Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-Known Member
Would be fine if it wasn't for the b/@@#% import taxes.
Lewmar - if you want an anchor, they have it, or will have it in stock soon at a chandler near you
- Thread starter Neeves
- Start date
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Sorry - but I know no more, in fact less, than anyone else. Captain Fantastic has seen one, which is more than most people can claim. I am reassured by the fact it has passed a Super High Holding Capacity test conducted under the supervision of a Classification Society and Rocna, Supreme, Excel, Ultra and Spade have the same 'measure' of performance. Noting that Deltas, Bruce and CQR were High Holding Power - half the hold of the SHHP. None of these anchors are perfect so it is unlikely the Epsilon will be much different (but it would be a pleasure to be surprised). But if the comments that the Epsilon is cheaper than the list I mention then price is going to determine success (in terms of units sold). Lewmar also has global reach and I am expecting Epsilon to be supplied by Lewmar as part of their equipment package, windlass, hatches, etc etc + anchor for some of the major builders. Note that hold is not the only characteristic of excellence - yawing resistance, carrying mud etc are also characteristics - that are not measured by the CS.
For anyone wanting to buy a new anchor I'd wait as long as possible - you might have set your heart on a Spade or Rocna and if the prices of Epsilon are low and it as good as the rest I'd expect to see prices soften of existing models.
Lewmar do appear to be setting themselves up as THE international anchor maker. They already compete head on with Fortress. They seem to have the top end of the Danforth market in their sights, Tie Down Engineering for a genuine model and Epsilon seems aimed squarely at the (shall I call them - new upstarts) Rocna/CMP; Spade; Excel/Anchor Right; Supreme/Manson. I exclude Ultra as sales are part determined by appearance rather than performance (though nothing wrong with Ultra performance) but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The downside of Lewmar taking on the rest of the world is that it may stifle innovation and no matter what is said the newer anchors (not forgetting Bruce) showed some real innovation and that 'leadership' has been missing from Lewmar since the Delta was introduced. Arguably Lewmar have taken facets from other anchors and incorporated them in the Epsilon - it would be sad if the skills of the back yard entrepreneur, including Mantus and Viking, are discouraged.
If you look at anchor assessment then it takes time for all the little foibles to be defined - look how long it has taken for the clogging of a Rocna to be accepted (if it is accepted by a majority now). Mantus was praised as the best thing since sliced bread - but even now people do not believe the reality. I obviously don't know what else has been missed. But don't expect a thorough evaluation of the Epsilon any time quickly.
Jonathan
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Neeves
Well-Known Member
I have not seen the underside of the Epsilon.
If you look at the underside of the Spade it has a ballast chamber, not exactly a fin, on the underside in the toe. The Excel has a convex protrusion on the underside of the toe. If you watch either of these 2 anchors setting these protrusions do not deleteriously impact performance. As the anchor sets it moves forward and these protrusions simply fall into the void made as the anchor sets and moves more deeply. I would assume the fin of the Epsilon is part of the ballast. In the same way the shank of an anchor resists lateral forces, the shank is a 'sort of' vertical fluke than a fin on the under side might also resist lateral forces and better offer bnalnce to the shank (which tends to turn the anchor on its side when loaded laterally.
Rocna, another ballasted anchor, addressed this in slightly different way by using a double thickness of steel in the toe. But the ballast is not 'focussed' like that of the Spade or Excel and the double thickness of steel will negatively impact performance (slightly) as fluke thickness resists fluke penetration.
Lots to look at - but being in the nether reaches of the world (gloriously useful during a pandemic less useful other times - 'The tyranny of Distance') I'm expecting samples to reach here long after they arrive in the UK and US.
Jonathan
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
Neeves
Well-Known Member
That looks not dissimilar to the ballast chamber on a Spade. The Excel ballast chamber is much less pronounced (and that of the Delta is flush with the bottom edge of the fluke).
By having such a pronounced ballast chamber the ballast is focussed in the toe - which is where you want it.
I'm interested in the convex top surface of the fluke of the Epsilon as if this is also ballast it would appear to contradict the idea of focussing ballast in the toe. This convex surface looks to mirror that of the Excel (which is hollow) and it helps to drive seabed to the sides and not collect it in the fluke.
We shall see......eventually
Jonathan
By having such a pronounced ballast chamber the ballast is focussed in the toe - which is where you want it.
I'm interested in the convex top surface of the fluke of the Epsilon as if this is also ballast it would appear to contradict the idea of focussing ballast in the toe. This convex surface looks to mirror that of the Excel (which is hollow) and it helps to drive seabed to the sides and not collect it in the fluke.
We shall see......eventually
Jonathan
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Why is it taking so long?We shall see......eventually
Jonathan
Neeves
Well-Known Member
They actually 'released' the Epsilon and aluminium Fortress look alike anchors at METS 3 years ago, and then again at METS 2 years ago. Since then they have had a Classification Society approve the Epsilon, after testing somewhere on the east coat of the UK. The last promise was the the stainless version would be released about now and the galvanised version in a coupe of months. Why the delays - no idea, makes little sense. The aluminium LFX, (Fortress look alike) has been for sale for some weeks now (at least in the US)
Most of the chandlers have had the Epsilon on their websites for a couple of months, with prices.
I spoke to the distributors here - they have no idea when they will have stock.
I think it was Jimmy Green who gave the best availability - but as it does not impact me it was not a very useful bit of information - and I've forgotten the details
. If anyone has a spare minute and could contact Jimmy Green and update the availability - he, or she, would provide a great serviceJonathan
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Perhaps they announced it before they finished developing it?They actually 'released' the Epsilon and aluminium Fortress look alike anchors at METS 3 years ago, and then again at METS 2 years ago. Since then they have had a Classification Society approve the Epsilon, after testing somewhere on the east coat of the UK. The last promise was the the stainless version would be released about now and the galvanised version in a coupe of months. Why the delays - no idea, makes little sense. The aluminium LFX, (Fortress look alike) has been for sale for some weeks now (at least in the US)
Most of the chandlers have had the Epsilon on their websites for a couple of months, with prices.
I spoke to the distributors here - they have no idea when they will have stock.
I think it was Jimmy Green who gave the best availability - but as it does not impact me it was not a very useful bit of information - and I've forgotten the details
Jonathan
Poey50
Well-Known Member
I think it was Jimmy Green who gave the best availability - but as it does not impact me it was not a very useful bit of information - and I've forgotten the details
Jonathan
Within the last week Jimmy Green changed availability from 'February' to 'Late March'.