Sybarite
Well-known member
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Rocna: is the problem now confined to the past ? nm
- Thread starter Sybarite
- Start date
macd
Active member
Oh, 'ere we go again...
If you happen to have one of the dodgy anchors, no.
If you're looking to buy an anchor and think Smith is deserving of his cut, then probably yes.
If you're looking to buy an anchor and think Smith was complicit in the Bisalloy scam, then no.
If you happen to have one of the dodgy anchors, no.
If you're looking to buy an anchor and think Smith is deserving of his cut, then probably yes.
If you're looking to buy an anchor and think Smith was complicit in the Bisalloy scam, then no.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
I believe that a new Rocna bought today would have a shank sufficiently strong for any anticipated lateral loads. Although not quite as strong as the original design intent they are of similar strength to a Delta, whose bent shanks are virtually unknown.
If buying a used one I would carry out a simple hardness test, comparing it to a known standard, as outlined on my website under metallurgy.
If buying a used one I would carry out a simple hardness test, comparing it to a known standard, as outlined on my website under metallurgy.
temptress
Well-known member
Well I am sitting in a Marina just now in Morocco surrounded by 40 or so other long distance cursing boats. Although we have a delta as our main anchor I estimate probably 70% have Rocna anchors.
Robin
Well-known member
NormanS
Well-known member
Maybe that's why they have to sit in marinas. People with trustworthy anchors are out there using them.
pmagowan
Well-known member
I replaced my anchor this year and did so after much discussion on this forum. I had a CQR copy which had always held for me but since I am scientifically minded I was compelled by the tests to consider a 'modern' design. I decided on a spade and went to Ardfern to pick one up (them being their nearest dealer according to the interweb). It was convenient as we cruise that way and there was a storm forcast so the good marina allowed me to get lots and lots of jobs done onboard. When I got there they said they didn't stock the spade as people generally didn't want to pay the higher price but they did have Rocna. I ummed and ahhed because of the controversy and the guy there was very knowledgeable but said that they do not stock the 'poor quality' batch and that he uses one himself. In the end I got one as he let me take it to my boat to see how it sat and it was able to fit snuggly on the bow roller which the CQR never did. It means I will have no more black finger nails. I tested it in a number of 7s and 8s and occasional gusting 9 and it held very well. I spent a lot of time looking over the edge on the dingy to see how well it set and could only ever see a little of the rollbar glinting in the sand or mud. It appears a good quality anchor and certainly appears to hold well. It sets pretty instantly and needs the windlass to break it out. At the end of the day this is what I am interested in so am happy with my purchase.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Whether or not Rocnas are now good, and whether or not there are still any bad ones on chandlers' shelves I have no idea, but I do get a strong impression that any of the current generation of new-tech anchors are a major improvement on their ancestors when it comes to setting, burying and resisting break-out at the turn of tide. Therefore, if you're reluctant to spend money on a Rocna, there are equally good alternatives out there. If you are totally promiscuous, the governing factor might be which one sits best on your stemhead.
Fire99
Well-known member
I think this is the key point. No doubt the Rocna design (design, not necessarily construction) is a good one but it's not unique. Something like a Manson etc I'm sure wouldn't let you down if you don't fancy playing 'will it, won't it?' in your mind with a Rocna.
Robin
Well-known member
We are looking at adding more chain to our setup here and as I mistrust the polished stainless steel bruce copy we inherited ( not yet used by us in anger) I was thinking of swapping for a 45lb Delta which we had years of good experiences with back your side of the puddle. Our local chandlers sell Rocnas ( I know not where made), and Mansons and I believe you once said you had a Manson supreme?? how do you find the Manson? aside from it's grip on the bottom does it sit nicely on the bow and stow without taking chunks of gel coat from the bow on raising? The Manson 45lb is about $100 more than a 45lb Delta but heck it's only monopoly money and the daft gits are devaluing that by the hour anyway, the chain is our expensive part of the equation, running at $5 or $6 per foot for 3/8ths chain which is what I guess we need although our existing stuff is possibly 10mm it being an imported French built boat and all. Current local wisdom is that 100ft of chain is ample for the Bahamas where 10ft is a normal water depth anchorage and 20ft is considered a deep water anchorage, we currently only have 50ft of chain with an unknown length of warp attached ( until I get it out to measure it) we do have about 5ft of polished stainless on the existing anchor so as not to dirty the foredeck to the windlass with rust a Full 'marina Queen' poser setup you see!
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macd
Active member
This smacks of an oft-repeated myth about Rocnas, founded as much on popular prejudice as on reality. It seems to be true that all Rocnas made in NZ were of the best spec, although it's some considerable time since any were made there and I imagine the remained stock of such items is tiny to non-existant; and that all the ones of the poorest spec were made in China. But this was entirely because Rocna NZ instructed the Chinese factory to make them that way, not because of corner-cutting or dodginess on the part of the factory itself.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
No, I went French, a Spade. It has performed well so far, but has yet to be tested in tough conditions.
It is no longer so shiny!
Robin
Well-known member
THanks, is the pivoting part of the bow roller standard or did you add that? Spades are not common here and are VERY expensive!
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Standard. The bolt through the swivel is an eyebolt on the stbd side, which is where the block shackles on for the cruising chute tack line. Makes the roller double up as a short bowsprit.
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BurnitBlue
Well-known member
deleted.
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sailorman
Well-known member
Wot did you say Bruce !!!
30boat
N/A
Did a Chinese made Rocna ever break.I wonder?
pmagowan
Well-known member
I think the problem was that a few bent. I got a guarantee with my Rocna that if it bent it would be replaced free of charge IIRC. I am not that concerned, it works and appears pretty strong. I tested mine in gale conditions in various anchorages due to the bad season we had on the W coast of Scotland. It held like a limpet with far greater surety than the cqr copy I had before. It set very quick and with a 'bang' and reset/repositioned without noticable drag. I think it would require some pretty extreme conditions to deform one and even then if it still holds I would be happy.
The company obviously did not handle the situation very well at the time, hence the controversy. I wanted to avoid them for this reason alone but, as I said before, they were the one available of the 3 I would use (manson, spade, rocna).
45South
New member
My question at the moment would be why have they gone back to fabricating the blades out of mild steel ( in another factory in China) instead of using the much touted "stronger higher spec" cast blades? Surely a stronger cast blade is the way to go, that's what they told us as justification for using China instead of the NZ factory.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
I think your information may be confused. The flukes have always been made from a relatively low strength steel, either edge welded plate in new Zealand or cast in China. I suspect the reason they have changed back is simply due to economics, or maybe the new plant does not have casting capability. There is no need for higher strength materials in the flukes.
The shank is the component that was controversial. Having gone through the bending phase it seems the current material, unless it has been changed since I cut one up and tested it for YM, is acceptable. Although it is a little weaker than the original design called for it is comparable with many others, e.g. Delta.
On a different track, I have just painted my NZ made Rocna due to failure of the galvanising. Although it was predicted that the shank galvanising might have poor adhesion and fail early on, it is the flukes that have fared worse, almost all the zinc having been lost. The galvanising on the hoop and shank is pitted but intact. The anchor is around six years old and has been used extensively.