Fortress anchors

[rgarside]

I've never got a fortress to set at all. Of the two times I thought it was set one was caught on an old fishing net, and the other was caught under a rock.

Even playing with the miniature anchors in a sand pit at a chandlers, the fortress was one of the most difficult to set, where as the mantus, rocna, bruce and even the delta all set as soon as I pulled the chains.

The poor setting and awkward shape (to stow) have seen it mostly used a used as a dinghy anchor.

Sailing on the east coast, I am generally anchoring in mud of some consistency. I got the Fortress anchor [FX11, boat Parker 275] following repeated difficulties with a delta anchor in some of the popular local anchorages [I suspect that the delta was not penetrating the firmer mud underlying the softer surface mud]. In contrast with the delta, the Fortress sets very quickly and reliably. I have never had a problem at the turn of the tide so far [if the conditions are light I will probably have set the anchor with a reasonable amount of astern power]. The Fortress does require some effort to break out of the mud, as it obviously buries quite deeply. Had a thunder squall this year which went up to 42 knots, after which I had to take a line to a sheet winch to break the anchor out.

I would pay close attention to the turn of the tide with a sandy / rocky / seaweedy seabed - but no experience of that so far.

 

[Neeves]

Why are you rambling on about sand pits though and deltas though, when I only added it as an aside.

I recall it was you that mentioned sand pits to reinforce and underline your statement that you could not get your Fortress to set. You appeared to imply it was a serious test. It also appears that you are in some isolation, others do not appear to have the issues you describe of an inability to set your Fortress.

If your Fortress is as ineffective as you say I'm surprised you carry it. Mention has been made on YBW in the past of purchases from eBay, of Fortress, carrying round an anchor you find is useless does not make any sense to me. I think you would find it an easy sale - but its second hand value has suddenly dropped

If you are in America, or know people who make regular trips, then the deal would be interesting. I have carried anchors from the UK unavailable in Oz (Knox and Kobra), 2 so far, as checked in luggage it just needs a bit of planning to keep within your luggage allowance.

Jonathan

Mike you seem to be most lucky - a high number of days, or nights, per year at anchor and you don't appear to ever been in an area of soft mud. On reflection the idea you might sell your, to you, useless, Fortress might be premature. In soft mud your Rocna, and most other anchors, might not self right as there is a need for a firm seabed - sufficient to allow the roll bar (or ballast in the toe) to allow the anchor to rotate. If the roll bar and-or shank sinks into the mud - it will not self right and will skate inverted until you reach a firmer substrate - Ive watched it happen (its a bit of an eye opener). In soft mud a Fortress stands supreme and is worth keeping, for that eventuality alone.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_50/features/Anchoring-in-Squishy-Bottoms_11619-1.html

You will find similar articles in the Fortress website.

Soft mud is one case, maybe of many, where bigger is better as the fortress recommended for ones yacht might actually not develop sufficient hold for a 45 knot squall - you need surface area.

I apologise if you think I'm rambling on - you actually have no need to read my posts - it is voluntary

 

[Neeves]

I mentioned in an earlier post I have seen a number of Fortress on bow rollers of American yachts (they obviously don't use spinnakers ). As Norman said they are not easy to stow on a bow roller and look most ungainly.

I have noted that anchor purchase is skewed toward the country in which the yacht owner lives. Fortress are much more common in the US on bow rollers. In France and French Pacific Islands Spade and Brittanies are common and like hens teeth elsewhere. I see Northhill or variants on vessels in the American Pacific Islands and Anchor Right Excel and SARCA common in Oz and New Zealand. Bugels, and an amazing number of variants, are common in the Med, but rare elsewhere.

This may reflect cost as well as availability.

I think Fortress ownership higher than 'seen' - because storage is an issue many are hidden in lockers.

Jonathan

 

[Yngmar]

Our Guardian G-37 (the budget version from the same manufacturer) lives now permanently on the stern and served us very well this year. Once we figured out that tying to shore is much easier and better when facing the bow towards the shore instead of the stern, we developed a pretty good technique doing this with the Guardian as stern anchor. It's done well in mud, sand and grass, although once in soft mud it pulled right through when winched in, but that was before we extended the rode and it had a bit short scope (probably under 3:1).

Also handy to have ready there when the wind dies with sunset while swinging at anchor and the boat turns beam onto a light swell and begins to roll. Swing the boat back to where you want it, toss the stern anchor in (no scope required as there is no wind) and go to bed, which now no longer rocks from side to side.

Also useful as a kedge I presume, but we never kedged off anything yet.

In none of these jobs it has to deal with any changes of direction, its weakness, and can show off its strength, which is fast setting, good holding power and light weight (easy to grab from the swim platform and hold in one hand, then let slip over the back, easy to pull up again too).

 

[Neeves]

Nice set up Yngmar

Good to see shore lines, and the Guardian, ready for use.

The difference between the Guardian and Fortress is that the Guardian is not anodised (but I have never heard of anyone complaining their Guardian had corroded) the shank is not 'balanced' (Fortress shank is tapered in 2 dimensions) and the flukes are not bevelled/sharpened. They are also smaller, for the same nomenclature, and in fact Guardian uses components from the next size down Fortress. I don't recall exactly - but the Guardian has a less robust warranty.

