Stowing a Fortress FX23

[neil1967]

I have a Fortress FX23 which I would like to mount/store at the stern of my 40' yacht. I would be interested to know how people have mounted/stored their fortresses - my preference is to keep it assembled so it is ready if needed in a hurry, but I would like it to be out of the way and secure. All ideas welcome!

 

[GHA]

A little fishing net float jammed into the end of a fluke so it jams into the stock and stops pinched fingers, then just tied off to the pushpit.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I have a Fortress FX23 which I would like to mount/store at the stern of my 40' yacht. I would be interested to know how people have mounted/stored their fortresses - my preference is to keep it assembled so it is ready if needed in a hurry, but I would like it to be out of the way and secure. All ideas welcome!

Do you intend to use it regularly? eg Baltic bows-to or whatever. Or is it an emergency kedge for ocassional / rare / hardly ever use?

 

[Yngmar]

There's a fancy matching mounting bracket for them. Very expensive and hard to find.

We just rest it on the lower rail of the pushpit with one of the flaps(?) and lash it on with a sailtie, shank pointing up. Works okay and fairly quick to untie when needed.

I'd get you a picture, but that would mean I'd have to get up :sleeping:

 

[Goldie]

Fine anchor that ! On the previous boat, we had a SS U section on aft rail stanchion, outboard of the push pit and the head of the anchor sat in there. On the top rail we had a wooden pad which on the outboard side (in fact it was very like an outboard motor pad but smaller) had an L section SS bracket screwed to the pad with a central notch cut to locate the shank of the anchor and on each side of the notch, a hole for a lashing. A cleat on the inboard side of the pad allowed several turns of lashing to be cleated off. It'd be easier if I can find a pic! I'm on the current boat tomorrow and will try to photograph the current arrangement too.

 

[sarabande]

Zoidberg and I have the smaller versions as ready use anchors, and Z has made up a snug fitting bag for his dismantled anchor. The bag is made out of polypropylene carpet (so no rot, and drains well).

He has changed the plain hexagonal nuts on the bolts to wingnuts, so that the assembly does not require a spanner, though IIRC he has a pair of pliers in the bag as well.

PS I concur with his argument that it should never be necessary to deploy an anchor, and find that it is not ready. Counsels of perfection perhaps, but if it takes one minute to assemble an anchor....

 

[mariadz]

We a having a stainless mount fabricated for the FX-55 to mount on the rail. We based this on the design used by the discovery yachts and I tried to get their suppliers to make it up for us but they weren't interested. So we are making something like this which is easy and quick to release but secure.

Unfortunately the iPad picture is not uploading, I will try to get it uploaded when I have access to a laptop.

 

[dunedin]

Ours is tied on the outside of the pushpit, on the side. Fits quite well.
To avoid expensive scrapes if berthing goes wrong, life belt hangs outside the anchor and acts as dedicated fender, whilst still able to be released immediately if needed

 

[benchmark]

I have a Fortress FX23 which I would like to mount/store at the stern of my 40' yacht. I would be interested to know how people have mounted/stored their fortresses - my preference is to keep it assembled so it is ready if needed in a hurry, but I would like it to be out of the way and secure. All ideas welcome!

Here’s how my fortress is stored, ready to be deployed

 

[Yngmar]

There's a fancy matching mounting bracket for them. Very expensive and hard to find.

Here's the fancy mounting brackets. The top ones are made by Windline. Not aware of any UK importers for them: http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|2276108|2276122&id=2304757

 

[Neeves]

Mantus make a universal bracket which holds a Fortress, I think there is a picture on their website (but I don't know if it will hold a FX 23, which is quite big). Fortress, oddly, don't make them but do have 'approved' suppliers. I think they are featured on their website, if not email Brian Sheehan at Fortress and he will point you in the right directions. Some of the devices could be knocked up easily at home. The most common method of attachment is simply lashing to 'something' on the transom (but some are attached, flat, on the foredeck and I've seen a FX55 or 85 lashed to the shrouds).

There are similar fluke anchors commonly seen on French yachts, FOB Lite and Brittany come to mind - it must be worth looking at the Plastimo range - they might have brackets that will be suitable. If you want it ready made - anything for Fortress need come from America.

I'd suggest storing assembled (with shackle either on the spare rode or shank), assembly does not take long and is very easy - but if you need the anchor at 2am in the rain then you will have better things to do than assembling an anchor. From memory the FX23 has 2 bolt sizes and needs 2 spanners (or spanner and screwdriver), one for the nut and one for the bolt. Changing to one size is sensible, using Duralac is also sensible (for permanent assembly), wing nuts are a great idea - make sure they are secure.

Jonathan

 

[zoidberg]

I keep Fortresses disassembled and stowed in their 'carpet bag'. I've replaced the securing nuts-and-bolts on 2 x Fx-16s with eye-nuts in M4 size. I had to find some M4 threaded rod, for I was unable to find 'eyebolts' in that small size - but no real problem. M5 eyebolts and nuts are readily available, if preferred.

The assembly from all-in-pieces takes about 1 minute, all by hand. No tools needed. I also use a couple of small cable ties as 'mousing', without problem.

 

[NormanS]

I made my mounting bracket for my FX23 out of 10mm stainless rod and a wee bit of stainless flat strip. Imagine something like a set of miniature rugby posts welded at 45° to the base plate, which is then bolted to the toerail. The anchor sits on the crossbar, and is lashed to the rail.

 

[neil1967]

Thanks everyone - some useful ideas.