My Spade's gone belly up

[jeremyshaw]

My Spade\'s gone belly up

I had my Spade S140 regalvanised a while ago. Since then we have dragged a few times which we never used to do. A friend advised that regalvanising would have melted the lead in the tip, which would need replacing. Good point!

Recently I watched as the anchor dragged on its side for about 50m on a very good sandy bottom. Not having the weight of lead in the tip was preventing it from turning over, which explained why we had dragged when the wind changed (poor resetting).

Fortunately we have an A140 (alu Spade) as a backup, so that's now doing a fine job. Being lighter it doesn't cut through hard ground as well as the steel one, but that's rarely a problem in the Caribbean.

I asked Spade for advice and they helpfully confirmed:
"Your friend is quite correct, the lead does disappear during the galvanising
process and we advise that it should be removed before galvanising. You
will need to fill the cavity with lead until you reach the shank socket.
(slightly overlapping the shank socket on the bottom and less on the top)."

So if you regalv your Spade, relead it too!

 

[AncoraLatina]

Re: My Spade\'s gone belly up

[ QUOTE ]
<span style="color:blue">I had my Spade S140 regalvanised a while ago. Since then we have dragged a few times which we never used to do. A friend advised that regalvanising would have melted the lead in the tip, which would need replacing. Good point! </span>

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry JeremyShaw, but you should be wrong! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

According to the Rocna Anchors knowledge base , they wrote:

<span style="color:green"> While the Spade performs well, it has a number of drawbacks…. It has too much emphasis on tip-weight (50% weight-on-tip). The dedicated tip-weight that is required to achieve this is unnecessary and inefficient... </span> /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If this weight is " unnecessary and inefficient " Why should you replace it?? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

João

 

[craigsmith]

Re: My Spade\'s gone belly up

This is one of the smaller issues with any anchor with a lead tip, including CQR knock-offs which use lead inserts. Re-galvanizing is more complex and costly because of it.

Your account of the anchor failing to right itself is noteworthy, as it illustrates how the Spade requires the dedicated tip-weight for ballast (not for assisting penetration, as Alain Poiraud has always claimed). Without it, naturally the anchor's balance is shot and it does not attain the correct attitude for setting.

A more efficient design finds a way to avoid this requirement for ballast, and to use this weight in the form of fluke area or structural strength.

Here's the link to the full Rocna Knowledge Base article, since Alain mentioned it [redirected]:
Spade and Sword new generation anchors explained

As Spade advise, you will need to replace the lead to get it working according to design.

 

[mustntgrumble]

Re: My Spade\'s gone belly up

[ QUOTE ]
including CQR knock-offs which use lead inserts

[/ QUOTE ]
I regalvanised my genuine CQR some time back to make up minimum weight charge when having chain done - and have wondered if I'd made a big mistake ever since. Not used anchor, I'd got a larger one. Do genuine CQRs have lead inside waiting to make a run for it?

 

[westhinder]

Re: My Spade\'s gone belly up

I had my genuine CQR regalvanised and have not noticed a difference in the way it sets. I have to add I do not use the anchor often, so any changes might go unnoticed. Does anyone else have the experience?

 

[craigsmith]

Re: My Spade\'s gone belly up

[ QUOTE ]
I regalvanised my genuine CQR some time back to make up minimum weight charge when having chain done - and have wondered if I'd made a big mistake ever since. Not used anchor, I'd got a larger one. Do genuine CQRs have lead inside waiting to make a run for it?

[/ QUOTE ]
No they use solid steel in the tip which is structurally part of the "backbone" which runs up to the shank articulation point (on which the fluke is attached), with the exception of the larger fabricated sizes, and the possible exception of some older versions. You can tell by looking, it will be obvious whether the tip is solid or not.

Moreover, the galvanizers should have drawn your attention to any issues, if they are capable.