Is my anchor the right size?

jonnybuoy

jonnybuoy

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I have a 23ft boat with a 5Kg Bruce anchor. The reason I ask whether it is the right size is that I get anchor drift quite often. I try and make sure I lay enough chain (3-4*depth). The common feature of the occasions when it drags is seaweed - the anchor will invariably come up covered in the stuff so on these occasions I assume it gets covered before it can bite and then just slides along the sea bed. So have I got the right size anchor or do I need to lay more chain or am I doing something else wrong?

Cheers

Jon.
 
When you anchor, do you try to find a non-weedy patch? I always try to choose a lighter coloured patch in the water (it's usually sandy) and avoid the darker (weedy) patches if at all possible. Have someone on the bows as look-out then drop the anchor on the sandy area and make sure it is on the bottom before you drift/motor back and dig it in.

The Bruce is not very good in weed. If you have a Bruce copy (no 'Bruce' name on the shank) then this will be even worse as it will have blunt flukes - the genuine Bruce's flukes are much sharper. A 5kg copy may be a bit light for your boat.

Others will no doubt advise changing to a different anchor. I have never had much trouble with my plough but newer designs may be better.
 
A 5Kg anchor isn't particularly small, although it depends on how heavy your boat is. For 23', we recommend a 6Kg for up to 1.5 tonnes and a 10Kg if more.

However, Bruces are not the best of anchors, and even their proponents will recognize they need to be over-sized. So, yes, your anchor is too small.

If you're going to upgrade, then don't get another Bruce - get something decent. Having said that the genuine Bruce is no longer made, so you might have trouble finding one anyway.

The Bruce will not set well in weed. Neither will a lot of other anchors, but if you look at the more modern types you will find something useful. I would normally advise Delta, but not for weed.

3 - 4 times the depth is barely adequate, and that's assuming you're measuring "the depth" as from the anchor roller, not the waterline. Measuring from your roller, you should accept 3:1 as an absolute minimum, and consider 5:1 more appropriate. 7:1 in bad conditions.
 
just as a note, we use a danforth. brilliant in sand, seems totally useless in mud . we just accept we need to find sand...
so change of anchor, or change of anchorage !
 
Thanks for replies. Sounds like I need to get a slightly bigger one that is defo not a Bruce (and yes I think I might have a Bruce copy..)
 
I've found Bruce anchors to be pretty useless in weed as they cant seem to cut through to the sea bed. The Delta performs better in this respect. For 20-30', Lewmar recommend 6kg or 10kg models
 
Anchor Size

For weed the antique design of anchor is needed. Beware of the fact that with this type of anchor a point is left sticking up. In the past this caused so much trouble that in the good old days of "Merrie England" failing to mark the anchor with a buoy was a hanging offence! The problem was that ships sometimes settled onto the anchors as the tide went out. IMHO the fisherman anchor should only be used in deep water. Good luck!
 
With any type of anchor the bigger the better is the correct motto. So yes, go for a 10kg minimum as you obviously anchor regularly. Remember that boat builders supply the anchor that looks pretty on the bow regardless of whether it will do the job or not.
 
Keep the bruce as a kedge & get something heavier & a different design cos that will give you a different set of suitable bottom conditions. It was probably fitted by the manufacturer as a cheap option or only ever intended for lunch stops.
 
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