty]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

Aha ! the ubiquetous anchor thread.. this should be fun lol..

Delta.. 25K

Best of the best.. CQR also great.. all the others are poor copies with inflated prices.

All chain rode, 10mm Stainless. (65 Mtrs) plus spare hundred meters of 16mm nylon for general use.
We also have a fotress as a kedge, a danforth and an old 15k bruce.

But, the main thing is.........................

It IS ABOUT TECHNIQUE and chosing the right ground / locality.

Kettles on, beer in the fridge..
I have pulled up a chair to watch this one..

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

<<< Delta was my original idea, but the Sword is around the same price and Manson only around £60 more. >>>

I visited the Spade/Sword stand at LIBS in 2007. The UK importer was pretty underwhelmed by the Sword and effectively warned us off it.

 

[Spicemariner]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

We have been cruising Caribbean since 2002. Main anchor is steel Spade, we also have CQR, alu spade and a Fortress. Spade is the main anchor and we really like it. Had one night of 60+ knots with lots of wind shifts and it never budged. Sat out 35kts + for days (in Spain) and slept soundly. Most anchors if set properly don't drag and in most anchorages here you can dive and check them. Found lots of cqrs on their sides though. We like to use our fortress as a second anchor as it it very light and once set is extremely hard to dislodge, downside is that if you get a really big windshift and it does dislodge, it probably wont reset. Spade always does. Had friends with Beugel and they love theirs and it has never dragged. It is worth getting the best anchor you can afford, we have seen so many boats with copy anchors drag and damage themselves and other boats. Bruce anchors have bad reputation but our friends swear by theirs and one day in Martinique we had a wind reversal. Another boat dragged their cqr right up our friends anchor chain, their anchor held both their 25ton boat and the other 25 ton boat until the huge squall had passed, was quite impressive.

 

[Richard10002]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

[ QUOTE ]
Having used a CQR for 10 years with no drags once set but plenty of work trying to set.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only 1 summer of anchoring, but got sick of trying to get the CQR to set. Once set it was fine, solid as a rock, (although max wind I had was only about 25knots).

I keep reading that those people with Rocnas or Spades, and mansons, find they set first time, just about where they drop, even in weed or hard sand.

i wouldnt drop my CQR in weed again, (except on the calmest of occassions), it wouldnt set!!

 

[scarlett]

Hydrobubble

Has anyone experience of the Hydrobubble?

 

[Liz_I]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

Ahem. CQR's are meant to 'set' on their sides!!!

 

[Grehan]

Oceane

We have an Oceane, a 15kg Bruce and a 25lb Danforth kedge (on the stern). The Oceane is slightly lighter than the Bruce and is our main anchor (on chain and nylon rode). Although we've only had it 4 years, never had a problem (with it setting and holding) although never used in very serious conditions. The only functional problem we have is that it can 'twirl' as it's brought up and the sharp point can scratch the gel coat - not badly, but it does do it sometimes.

What was the 'fault' that prompted the redesign into the new Sword model? How's it different?


BTW folks, commendations all round for such a civilised and educational discussion (so far . . . . ). Damn good show, what! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Jonny_H]

Re: Oceane

[ QUOTE ]
BTW folks, commendations all round for such a civilised and educational discussion (so far . . . . ). Damn good show, what!

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely - thanks everyone. I was a little nervous about posting this at the risk of causing riots and having squabbles between industry posters! But so far lots of info gained and I'm certainly further down the decision making process.

Thanks again, keep it coming!!

Jonny

 

[pohopetch]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

My 2 cents worth - upgraded from a 20kg CQR to a 33kg Rocna a year ago and did 6000 miles over 7 months in the Pacific this last season. Anchor did not drag once in around 150 nights at anchor and set first time every time except once when it turned out to be sand on top of coral bottom and had to move 50m away to find a spot. Never snagged and never set a trip line. Very pleased I chose a size on up on the recommended size for our 13m 13 tonne yacht - peace of mind and good sleep is worth a lot when cruising.

 

[FAITIRA]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

[ QUOTE ]
[Feeling brave, so here goes .....]

[/ QUOTE ]

You are cruel, putting them all through that again!

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

I often talk to owners about anchors. From your list, I have often discussed the Spade and Delta and owners with those are always delighted. No complaints at all. I have never yet met a yachtsman with any of the other anchors on your list. I have once seen a Rocna but not spoken to the owner. I now have a Delta but insufficient experience with it to comment either way - it hasn't dragged and sets well but not enough data to be conclusive.

 

[Jonny_H]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

Just been reading this thread:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f118/only-one-anchor-10513.html

Prepare yourselves (21 pages!) - but interesting none the less. Seems many people in NZ are now using Rocna / Manson anchors - a trend may spread? Or is it because both are made in NZ?

There is also quite a healthy debate over prices, specifically the big price difference between Manson and Rocna, and the Llyod's Super High Holding Power certificate the Manson has.

Interestingly - the slotted shank in the Manson which has been critised by Rocna is now available as a feature on Rocna's. Wonder what the story is there?

The Manson seems quite high on the list after reading this thread. Both it and the Rocna are large anchors though (size not weight) - which is good for holding power, but we'll have to see if they would measure up for the bow of the boat:

Jonny

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

<<<< Both it (Manson) and the Rocna are large anchors though (size not weight) >>>

The profiles of the 15 kg Rocna and 16 kg Delta are almost identical, so not all that large.

 

[Jonny_H]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

I was reading this post:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f118...s-cqr-7182.html

Pic below shows a 25lb Manson, 25lb CQR, 35lb Spade:

The post says that the 25lb Manson is simalar in size to a 35lb Delta?

We are going for a 20kg (45lb) option, so assume it will sit ok, the 45lb CQR certainly seems to have plenty of room - although the shank is the longest we can accomodate before it fouls the anchor locker lid:

I'll have to get dimensions for the CQR shank and [Insert New Anchor!] shank to make sure it will fit, but I think surface area should be ok. Anyone got the 45lb CQR (Original) dimensions to hand?

Jonny

Edit: Just answered my own question! Shank on a 45lb CQR is 32.5 inches from the tripping line eye to the shackle eye. Much longer than the Manson / Rocna (as the above picture shows).

 

[charles_reed]

Big weakness of the CQR

is its habit of turning upside down, instead of re-setting.

IMHO anchor is of less importance than the bottom.

 

[Abaker]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

In 17 years of cruising I've used CQR, Danforth, Bruce, Delta, and Spade anchors. My preference is the Spade because it sets and holds where the others sometimes don't.
A month ago I found an excellent new book: The Complete Anchoring Handbook, by Alain Poiraud, Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt, and Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt, published by McGraw-Hill/International Marine. Although Poiraud is the inventor of the Spade, the book nevertheless treats the Spade's competitors fairly, and provides a wealth of up-to-date information about ground tackle and anchoring techniques.

 

[LadyJessie]

Re: Dare I say it, the \"A\" word ... Anchor advice ....

CQR. If you look at the bow of a long distance cruising boat; this is the anchor you will find most often. There is a reason for that. It has been proven to be the best in real life situations, as opposed to 'sailing mag's tests'. My CQR has yet to let me down in 20 years of cruising many different and difficult areas of the world.