My choice of anchor is . . .

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
The CQR is still very alive and well in all the cruising areas I have been to. It is still actively marketed by Lewmar. It is the No. 1 anchor of choice for long distance sailors, bar none.

[/ QUOTE ] - So says Lady Jessie in another post. I am a bit surprised to hear this so have created a poll which may be of interest.

Only 'long distance sailors' should answer - for purposes of this poll let's say this includes anyone who cruises or is cruising or has cruised beyond UK territorial waters for a month or more a year at least once in the previous five years.

- Nick

 

[nordic_ranger]

[ QUOTE ]
'long distance sailors' should answer - for purposes of this poll let's say this includes anyone who cruises or is cruising or has cruised beyond UK territorial waters for a month or more a year at least once in the previous five years.

[/ QUOTE ]

So how are the rest of going to see the results of the poll and gain knowledge from it?.

 

[webcraft]

Ah yes . . . you can;t see the results of the poll until you have voted.

Sorry about that oversight, but I can't edit the post any more so can only offer to report the results . . .

As of this moment, 9 CQR, 2 Danforth and 10 various 'New Generation' anchors

 

[LadyJessie]

Sorry Webcraft, this is a nice try but it will not give you the answer you want. This question that you have posted assumes that a large community of long distance cruisers are logged on and participating in web blogs able to participate in surveys. That is not really true. Most cruisers go to a internet cafe to send their emails. Logging into YBW and post their latest views on anchors will not be high on their minds of where to spend their money. This might be a harsh conclusion on this blog but I must admit that this forum might be a biased view of either the wealthy cruisers (of which I have to admit I am probably one) that can participate online while still out at sea, or the sailor that is land bound with time to spend. Not necessarily a representative selection.

I understand that you have good intentions. It might just not get you to the answer you are searching. Look carefully for your sampling population.

 

[Bajansailor]

Agreed, but it will still be interesting to see what the final consensus is - at the moment the CQR is in the lead by a healthy margin!

 

[FAITIRA]

Very true, we are here for the winter using a eircom wireless system, not usually available to us. Plus, with respect L. J., I am not certain of the value of the survey. Many coastal/ weekend sailors will do as much or more anchoring than many of we liveaboard/abroad sailors, for example,I did as much mileage when I was working as I do now (excepting long crossings when one dosn,t anchor much!) with many more seperate overnight anchoring situations , so their experience is at least equally representative.

 

[FAITIRA]

By the way all, my observations re the value of the survey were for TAO our friend "webcraft", not L J.

 

[hylass]

Seen on: web page
Question:

What do you use as your primary anchor

Bruce 29 (39.7%)

Danforth 18 (24.7%)

Delta 11 (15.1%)

Other Plow type 8 (11%)

QDR 5 (6.8%)

Other 2 (2.7%)


Total Voters: 72

Will the results here be different from the American ones?? /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[merseamercy]

Not so sure I see the point of this thread - I think "popularity" is no way to choose something like an anchor.

By this logic MacDonalds makes the best hamburgers.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed, popularity isn't the soundest way to choose when new products are being introduced. In a static market, with no new products, popularity becomes valid. The reason for the thread is that Lady Jessie made a claim that she could not substantiate and the OP is running a poll to see whether the claim has any validity. The claim is the quote in the first post - if you read the first post it will all become clear.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Well, anchors keep much longer than hamburgers, and they're more expensive to replace (especially when you have to modify your bow rollers) so we'll see a very conservative view from this poll.

How long has Mr/Ms average been long distance cruising? Or how old is the vessel? Average, say, 10 to 15 years?

As you say, popularity is not a measure of efficiency. It's a measure of conservative values . . . or perhaps the marketing budget.

 

[craigsmith]

There's also a slight flaw in the options - there is no "CQR copy" or "Bruce copy" option. I expect many of the CQR votes will in fact be for generic ploughs.

 

[craigsmith]

[ QUOTE ]
...popularity is not a measure of efficiency. It's a measure of conservative values...

[/ QUOTE ]Absolutely.

The CQR's popularity is maintained even today by the simple fact that it enjoyed a near complete monopoly on the small boat anchor market, the Danforth notwithstanding, for around 50 years after its introduction. In fact, the demand for and consequent success of newer anchors in the face of such establishment should, if anything, give the luddites cause to question their convictions.

I also notice that Simpson-Lawrence and Lewmar used to state that a majority of "Ocean Cruising Club members choose the CQR"... but this has now been removed from Lewmar's material.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think that there should have been a CQR copy option. The question is trying to get to peoples' preference and surely nobody would prefer a copy? Where is fails, I think, is in making it clear enough that the respondent should give the anchor they would choose starting with clean sheet. From the wording, some people might give an answer coloured by the cost of changing and simply answer with whatever anchor they happen to have - an entirely different question - and one which we all know the answer to, without a poll!

 

[webcraft]

Thanks for pointing out to people that they should read the first post in the thread to see the reason for the poll . . .

So far it would seem that about half the people who have responded use HHP anchors. Of all the conventional types the CQR far outweighs them all - if this poll is representative.

I am a bit surprised at this as it does NOT bear out what we have been seeing on the bow rollers of hundreds of long distance cruisers here in the Canaries over the last five months. I would estimate that well under 20% sport CQRs, and that nearly as many as have CQRs have Bruces (which I find very surprising, and which is not in any way born out by the poll so far).

Our own observations would tend to indicate that French and German boats in particular have a high percentage of Bugels or copies of something similar with the roll bar, while the Delta is the most popular of the 'new' anchors among British boats. There are few Spades or Rocnas though - purely because of the price I suspect.

