Just change Bruce (fake) to Delta ! Results

branko

branko

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Till today I have Bruce type 20 kg anchor by Plastimo and change it to Delta 16 kg.
I try it on different bottoms and I must say that Delta is much , much better.
You fill on all boat when anchor catch the bottom. I never had such results with Bruce.
 
The Bruce is a good anchor, though limited in situations where it works well I think. The Delta came second only to the Spade in tests by US Practical Sailor, so you made a good choice there I think.
 
I have never been able to understand how the blunt rounded flukes
of a Bruce are supposed to penetrate the seabed, unless it's soft mud!
I think they were developed in much larger sizes first where their weight
will help, but at yacht sizes I'm sure pointy ones work best. I can't tell the
difference tween a CQR or Delta on my boat.
I suspect they are fitted to new boats because the shanks are so thin and
they fit in the smaller sizes of bow rollers.
When I was searching for a new roller last year, it was difficult to find one
that fitted a Delta well enough.
 
Isn't a 16KG anchor a bit small for a Bavaria 40? I guess your old Bruce type anchor may have been supplied with the boat, but I thought that the ones supplied with UK bought Bavarias were a bit on the small side. The Delta may have better holding power, but I am surprised that you were able to go down a size.
 
All the tests I've read are unanimous, the Bruce has less holding power than the other patent anchors but have an aadvantage in speed of re-setting.

Comparing the (real) CQR with the Delta, the Delta is far easier to stow, sets more quickly and has very similar holding power. On balance I suspect it's, weight for weight, a better anchor than the CQR.

However historical inertia means I have a CQR as my bower anchor.
 
I rate the Delta and used them on my previouse boats, this time, I have changed from CQR to Spade. So far I have only used the Spade on three occasions, I am mightily immpressed sets very easily and holding even through Kelp has been superb. The worst anchor I have ever come across was a CQR patern.
 
Try a real Bruce, not a fake before you give up on them.

I have tried genuine CQRs with reasonable results, but I am now totally sold on GENUINE Bruce designs. I have found that a very modest Bruce (5Kg) will hold my Superseal very adequately on all East Coast esuaries I have tried. We anchor frequently and because of our lift-keel, we are often in v shallow water close to shore. The instant bite/dig-in is vital and much better than CQR, with high ultimate holding also (although can end up quite deeply buried!). We do have a 7.5Kg, but for shorter unexposed stays the smaller anchor is easier to manage.

Imitations seem to have a blunter leading edge and may not be identical in shape.
 
No, a 16 kg Delta is quite adequate for a 40 ft boat. In this table you can see that 12m is only just in the size range for this anchor. Simpson Lawrence used to recommend it for boats up to 46 ft.

Notice in the table that for the CQR, 40 ft is at the top of the range.
 
Interesting, I am surprised how light some of the recommendations are. My 45 foot Jeanneau carries a 60 lb genuine CQR as main anchor, but I have seen similar size boats with smaller ones.
 
Well I use a 16 kg Delta for my 30 foot boat and I've never felt that it's too big! Most of the pilot books for the West Coast recommend using an anchor "one size up" from the normal recommendation so I suppose that ties in.

Incidentally, I bought mine some years ago in a chandler's in London where it was going cheap, took it to Heathrow via the Central line in the evening peak (the end of the stock being just the right height to catch commuters' shins), then checked it in as hold baggage. It got distinctly odd looks going round the carousel at Glasgow - all of 5 miles from where it was made in the first place... Not sure what that says about fuel efficiency and the market economy!
 
The load on an anchor is affected by both weight (of boat) and windage. In flat water with a strong wind there will be a steady pull from the windage whereas in a swell the weight of the boat causes snatching.

Both these effects are related to boat size but will also vary from one design to another. A lighter boat with low windage will need smaller ground tackle than say a heavy displacement gaffer.

I have relatively light tackle but my boat, though 40 ft, displaces only 5 tons and has very low windage because of its unstayed rig. A heavy boat with lots of gear aloft - a pilot cutter for example - would need at least one size larger for the same LOA.

For those who swear by one or even two sizes larger: of course your gear will work but how do you know the smaller recommended sizes wouldn't work just as well?
 
Good point I got an 6 kg Delta on a Carrera and it works QED
self launch and stow,stable,self cleaning and light

cheers Joe
 
We are 40 foot and carry a 60 lb plough as main anchor (not a CQR, and perhaps surprising for some forumites not being CQR does not automatically disqualify them from being effective /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

Going by the table I see that we could get by with an 8.1kg Guardian anchor (whatever they are), but I don't think I will be rushing out to buy one /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I subscribe to Charles's "historical inertia" myself and find we remain happily anchored when all or most others have scarpered in fright.

John
 
I went into the chandlers for a 16kg Delta and thought that is way to big and bought the 10kg. At nearly full astern I could not budge it. I carry a heavy Danforth about 15kg, so I think I should be set.

I have a 10kg (apparently, I keep meaning to actually weigh it) Bruce copy that I have never had confidence in since the day I bought it. Fine as a lunch hook.

I now want a lightweight anchor as a kedge, maybe a fortress (is that the ally one) but have no idea how light I could go before it is useless, I want it for stern to mooring in the med.

Sorry to jump the thread, but would appreciate any thoughts on this one.
 
Hi Woofy one.

Fortress have recommended anchor size for various boat lengths on their internet site. Haven't looked for a while so haven't the URL to hand, but I know competent Woofies will find it (if you want to see recommendations for small anchor for big boat, look at the lengths they say OK to go to and the weight for the FX120 anchor).

Regards

John
 
[ QUOTE ]
Going by the table I see that we could get by with an 8.1kg Guardian anchor (whatever they are), but I don't think I will be rushing out to buy one /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
John

[/ QUOTE ]

A Guardian is the low fat Fortress. Nearly the same but a bit less spec'ed and a tad smaller. Most would be better on this due to price alone, it's just nasty as opposed to the very nasty Fortress :-)

Good point about the CQR. There are one or 2 (not very many) of equal or better quality / price / strength and, dare I say it, performance. Surprisingly none of them are made in China.

As to the comment above by (err... sorry forgot your name) you are right. If you stick a genuine Bruce alongside a Claw (knock-off) you will see differant geometry, some OK and some bad. The biggest worry is how good is the chinese casting i.e. Is this a good one or not?
 
Yes, I have read on a number of sites of how the claw and varois imitation bruces are very inferior to the genuine Bruce which is used by oil rigs in North Sea. From the smallest to the largest Bruce anchor, the geometry is identical. Our Bruce has never dragged and we use it about 60 times a year. We use a 30kg bruce on a Princess 55 with 10mm chain with 3:1 scope or more if there is a blow. When the anchor sets we know we're safe. There have been occasions when trying to anchor on hard rock it has never set but that is to be expected with nearly all types of anchor and we simply moved to a softer bottom.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, I have read on a number of sites of how the claw and varois imitation bruces are very inferior to the genuine Bruce which is used by oil rigs in North Sea.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats all good but the Bruce you have is very very differant from what the rigs use. Same company (or was until recently) but very differant anchors.

Bruces don't like small scopes so don't be shy in chucking more chain/rope out. 3:1 is a minimum.
 
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