Fortress vs Copy - Serious Anchor question

[rwoofer]

I have a Bulldog kedge anchor which I inherited and looks like this:

And here is the only sales blurb that I have found on a German site:

[ QUOTE ]
Unique anchor construction from a special aluminum alloy with extreme holding force. The BULLDOG anchor has 30% more fluke surface, is dismantle able for easy stowing away, is completely rustproof and the angle of attack of the flukes is adjustable for different anchorage. With the help of screw-wrench and cross tip screwdriver he is assembled at few minutes. Extensive tests of the US Navy have proved that lightweight anchors of such type own extreme holding forces. If one tries to determine for every anchor an average holding value from the different anchorages to be able to conclude on an all-round feature, then the Bulldog anchor with 238 Dekanewton (with only 2.8 kg of weight) cuts off best. All other anchors in the test weigh 4-6 times more (10-15,4kg)!



[/ QUOTE ]

As you can see it looks remarkable like a Fortress and having had a quick look at a real Fortress at LIBS, I really find it difficult to tell the difference. Now I have never seen an anchor test of the Bulldog, but the generic feeling is that copies are never as good as the originals. Before I go and buy a Fortress (cause I like to be able to sleep soundly at anchor) to replace it, does anyone have any experience of a Bulldog or know anything about them?

 

[damo]

If I am using it as a kedge only then I personally wouldn't worry too much about it

 

[Richard10002]

I thought you had a Spade??

 

[JKay]

All I can say is the fortress is a proper piece of kit!

I took the piss but a great anchor kicks above Its weight

Cheers Joe

 

[PBooth]

Hi, I thought that the Bulldog is a cheaper version of the Fortress, made by the same firm, not sure of the differences, anodising maybe? I have a fortress kedge, find it excellent.

Peter

 

[bluedragon]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi, I thought that the Bulldog is a cheaper version of the Fortress, made by the same firm, not sure of the differences, anodising maybe? I have a fortress kedge, find it excellent.

Peter

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the Guardian anchor (which we have as a kedge). Works well on our boat, except on a weed over sand bottom where it's useless (but so might other designs be...)

 

[jimbaerselman]

OK. Along comes a cynic.

The shape is no longer in patent, so sensible Fortress make a lightweight version in aluminium alloy, and charge a fine premium for an anchor which has extremely good holding power for it's weight.

Lots of other manufacturers get the point, and other anchor shapes appear in alloy.

Bulldog feel there's no patent protection for the Fortress design, but reckon the margins are good enough to undercut it and still make a fine profit.

Last step: Fortress reduce their margins after a PR battle claiming 'imitations are never as good as the real thing', accompanied by pictures of bent or fractured metal.

 

[craigsmith]

[ QUOTE ]
As you can see it looks remarkable like a Fortress and having had a quick look at a real Fortress at LIBS, I really find it difficult to tell the difference. Now I have never seen an anchor test of the Bulldog, but the generic feeling is that copies are never as good as the originals. Before I go and buy a Fortress (cause I like to be able to sleep soundly at anchor) to replace it, does anyone have any experience of a Bulldog or know anything about them?

[/ QUOTE ]As Jim says, the Fortress is only a copy of the Danforth in terms of its type, so to take your question literally, there is no issue with it the fact that it's a copy per se - they are both copies. However I guess you mean an identical copy, aluminium construction and collapsable design and all.

In this case I would look to see if it matches exactly the Fortress. I would guess it won't, although I can't comment directly without inspecting one in person. The usual rationale behind a copy is it needs to be cheaper to be successful, otherwise the existing brand's dominance (that of Fortress in this case) will remain unchallenged. That in turn implies short-cuts - make construction compromises that the unwitting consumer is unlikely to investigate, and cut costs.

Check the angles, check the accuracy of the metal working, check how the assembled mechanisms feel once put together, check exactly what alloy is being used and the mechanical properties of it.

The Fortress is already an anchor with complications that are not ideal - numerous bolts and tools required to assemble before use, a reliance on multiple fastenings for strength, and additional small parts which can be lost.

Jim supposes a high margin on Fortresses, but it is an expensive anchor to produce with many parts (for an anchor). I would guess anything that's much cheaper and supposedly the same, is in fact nothing like as good.

 

[vyv_cox]

I recommend that you never sleep on a Fortress anchor. They hold extremely well with a straight line pull, so are ideal as a kedge. They are particularly poor at rebedding when the tide or wind turn. Mine has dragged twice in these circumstances, fortunately during daylight when we were sitting in the cockpit.

 

[Leighb]

[ QUOTE ]
I recommend that you never sleep on a Fortress anchor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would be seriously uncomfortable I would think /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[FullCircle]

I have had a Bulldog 16 for 3 years as a kedge, but I use it when racing with 5m of chain and anchorplait.
Of course, I have really only used it as a lunch hook on the east coast mud, but its light and easy to work with.
I bought mine as a 'bargain' at Beaulieu for 40 quid still in its box unused so figured it would be worth a punt.
I stood it side by side with a fortress, and, like you, struggle to see the differences, and nothing has rotted away or shows any signs of distress.
As I say, I havent (and wouldnt) use it as a main, but as my choice of kedge ( I also have a Bruce 15kg kedge) it is well suited.

It wont fit easily on my bow roller anyway, and is wide with the cross bar, so not east to store on deck , but then again I have a huge anchor locker which swallows it and the main/chain.

Keep it!

 

[Marmalade]

Richard - our kedge is a bulldog - never hd a problem but never relied on it for a night. As a kedge it was fine

Simon

 

[rwoofer]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I saved some money. I will keep the Bulldog and try it out this season. The main use for it will be for beaching when the Spade will be up front and the Bulldog holding the stern away from the beach.