Following Robin's example I've just done another anchor survey

[ChrisE]

I belong to a boat fishing club where members anchor almost every time they go out and in places where a yottie wouldn't be seen chucking a hook, such as rocky ledges.

To a boat they all use Bruce or Bruce alike, me included.

I've tried Brittanys (three lost on ledges), Deltas (doesn't hold on rough ground), Fortress (bent to buggery when pulled out of rocky ledge).

What do I deduce from this? Apart from the fact the anglers probably drop the hook more times than a yotties (I regularly re-anchor several times in an 8 hour session) the use of the boat determines what is the most useful anchor to carry.

On the yot, I carry a Spade and sleep on it regularly but wouldn't dream of trying to anchor over rocky ledges. On the fishing boat I use the Bruce because it works on the seabeds where I go fishing ranging from classic yot anchorages of mud, sand or shingle through to the aforementioned rocky ledges. The Bruce is rigged to be tripped over rough ground which I probably wouldn't want to do on the yot as once the hook is in I don't want it to move.

Over to you Robin

 

[Robin]

I'm listening!

Carrying a spade around and sleeping in it, what odd fetishes you fisherfolk have!

I can well understand using a Bruce type for the reasons you said, plus they are cheaper too if you lose the odd one. If anyone wants to make an offer for a 66 pounder Bruce in Florida, we will have one going!

 

[jimi]

Interesting,I nevere associated Bruce;s with rocks etc, I thought they were mud and clay diggers

 

[Sybarite]

I belong to a boat fishing club where members anchor almost every time they go out and in places where a yottie wouldn't be seen chucking a hook, such as rocky ledges.

To a boat they all use Bruce or Bruce alike, me included.

I've tried Brittanys (three lost on ledges), Deltas (doesn't hold on rough ground), Fortress (bent to buggery when pulled out of rocky ledge).

What do I deduce from this? Apart from the fact the anglers probably drop the hook more times than a yotties (I regularly re-anchor several times in an 8 hour session) the use of the boat determines what is the most useful anchor to carry.

On the yot, I carry a Spade and sleep on it regularly but wouldn't dream of trying to anchor over rocky ledges. On the fishing boat I use the Bruce because it works on the seabeds where I go fishing ranging from classic yot anchorages of mud, sand or shingle through to the aforementioned rocky ledges. The Bruce is rigged to be tripped over rough ground which I probably wouldn't want to do on the yot as once the hook is in I don't want it to move.

Over to you Robin

I thought that the standard anchor for rocks was a fisherman? For reason it's called that.

 

[Seajet]

I'm surprised too; I have a Bruce and reckon it great for normal deliberate use on mud/sand etc, but I wouldn't have thought it too spiffing on rock - a job, as mentioned, for a Fisherman or maybe grapnel ?

 

[john_morris_uk]

With respect to ChrisE and all the fishermen who are using bruce anchors for this work, its a slightly different sort of 'anchoring' to anchoring a yacht for the night somewhere where the wind and tide might shift while you are asleep. If you are fishing, all you want is for the anchor to snag something and hold the boat in position for an hour or two - or even a few tens of minutes in some cases according to the OP.

People are quite happy to follow the pack (I could cite fashion in clothes as an example!) and if the local fishermen - or even fishermen all over the country find that a Bruce anchor will snag on the bottom long enough for them to fish for a while over the rough and rocky bottoms they like to fish over sometimes, I am not convinced that's good evidence to say that Bruce are fantastic anchors.

Even ChrisE says he wouldn't trust his yacht on a bruce overnight while he goes to sleep.

What he points out is interesting, but it might say more about human behaviour than anchor design. The final flaw is that in my experience, some amateur fishermen exhibit the very worst seamanship and knowledge of boating! Present company excepted I am sure, but some of the worst maintained and poorly equipped boats I see belong to local occasional (amateur) fishermen. One small outboard, no charts, no compass, total reliance on the GPS no flares, boat held together with bits of Isopon and screws from B&Q which are plated steel or brass (because they don't rust do they!) etc etc

I am sure that there are many well maintained boats run by local amateur fishermen, but citing the fact that lots of fishing boats use bruce anchors doesn't persuade me of their veracity.

 

[doug748]

Hurrah. the Bruce is best. Deep down I think we knew it all along. Inexpensive and indestructable as well. Let that be the last word..... ;-}

 

[ParaHandy]

Sure there must be a law against doing that to a fortress?

 

[jimbaerselman]

John,

You've touched the root of all anchoring arguments; the difference between local behaviour and needs, and the needs of those who must anchor in a much wider range of situations.

