Plough anchor: rubbish?

sebastiannr

sebastiannr

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 Apr 2010
Messages
186
Location
Liveaboard, currently in BVI's
Visit site
Hi All,

I've been lucky enough to do some testing of my 16kg plough anchor in the crystal clear waters of the Ionian. In sand (not hard sand), I've had the other half watch the anchor whilst snorkeling as I motor astern to try and dig it in. It just skims along the surface of the sand and never manages to properly dig in. I've had the same problem with another plough anchor on my previous boat - could never get the bl@"dy thing to dig in. The Bruce anchor I have as a stern anchor never fails to do what it's supposed to do.

Am I missing a trick here, or are plough anchors just not very good in sand?
 
Great another big anchor debate.
I too used a Bruce anchor all around the Med. and it was excellent. The secret if there is one is to let it bed in gently but once it started to dig in it was fine.
 
I'm glad to hear you pose that question - I was feeling quite lonely in my belief that plough anchors were a misguided design. We lived on board for seven years and spent almost all our nights at anchor with a Bruce in a variety of wind and sea conditions - as you might imagine - and wondered why folks complained so much about 'dragging their anchor'. The answer is of course that they are (almost) all using plough anchors ...that's why. Then it struck me that farmers invented ploughs to 'break' the ground - imagine how many horses they would have need to plough a field if they were towing a Bruce.

Bruce it is then.

Justin Tyers

http://amzn.to/xc4qn3
 
I've always used the CQR and never had a problem. Once it's set it holds, and does so through reversing tides thanks to the articulated shank. I like a big Danforth in mud, for other bottoms the CQR is fine.
 
Salty John said:
"..... Once it's set it holds, and does so through reversing tides thanks to the articulated shank.....
Click to expand...

Roger that. Thousands of yotties used thousands of CQRs probably hundreds of thousands of times each year over half a century or more. Sure, today you can pay three times the price for twice as much holding capability as the trusty CQR - or much more for a shiny-bright stainless one with half the strength - but that's marketing for you....! :rolleyes:

I've only once failed to set a decent CQR when I really needed to, and that was outside the pub at Inverie close to closing time on a very hot summer's day.... I came close to running the boat upon the shoreline and blaming the missus!
 
oldbilbo said:
Roger that. Thousands of yotties used thousands of CQRs probably hundreds of thousands of times each year over half a century or more. Sure, today you can pay three times the price for twice as much holding capability as the trusty CQR - or much more for a shiny-bright stainless one with half the strength - but that's marketing for you....! :rolleyes:

I've only once failed to set a decent CQR when I really needed to, and that was outside the pub at Inverie close to closing time on a very hot summer's day.... I came close to running the boat upon the shoreline and blaming the missus!
Click to expand...

That's pretty much why I asked the question. CQR's are tried and tested, and that's generally what I put my faith in, but when after repeated attempts to dig the thing in whilst being able to observe it fail to do so, it made me wander if I was doing something wrong. It just skidded along the bottom. Could it be variation between different plough anchor manufacturers? perhaps the flange on mine isn't set at the correct angle or something?
 
sebastiannr said:
That's pretty much why I asked the question. CQR's are tried and tested, and that's generally what I put my faith in, but when after repeated attempts to dig the thing in whilst being able to observe it fail to do so, it made me wander if I was doing something wrong. It just skidded along the bottom. Could it be variation between different plough anchor manufacturers? perhaps the flange on mine isn't set at the correct angle or something?
Click to expand...
Is yours a Genuine CQR, Made in Scotland stamped in full Lbs ( not say 34 3/4 Lb)
 
Its got to have CQR on the shank, loads of copies around of all makers Bruce, Delta, and others. They come from you know where and ought to be sent back.
 
sailorman said:
The Genuine one is "Drop Forged" for starters. NOT fabricated or made from cast iron
just look at the Genuine Bruce & copies, they vary wildly
Click to expand...

How would the manufacturing process (drop-forged, fabricated or made from cast iron) have any effect on an anchors ability to dig in? I do agree that a difference in shape or weight distribution would affect this though of course.
 
CQRs are old technology and far too expensive.

http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/36191/Lewmar-CQR-Galvanised-Anchor.html

If I had to replace my 60 lb genuine CQR on the Rival 41C it would cost a whopping £1042 from Gael Force. I can buy a lighter, higher holding force anchor for half of that that is easier to set, more stable and more tolerant to various seabed types. If one is in the market for a new anchor, why buy old , expensive technology. It's equivalent to a pulse phone on a modern telephone network - looks the biz but useless for automated multiple choices. That's probably a poor analogy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top