Kobra folding anchors

[JimC]

I'm planning to increase my anchor size, currently have a 10Kg Delta, would like to increase to 14-16Kg but a Delta of this size won't fit in my bow locker. However the Kobra 1 folding anchor would fit. Has anyone any experience with these anchors? My fear is that the tricky folding mechanism might fail under extreme load or become clogged by sand or stones picked up from the seabed. I see that they are now selling a Kobra 2 which has the folding mechanism replaced by a semi-permanent nut and bolt. Is this a tacit admission that the folding version had flaws?

 

[VicMallows]

Yes! Surely you read the forum sponsor's magasine!.

The November YM carried an anchor comparison feature which gave the KOBRA 2 very high marks, but commented that the folding aspect of the original KOBRA had proved to be a weak point.

Anyone got practical experience of the KOBRA 2?

 

[JimC]

Surely you read the forum sponsor's magasine!.

Sorry Vic and YM, I am suitably contrite. So if the folding version is no good and the fixed version is too big, that's the end of that idea. The Manson Supreme is the bee's knees by most accounts and the 25 lb version would easily fit in my locker, but at £195 it's about twice the price of the Kobra. On the other hand that's only about 7 nights visitors' berthing fees in a marina.

 

[Krusty]

------- The Manson Supreme is the bee's knees by most accounts and the 25 lb version would easily fit in my locker, but at £195 it's about twice the price of the Kobra. On the other hand that's only about 7 nights visitors' berthing fees in a marina.

With that anchor you can sleep easy in wild anchorages in preference to marinas and save
its cost without even trying!

 

[rickym]

Why would you want to be in a 'wild' anchorage?

 

[VicMallows]

The Manson Supreme is the bee's knees by most accounts and the 25 lb version would easily fit in my locker, but at £195 it's about twice the price of the Kobra..

Precisely the same dilemma, and exactly why I'm waiting for real-life reports on the KOBRA 2.
I've been happy enough with my now very rusty 25lb CQR for 25 years (have you seen today's prices!!), and just thought it might be time to try a 'new breed'.

Vic

 

[RobBrown]

Jim C

If you like the roll bar New Gen anchors but don't fancy the prices of the likes of Rocna & Manson, you could consider one of the original designs, the Bugel. My galvanised 14kg Bugel from Schwenckner in Germany was £110 including delivery.

 

[TonyMS]

Kobra

We've used a folding Kobra (14Kg on 30ft cat) since 1993. Outstanding performance. Although we've bent other anchors, the Kobra looks as good as new, and gives no anxiety on that, or any other score

Tony MS

 

[dulcibella]

I've just installed a 20kg Kobra 2 to replace my rusting 45lb CQR (which will get a couple of coats of galvafroid then find a place for occasions when I think that two anchors would be a good idea. I'll report on the relative effectiveness of the two in due course. My general experience of the CQR is that it's good in mud or clay but sets poorly in hard sand.

 

[Blue Fox]

I had bad experiences with a Kobra 12 kg. Once, in the middle of the night, when the wind changed and the boat swung to the other side it began slipping - we had a lot of fun in pouring rain and rising wind. And mind you, I had used the engine to set it! On several other occasions it would not set (in common mud and sand). Changed it for a Rocna this year. Very pleased with that one - although too expensive.

 

[JimC]

I had bad experiences with a Kobra 12 kg.... Changed it for a Rocna this year. Very pleased with that one - although too expensive.

Thanks for that Blue Fox, a bit of direct personal experience exactly answering my dilema.