Our observations over several months here at one of the world's great cruising crossroads certainly do not bear out Lady Jessie's observations on the predominance of the CQR . . .

- W

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
Our observations over several months here at one of the world's great cruising crossroads certainly do not bear out Lady Jessie's observations on the predominance of the CQR

[/ QUOTE ]What you are seeing in the Canaries supports what I see in the anchorages as opposed to in the marina. Which makes sense - the Canaries are the traditional stepping stone for the Atlantic crossing and a high proportion of people will have kitted out for their time to come in the Caribbean and will to a great extent be the anchor of their choosing rather than what has been hanging from the bow since the boat was built. There are loads of CQRs here but the majority of boats seldom move - these are not cruising boats. Maybe they once were, but all the kit is out of date and renewables need renewing.

In the anchorages, there are still a lot of CQRs in use here but the Brittany, Danforth, Bugel and Delta (in no particular order) are more common. Bruces tend to be on larger older boats and every Bruce owner I have spoken to has either sharpened his with an angle grinder or has plans to replace it. I replaced mine this winter for a Delta. But they still have a following, which is great, I suppose, because mine is still for sale /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
Our observations over several months here at one of the world's great cruising crossroads certainly do not bear out Lady Jessie's observations on the predominance of the CQR . . .

[/ QUOTE ]Well fair enough. We all have different experiences and there is certainly not one truth in this matter, just opinions. Very interesting to note your poll of the Canaries, that did surprise me. Wonder why that would be so different from the cruising bases I have seen. I mainly base my opinion on my own experience and that of others at another great crossroad for long distance cruisers: Yacht Marine in Marmaris, Turkey. This place has the largest population of long distance cruisers I have yet to come across and there was something like 350 liveaboards in the Marmaris Bay last winter. A very un-scientific study of these came up with about 70% CQR. The rest is very much like your observation; the German and French boats have a very high proportion of Bruce and Bugels. The bruce also seems to be most popular on American boats. I found one Spade and no Rocna. Now, is this significant? Well, as is correctly stated above; popular does not necessarily make a thing better. I think the only conclusion I can draw is that sailors with a lot of anchoring experience has a CQR more often than anything else. It might be that they have had it for a long time, that is a function of being a long term cruiser. But I think it simpler than that; you stick to what you have a good experience with. Don't fix it if it ain't broken is a very basic rule on my boat. It might be that some of those "new anchors" will prove itself in the cruiser market and become more popular in the future. Time will tell, but in the meantime I will stay conservative and safe in a very important piece of equipment. Others might experiment and I am very glad to listen. But I have yet to hear many cruisers that I have met say something positive about these new things. Yes, cruisers are a very conservative lot, and there is a good reason for that.

 

[ccscott49]

The thing is with the bruce anchor, it was never designed to be set, turned and re-set itself. It was designed for semi submersible and jack up rigs in the north sea mainly, they are set, used, then pulled, no swinging about on these anchors. I'm sure Landaftaf will back me up, he's set and pulled a few out here. I wouldnt have one, but thats personal opinion.

 

[Sea Devil]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the only conclusion I can draw is that sailors with a lot of anchoring experience has a CQR more often than anything else. It might be that they have had it for a long time, that is a function of being a long term cruiser. But I think it simpler than that; you stick to what you have a good experience with. Don't fix it if it ain't broken is a very basic rule on my boat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with all of that and my own observations, as well as the poll, do indicate that the CQR is the anchor of choice of perhaps the majority of long distance cruisers... I came to the CQR via a danforth and then a bruce. I also carried a fishermans which I used infrequently but was good in certain conditions.. I experimented briefly with a couple of 'new' anchors and found a fortress to be excellent.

It is interesting that a poll which is only for people actually doing or have recently done long distance cruising and lived on the 'hook' for years, supports the CQR opinion but others who have 'created' something that is not widely used, rubbish the poll... As I said in another place - local conditions may well make certain types of anchor more appropriate but 'world wide' the majority of blue water sailors go with a CQR mainly because it works... If it didn't - they would get something else very fast...

 

[trouville]

I agree about the bruce and bought one only to use in thick mud or sand in harbours that havent the ground lines becouse there free or whatever.The Bruce was so cheep!But dosent get in the way on the transom and dose hold in mud!

The poll was a bit unfair becouse if i could only choose one anchor to take with me id choose the CQR,but in fact 90% of my anchorings done with my Danforth only becouse apart from its super holding is easy and quick to stowe,although the CQR isent difficult.Just one extra lashing.Two for the CQR and one for the Danforth.

Ive also given up with Lidel bread mix!When i followed the instructions and baked the bread at 200 degrees for one hour in an electric oven it burnt!!I suspect the chemical riseing agents expensive??So they dont put enough in thats why the bread always turns out so "heavy" which for Rye bread or full corn isent so bad but its a bit boreing over time.

Ive gone back to adding dry yeast or makeing flat bread with yeast both make great toast and are fine to eat,Useing yeast i buy flour not from Lidle(25 cents kg but No 45) but from maxi marche intermarche or a shop for between 20/40 cents a kg but for No55.This saves as the Lidle pre mix costs 75 cents a kg and dry yeast can be found for 50 cents for 10 2grm packs.

I cant see why everyone posts about anchors (i know i do but i needent realy) as i said somewhere else the CQR and Danforth and no doubt others hold so well when set that the main thing is the chain/line length weight and risk of snubing which in my experiance would have broken the chain before breaking the anchor out!I was stupid and lazy enough to get my self in such a possition.

Im sure a CQR properly used and a suitable weight will hold her boat just as well as any anchor once i asked a diver to go down(as they had just come into the port) as i thought my anchor had fouled in sestri levente (IT) they said it was fine!!Thick mud and a Danforth.