Delta anchor, genuine or not?

On the CQR

It comes out ahead of the others as a general all rounder, with one dreadful trait - when it comes out it drags around on its back.

There is a lot of difference between the genuine (made in Scotland) CQR and the innumerable cast/fabricated copies, in performance as well as price.

Other anchors with a greater fluke area probably hold better in a mud or soft sand bottom.

The great advantages of the Delta are the ease of stowing, ease of self-launching and its quick set, above all it doesn't capsize the way the CQR does.
 
After being recommended a Delta, I bought one for £100+ from an internet chandler.

I was hoping to do better than my chum, who bought an imitation from Ebay for £35 or so.

When I received mine from the posti, I was underwhelmed when my Lewmar Delta Anchor had a little gold sticker on it........

"MADE IN CHINA"

Could have saved £65.

Eitherway, it is a great anchor, much better than the Bruce it replaced......
 
Re: On the CQR

In our experience the CQR takes a bit of care to set. It often took a couple of goes to be sure that it was dug in. Mind you that could just have been our lack of experience. We acquired a Delta (vinyl intact) and promoted it to bower anchor, keeping the CQR as a spare together with the Fortress kedge. Now in the Med and so far the Delta has performed admirably, setting first time consistently. Maybe we are getting better at it, but it does seem to be an improvement,
 
Re: On the CQR

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Now in the Med and so far the Delta has performed admirably, setting first time consistently. Maybe we are getting better at it, but it does seem to be an improvement,

[/ QUOTE ]

Spooky that, guess your anchoring has improved /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

One problem that I have found since switching to a Delta:

The CQR used to come back on deck nice and clean. The Delta though, dirty dirty thing! Brings up half the sea bed with it!
 
I don't have a great deal of anchoring experience in different areas; all I know is that my first anchor (a genuine 25Lb CQR) on my previous boat is the only one I've ever dragged. I replaced it with a 15Kg Spade which never dragged. I have recently bought a 25Kg Rocna for my current boat. It will be my main bower (when the new bow roller is fabricated to hold it!) and the 20Kg bruce and two 45Lb CQRs will be backups.

From the look of it, when the Rocna is down, not even a hurricane is going to move me - just hope I can break it out to get it back aboard!

Cheers,

Jerry
 
Well I have been using a genuine CQR (made in Scotland from girders) on my seaplane since 1935 without problems and see no reason to change now.

Can't beat the combination of a drop forged CQR and good sisal rode. (Don't hold with these modern man made fibres)

The old girl is made from wood and doped canvas and no-one will convince me that aluminium planes are better.

Similarly, I shall never adopt the jet engine because they are not as proven as my Merlin engine which is used in seaplanes throughout the world. After all the majority must be right mustn't they.

Anyway can't stop to bandy words any more, the tides on the change and the old girl has a habit of floating off when that happens, so I like to be there just in case. Can't be too careful
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: On the CQR

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The CQR used to come back on deck nice and clean. The Delta though, dirty dirty thing! Brings up half the sea bed with it!

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I agree we used a CQR style anchor on our chartered boat in the med last year and they do come up lovely and clean with no effort at all to break them out. However after snorkelling and looking at how they set there is a good reason for this. They lie on top of the sand!!

Oh dear I've just gone and perpetuated an anchoring thread /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: On the CQR

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Now in the Med and so far the Delta has performed admirably, setting first time consistently. Maybe we are getting better at it, but it does seem to be an improvement,

[/ QUOTE ]

Spooky that, guess your anchoring has improved /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

One problem that I have found since switching to a Delta:

The CQR used to come back on deck nice and clean. The Delta though, dirty dirty thing! Brings up half the sea bed with it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Might I suggest that is because it has ACTUALLY dug into the sea bed
 
That's my feeling too. I am considering replacing/upgrading my CQR, and Delta and Rocna were high on the list. Delta is creeping up.

On an aside I have always used an Australian weld fabricated plough (not cast) which I have always found _very_ easy to set and very good at holding (except kelp). It is now some 15 years old and the pivot is wearing a lot. From comments here I wonder if my genuine CQR spare is likely to perform as well.
 
Re: On the CQR

Ours is a CQR copy and, during the past few weeks of Yachtmaster prep., it was used a lot, (probably about 20 times in 3 weeks).

Always set and, when appropriate, I would reverse on it to 2200rpm to dig it in, (mainly for my own reassurance .... didnt fail once. Also turned with the tide once, with no problems.

Gently increasing the revs to dig it in, then gently reducing them so as not to spring forwards, seems to be the way to do it.

Still thinking about a Spade or a Rocna as a bower, with the CQR relegated to kedge or second anchor or whatever.
 
My Delta came with the adhesive side stickers and appropriate labels when new, but the side stickers started to shred so I took them off. I switched from a CQR copy to a Delta for two reasons a) the latter definitely sets quicker (virtually instantly around my part of the world - S.Wales / N.Devon) b) being lighter for a given boat length is easier to handle and break-out. Once the CQR did dig-in it was often really hard to get it up, and that did my back no good at all! The RNLI use Deltas on their big boats (at least the new one in Tenby does). I assume they've reached that decision through good experience. So I'm very happy with mine...suits my needs.
 
Thanks for the comments. I was kind of torn, because the existing anchor is a genuine CQR, but its a little too small at only 20lb. Its not dragged on me, but I've never tested the gear in strong conditions. In my opinion a 10kg Delta would be a worth-while upgrade, but a 10kg Chinese copy wouldn't.
 
You might find the genuine Deltas are made in China these days (everything else is !!).

Tony - just noticed from your profile you have a Westerly Griffon (26ft?). I'd say you're OK with a 20lb CQR, or if like me you prefer a Delta, I'm perfectly happy with the 6kg version on the end of all chain. It's the size Lewmar recommend as "standard" for up to 30ft LOA. 10kg is their "maximum" recommendation.
 
I worry about using the RNLI as guide for anchors, AFAIK they dont actually do a lot of anchoring in real situations.

Perfectly happy to follow them in other areas where they do use the kit in real life.
 
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I was kind of torn, because the existing anchor is a genuine CQR, but its a little too small at only 20lb.

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Have you tried setting it and reversing on it gradually increasing to full power.

I'll stand corrected, but if you have a reasonably powerful engine, and it doesnt drag, it will almost certainly take a very strong wind/big chop to make you drag in real life situations.

Would be interested on others comments on this.
 
Interesting, thats a punishing test. Until the RNLI feel the need to switch too a Rocna or Spade, Delta has to be the one then.
 
[ QUOTE ]

<span style="color:blue">Have you tried setting it and reversing on it gradually increasing to full power. </span>


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A reset test has been made by the Sailing magazine " Practical Sailor " ( Volume 27 - Number two - January 15, 2001 )

The Delta was on the 12th position with the following comments:" <span style="color:brown"> Rolled on side, came loose and duck back in - How far moved before reset: 5' </span> -"

The two first anchors on the test aligned to new pull with little movement and didn't move at all....
 
Before posting I had a quick trawl and could only find 2 instances of anchors being used in a recue in the last 10 years and one of those was from a RIB.

Happy to be corrected but I still think that the RNLI's anchor requirement may not mirror that of an average yottie.
 
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