In softer seabeds none of this is going to make much difference but in a hard seabed the Guardian might have a slightly increased issue with engaging (because it is not sharpened at the fluke).

Jonathan

As an aside - Nice dinghy! I assume you fold it up when on passage (as no sign of davits). If on long passage, we fold, but for short day sails we hoist on davits (taking the O/B off first) and for a 1 hour trip simply hoist the whole thing. We have a 10'6" version that I can carry single handed on my shoulder.

 

[antaris]

We use an FX-16 (or the spare FX-23) for Med mooring and a Delta as our main bow roller anchor - for the past 7 seasons. Both were bought used and are covered by lifetime guarantee (I did check with Fortress themselves and they sent me spares - I had to cover postage costs).

My experience is that the Fortress is superb in marinas/harbours when med mooring. It is convenient (i.e. light), yet totally safe - we never dragged anchor in any situation. Also easy to de-tangle when anchor-spaghetti occurs (quite often).

The Delta is used when anchoring in bays. Also a great design - but would probably upgrade to a latest-generation design if I had to replace.

 

[rgarside]

Nice set up Yngmar

Good to see shore lines, and the Guardian, ready for use.

The difference between the Guardian and Fortress is that the Guardian is not anodised (but I have never heard of anyone complaining their Guardian had corroded) the shank is not 'balanced' (Fortress shank is tapered in 2 dimensions) and the flukes are not bevelled/sharpened. They are also smaller, for the same nomenclature, and in fact Guardian uses components from the next size down Fortress. I don't recall exactly - but the Guardian has a less robust warranty.

In softer seabeds none of this is going to make much difference but in a hard seabed the Guardian might have a slightly increased issue with engaging (because it is not sharpened at the fluke).

Jonathan

As an aside - Nice dinghy! I assume you fold it up when on passage (as no sign of davits). If on long passage, we fold, but for short day sails we hoist on davits (taking the O/B off first) and for a 1 hour trip simply hoist the whole thing. We have a 10'6" version that I can carry single handed on my shoulder.

Big advantage for the Fortress relative to the Guardian is that in sticky mud, the mud slides off the anodising much easier.

 

[Yngmar]

The difference between the Guardian and Fortress is that the Guardian is not anodised (but I have never heard of anyone complaining their Guardian had corroded)

Ours does have some pitting near one of the tips and mild corrosion overall, but I think the pitting occurred when it was stored with a bunch of rusty chain on top in a leaky locker for a couple years (prior to my ownership). Probably going to paint it this winter

As an aside - Nice dinghy! I assume you fold it up when on passage (as no sign of davits). If on long passage, we fold, but for short day sails we hoist on davits (taking the O/B off first) and for a 1 hour trip simply hoist the whole thing. We have a 10'6" version that I can carry single handed on my shoulder.

Depends on conditions. On offshore passages or when we expect rough conditions we fold it, it stows flat along the rail with the seats in a locker. In sheltered waters we tow it, and it tows really well. In bigger waves it tends to get very excited and surf a lot, I've seen it next to the boat a couple times before reining it in.

We have added some prototype davits to the stern arch this summer, but they need a bit more work yet. Pretty happy with the Portabote, especially this year when many cruisers we met had massive problems with their inflatables falling apart in the Greek summer sun and they were patching, pumping, bailing and in one case buying a new one mid-season. How do you keep yours from filling up with rain while in the davits?

 

[Neeves]

How do you keep yours from filling up with rain while in the davits?

I drilled the correctly sized hole, port side, at the transom, and fitted a bung fitting. When we lift on the davits we lift the bow slightly higher than the stern and tip the aft port side down. This allows the dinghy to drain (just remember to replace the bung - before you deploy (and tie the bung on with a bit of string).

To lift we simply use a rope from the davit on the bow seat, right round (under) the seat and attach the rope to itself with a carabiner. At the aft, because it is to be lower we simply wrap 3 turns of 8mm rope round the seat and another carabiner clips to the turns. Just put the lift rope, for the bow and the turns of the rope through the bracket under the seat - and it will stay central. 1We store the oars in the dinghy on passage. O/B comes off on passage but stays on if we are just pottering. We flat pack and store the whole thing on top of the davits for long passages (and the seats and transom sit in the, spare, aft cabin).

We found the rope from the davits were not at quite the right spacing and rubbed and wore on the davits (ours are fibreglass) and we use short lengths of hose pipe to stop the abrasion. Make sure the divot rope re long enough to blow the dinghy to float nd blow you to attach them (I have to pull the dinghy alongside one of our transoms).

With the O/B on I cannot lift the transom unaided (we have no purchase system) - and use the mainsheet winch, which in our case is adjacent (so the lifting rope is long enough). I can lift the bow, so lift the bow by 'hand' and stern using the winch - in stages.

Good on coral nd pebbles where you do not need to worry about puncturing the hull.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Big advantage for the Fortress relative to the Guardian is that in sticky mud, the mud slides off the anodising much easier.

I've never tried a Guardian - so do not know. And had not thought about it.....

But I've just used a Fortress and a rusty (because it was never galvanised) Rocna in a cloying sand - and as you say - the Fortress comes out clean and Rocna came out encased.

At our size it might not matter much but large commercial anchors have a better performance if smooth and shiny. Stainless has technical advantages as will an anodised anchor as the aluminium is commonly polished prior to the anodising process.

Jonathan