Fortress Lightweight 'Danforth' style anchor

[snorkmaiden]

Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

We have a standard steel Danforth as a secondary anchor but it's heavy and a bit difficult to handle. We are hoping to sail to the Med. next year and a second anchor (stern) is essential for bow-to mooring in Greece as well as a second anchor for heavy weather. Any comments? We have a Sadler 29.

 

[Ariadne]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

Go get yourself a nice Fortress anchor.

Lightweight, great holding, basicly it does what it says on the box.

 

[michael_w]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

Another vote for the Fortress. Quite amazing how such a puny little thing has such terrific straight line holding power. Perfect as a kedge.

 

[ChrisE]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

Anothr vote for a Fortress, we have 10 ton 38' boat that sits very happily on a 10kg Fortress which is about half the weight of any other the anchors we have used.

Not a complete answer to all anchoring problems but in our experience they work well.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

Fortress tis my main anchor, sailing a lightweight trimeringue.

Great in sand and mud. Once they have dug well in, it's getting them out again that can be a problem.

Not so great when the tide turns.

They need to be stopped on the sea bed to get a chance to dig in. If you are moving backwards, they just skid over the seabed and never get a hold. Stop, lay out your cable, and then pull on them slowly.

 

[snowleopard]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

I have 2 Fortresses. In really soft mud they are the only thing that will hold but they burrow so well that they can be near-impossible to get up again.

I have had some bad experiences of trying to get the Fortress to set on hard mud or sand. They tend to glide over the bottom without biting at all. I wouldn't use one on a rocky bottom as they can bend fairly easily.

On the plus side they are light and tidy to stow at the bottom of a locker which is where mine spend most of their time.

 

[FullCircle]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

[ QUOTE ]
Go get yourself a nice Fortress anchor.

Lightweight, great holding, basicly it does what it says on the box.

[/ QUOTE ]
Me too. 35 foot boat and an FX16. It works well in our mud.

 

[KellysEye]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

Agree with Fortress recommendations. We have two, one as a second anchor and another (big monster) as a storm anchor.

 

[Kilter]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

our fortress has held on sand in the Conwy river and this includes the change of tide; it didn't move.

 

[craigsmith]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

Danforths / Fortresses are okay if used with a knowledge of the drawbacks. If lightness-of-weight is the objective, I would prefer something like an alloy Spade instead however. This will provide a far superior solution.

An overview of Danforth-types and their characteristics is here:
www.rocna.com/kb/Old_generation_anchors

 

[samwise]

Re: Fortress Lightweight \'Danforth\' style anchor

We carried a lightweight Fortress as kedge on our big trip down to the Med via the Atlantic route and it did a perfect job every time. Ideal if you need to dinghy the kedge out to set up a fork moor or similar. Sound investment.
Incidentally, we dumped our CQR bower for a Delta.