The recent survey of Scottish habits was interesting, and could be widened to cover nearly all UK anchoring. UK has a large number of well sheltered ports and marinas, and good weather forecasting. The result is that very few people choose, or need, to anchor when conditions are demanding - ie, local winds through the anchorage of F6 or more. If that's forecast, most UK sailors will retire to moorings, piles, marinas, whatever for the night.

When normally using an anchor only for F5 or less, you'll get away with x3 scope and a claw or plough anchor which has been tickled into the ground.

If you cruise where well sheltered ports or moorings are sparse, or if you cruise in areas where winds blow at 25kts plus through anchorages (Caribbean, Aegean) you'll rarely use less than x6 scope, you'll take steps to minimise shearing at anchor (forked moor, line ashore) and you'll be highly critical of anchors which can't hold the boat when you're in full astern (talking sailing boats here! say 50hp motors for 12m boat).

For these separate constituencies to argue that "my anchor/my methods are better" and "yours are wrong" misses the point. "Mine works for me" is a valid statement, but only if the conditions are spelled out. Not that many people have cruised where anchoring is a "must" in all conditions.

 

[Blueboatman]

But did you actually catch a fish? Thats an awful lot of anchor pulling if yer didn't?

 

[Kelpie]

I belong to a boat fishing club

What kind of bait do you use to catch the boats?

 

[FullCircle]

I have a 1.5kg Bruce on 1m of 6mm chain and 10m of 8mm 3strand.
It holds my dinghy perfectly, thanks.

See, its all about how you use it!

 

[NormanS]

Even ChrisE says he wouldn't trust his yacht on a bruce overnight while he goes to sleep.

.

Actually, he doesn't say that at all. Read his reply carefully.

I have been anchoring for the last five years with a Bruce, and have no problems with it. But then, what would I know? - prior to that I used a CQR, and didn't have problems with it either.

 

[FullCircle]

Actually, he doesn't say that at all. Read his reply carefully.

I have been anchoring for the last five years with a Bruce, and have no problems with it. But then, what would I know? - prior to that I used a CQR, and didn't have problems with it either.

Phew that's lucky. I ahve a Bruce for anchoring backwards. That is what a kedge is for,no?

Worse, it is stainless steel.


Even worse, I have CQR on the sharp bit at the front.

 

[ChrisE]

But did you actually catch a fish? Thats an awful lot of anchor pulling if yer didn't?

Actually I do catch quite a few. Part of fishing is judging how long to stay anchored in a place as the tide run changes, fish feed at some places at different points in the tide.
Hence the need to be fairly efficient with anchoring techniques.

Btw, the rocks I'm referring to are the reefs around my neck of the woods where the rocks are striated and an anchor needs to grip onto a ledge then be able to get pulled out when time to go home.

I agree with John M about some fishermen but I have to say that some yotties anchoring techniques beggar belief. Probably because they don't do much.

Witness the endless arguments on this forum re anchoring and anchors. What works for you in your conditions is fine by me.

 

[Poignard]

. . . . - prior to that I used a CQR, and didn't have problems with it either.

Ah, little did you know the terrible risks you were taking.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Actually, he doesn't say that at all. Read his reply carefully.

I have been anchoring for the last five years with a Bruce, and have no problems with it. But then, what would I know? - prior to that I used a CQR, and didn't have problems with it either.

Yes - I agree - my apologies for reading in haste - although its interesting that he is very happy to anchor on rock with the Bruce whilst fishing but wouldn't dream of anchoring with his Spade on rock.

All this really goes to show is that anchoring is a mixture of art and science.

Perhaps the truth is that 99% of the time any half decent anchor will do. After all, I spent years anchoring with a CQR and never worried about it very much. Nowadays I use a Spade and am pleased with its holding power and ability to 'set' almost instantly. So what? A lot of people spend a lot of hot air on these forums arguing about what 'might happen' in the 1% of the time.

 

[ffiill]

Anyone ever watched a Bruce set-I once set one on my grass(wont say lawn)at home using chain attached to car towbar,.
Deliberatly placed anchor upside down/on its side and it self righted and dug deep straight through the turf and into clayish soil within a metre or so of travel.
Swear by one along with Danforths but do use larger than reccomended to allow for possible weakness in these replica products.
Remember danforths were primarily designed when attached to a stern winch for steadying landing craft as they hit coral sand beaches in the Pacific and towing them back off the beach into deep water,

 

[snowleopard]

Lots of fishermen in Spain & Portugal use 4 bits of reinforcing bar bent and welded into a grapnel shape. It seems to work for them but you're not going to see one on my bow roller any time soon.

 

[Blueboatman]

Re ChrisE.
I am intrigued really cos fishermen do seem more fearless about anchoring over rocky or foul ground- goes with the territory perhaps?

Having only caught one fish in 3 years I have a bit to learn ahem.

Question. Do you bother with some sort of trip line or do you buoy it and come back if well and truly wedged , or...?