Rusty Spade anchor

[noelex]

The steel Spade is an excellent anchor. Here is the typical underwater result I see of the anchor setting:

Don't be tempted to get the more expensive aluminium version as a primary anchor. In my opinion while the aluminum version is still a good anchor it does not have the ability to penetrate hard substrates as well as the steel model.

 

[Neeves]

Don't be tempted to get the more expensive aluminium version as a primary anchor. In my opinion while the aluminum version is still a good anchor it does not have the ability to penetrate hard substrates as well as the steel model.

When you have tried one in a real cross section of seabeds you will have sufficient background to make such sweeping statements. The number of seabeds where it might be possible to differentiate are minimal and the light weight of the aluminium version and that fact it does not corrode in the same way that mild steel does adds critical characteristics that might be more important to some owners than the very occasional time they might encounter a hard seabed.

I have used both an aluminium and a steel Spade, of the same physical size, in anchorages from Southport in Queensland to SW Cape in Tasmania and I can assure you - I cannot tell the difference.

Jonathan

 

[jordanbasset]

I have used both an aluminium and a steel Spade, of the same physical size, in anchorages from Southport in Queensland to SW Cape in Tasmania and I can assure you - I cannot tell the difference.

Jonathan

GPS playing up

 

[Neeves]

GPS playing up

I do have a First or Second generation GPS, Pronav 100, bought out I recall by Garmin. It was state of the art in 1989, or thereabouts. Its just a GPS, no chart, it has an anchor alarm - minimum distance 100 Yards (I think it was all imperial). It got us to Manilla from HK for RORC China Sea Races - and still works (we carry it in case we lose all power, can run off batteries - though later models are slightly more sensitive.

Jonathan

 

[noelex]

GPS playing up

 

[GHA]

GPS playing up

If it wasn't noelex who said it then it wouldn't have got a reply

 

[vyv_cox]

and that fact it does not corrode in the same way that mild steel does ......

Not in the same way, but it certainly corrodes. Example on this page https://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Corrosion.aspx The first aluminium Spade bought by this owner corroded badly over a period of a couple of seasons. Having paid £500 or so for it he was not pleased and referred it back to the makers. They came up with a treatment that was supposed to isolate the aluminium from the lead, I understand it to be a layer of epoxy inside the tip space, and provided the updated version as a replacement. After two years there was further perforation, the example shown. The owner complained again and took a carbon steel one as a second replacement.

 

[Neeves]

If it wasn't noelex who said it then it wouldn't have got a reply

But then only Noelex has that agenda.

I fail to understand your defence of trolling.

 

[geem]

Not in the same way, but it certainly corrodes. Example on this page https://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Corrosion.aspx The first aluminium Spade bought by this owner corroded badly over a period of a couple of seasons. Having paid £500 or so for it he was not pleased and referred it back to the makers. They came up with a treatment that was supposed to isolate the aluminium from the lead, I understand it to be a layer of epoxy inside the tip space, and provided the updated version as a replacement. After two years there was further perforation, the example shown. The owner complained again and took a carbon steel one as a second replacement.

We had an aluminium spade as a primary anchor on our Catamaran several years ago. We didn't have the corrosion problem as I suspect we didn't own it long enough. We did, however, destroy the aluminium spade when we anchored on a rocky bottom. It wasn't windy conditions or rough on the anchor other than when we came to lift the anchor it was stuck under a rock. We motored around a little to free the anchor and when we lifted it it had split down the length of the hollow shaft. Spade sent us a new one but we opted for steel for the replacement

 

[Neeves]

We had an aluminium spade as a primary anchor on our Catamaran several years ago. We didn't have the corrosion problem as I suspect we didn't own it long enough. We did, however, destroy the aluminium spade when we anchored on a rocky bottom. It wasn't windy conditions or rough on the anchor other than when we came to lift the anchor it was stuck under a rock. We motored around a little to free the anchor and when we lifted it it had split down the length of the hollow shaft. Spade sent us a new one but we opted for steel for the replacement

I think it is for this reason that Spade do not recommend their aluminium anchor as a primary. I have seen the same, the shank twisted like a corkscrew. But many anchors will not endure being caught in rocks and then 'gently' removed. Simply put their shanks nor roll bars are not designed for that sort of attention - but it seems off topic.