Rusty anchor on deck

josephmoore

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Jan 2012
Messages
203
Location
Isle of Wight
www.josephmoore.co.uk
Being a small boat, my Hurley 22's anchor is stowed on deck. It's quite a nice arrangement apart from when the sheets get caught around it at the least opportune moment but such is life.

Said anchor is old, past its best and pretty rusty - it's leaving streaks and stains all over the deck. Easy enough to clean off, but I won't be bothered applying the elbow grease if they're just going to reappear next time it rains. Have attacked the anchor with a hammer and a can of zinc spray but it hasn't proven particularly robust.

Short of buying a shiny new anchor and never using it what tips are there for keeping things tidy? I'd contemplated some kind of sack to keep the anchor in and keep the worst of the rain/spray off it. Thoughts and ideas on a postcard, or in the reply box below! :D
 
Could do, but its generally a bit too knackered to bother and considering that it's only a little one probably not far off the cost of replacement.

Actually, looking again at the prices over the winter Force 4 seem to have stopped doing the smaller Plastimo Kobra and brought out their own D-Type which is half the price. I guess that answers my question. Not worth faffing around with for £35.

Edit: Crikey - even cheaper options at other chandleries. Have China been working overtime on knock-off delta type anchors this winter?!
 
Last edited:
I painted my Delta a long time ago, using an etch primer followed by a zinc based paint. Both were aerosols. It then spent three years being used for more than 100 nights per season, between times on the bow roller, and several years since then in a locker as a spare. It remains almost rust-free except for a small area near the tip. If you have a reasonable, if old, anchor it is far preferable to paint it than to buy a £35 copy that will be technically suspect.
 
Not sure 'reasonable' is a fitting description to be honest - it's been patched up on more than one occasion and has a rust hole in it. Probably time for retirement.

http://www.sailingaround.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/painted-anchor.jpg

Ordered one of the hilariously cheap delta copies (under £30 delivered - not worth messing around at that price) and will see how it fares - if it bends after a couple of years light use then so be it. Can't be much worse than what I've got at the moment and if nothing else I'll have learned whether or not they're made of cheese.
 
I had a look at some cheap anchors called 'D Type' and the ones I examined had pigeon **** for welds.

Could do, but its generally a bit too knackered to bother and considering that it's only a little one probably not far off the cost of replacement.

Actually, looking again at the prices over the winter Force 4 seem to have stopped doing the smaller Plastimo Kobra and brought out their own D-Type which is half the price. I guess that answers my question. Not worth faffing around with for £35.

Edit: Crikey - even cheaper options at other chandleries. Have China been working overtime on knock-off delta type anchors this winter?!
 
I had a look at some cheap anchors called 'D Type' and the ones I examined had pigeon **** for welds.

Yeah, that doesn't really surprise me given the price but if it holds, it holds. If it doesn't and only half my anchor comes up then I shall report back. For the kind of boating I do its a risk I'm willing to take. Spare danforth anchor kept in the cockpit locker anyway.
 
Yeah, that doesn't really surprise me given the price but if it holds, it holds. If it doesn't and only half my anchor comes up then I shall report back. For the kind of boating I do its a risk I'm willing to take. Spare danforth anchor kept in the cockpit locker anyway.

Or even keep this one in a locker - going to stop it getting any rustier, and you'll have a reasonable size* backup in case.....

* you don't say what size the danforth is...
 
* you don't say what size the danforth is...

It's yay big *waves hands around*.... dunno off the top of my head, but I'd say big enough to hold the boat in anything other than horrible conditions. If it's that bad, every anchor on board will be out and I shall be regretting going sailing!

Suggesting the accumulation of junk in lockers is a terrible sin, you know :p

Waiting in anticipation for cheese anchor to arrive...
 
Top