Kedge size

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prv

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The new boat comes with a handy dedicated kedge locker right at the stern - always anchoring with bows up against the shore, those Scandinavians. Trouble is the locker, and in particular its hatch, are not all that big when compared against the dimensions of likely anchors. It's looking like the biggest Fortress (for example) that I can squeeze in would be an FX7.

I'm inclined to say that's too small for a kedge for a 34 foot boat, but what do others think?

Pete
 
Too small for serious use. Recommended size is FX 16, although that is for a bower. Depends on what you want to use it for. The more you want to rely on it to hold you in adverse conditions, the larger it needs to be.

Would imagine the builders just intended the kedge to hold the boat off a rock in light conditions so just paid lip service to having a dedicated locker.
 
Would the locker hold a Fortress of the size you want disassembled, or partially disassembled? It does not add to the convenience of course but they do not take long to assemble either.
 
Thanks for the opinions so far.

I'd probably be happy with one size down from the recommended bower - though the fact that Fortress only size their anchors for a 20knot wind is not ideal. I have a hoofing great Spade on the bow (their site says it's suitable for a fifty-footer, though the page has a number of errors so not 100% certain on that!) so the kedge is not expected to help out as part of a "storm anchoring" plan. Rather it's for precise positioning, limiting swing, etc, and also as a backup just in case the bower is ever lost (which, given the price of it, I hope never happens!).

For what it's worth, we're just under five tonnes, and have a fairly slippery rig (fractional, single-spreader, just one set of cap shrouds and one set of lowers).

It looks like I could get a Force 4 8kg Danforth through the hatch, possibly with slight modification. Not sure that's any better.

It's possible that a Guardian G11 would get in, but I'd have to try it.

BoB - I did consider dismantling the anchor, but it won't make a huge difference as the main problem is the length of the shank.

Pete
 
With roughly the same sized boat, perhaps a ton heavier, I have a FX16 kedge that has always been more than adequate. I guess that a FX11 would be fine although it is always nice to know that we have an alternative that is plenty big enough should we need it. Doesn't help with your stowing problem though.
 
Why do you insist that you must put whichever anchor you desire in that specific locker. The Fortress is so light you can move it anywhere anytime. Store it, the kedge, somewhere else, keep the rode in the locker. Consider a bracket on the transom for the kedge. But buying on the basis of locker size looks odd:)

We can carry our Fortress in a bridgedeck locker but a spare Excel or Spade, we can strap at the base of the mast (as they use locker space badly), not conventional, but works.

I might agree with Vyv's implications - Fortress seem to be very cautious with their sizings. Our Fortress and Excel are 'correctly' sized but the Fortress has a 30% greater surface area.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
Why do you insist that you must put whichever anchor you desire in that specific locker.
Click to expand...

Because there's buggerall other space!

All boats are a compromise, and the two major compromises on ours are the ergonomically awful position of the sheet winches and a severe shortage of above-decks stowage space.

Pete
 
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