Ultra Anchor

Noooooooow
Not an anchor thread!

The blue MC boat that was next to JW a couple of years ago had an Ultra.
It is regarded as being a very good anchor.
I've played with the models in various chandlers and the do seem good.

But you can't really compare them to a Rocna.
The Rocna is WAY cheaper.
The Ultra is made from beautiful stainless steel.
There is only one thing worse than getting your anchor stuck on the bottom and that's getting an EXPENSIVE anchor stuck on the bottom!!!!

For me, we have had excellent results from our Rocna.
I goes in - and stays in - you can't expect much more from an anchor.

If you can't fit a Rocna it might be worth looking at the Rocna's sister - I think it is called a Vulcan.
 
I echo Hurricane's comments. Woo hoo another anchor thread:rolleyes:

I do know somebody with an Ultra anchor and they profess to be very happy with it but so they should be at the prices they charge

FWIW I have tried various Bruce and Delta anchors around the Med and found them wanting in the kind of weedy soft sand bottoms often found there. I have a 63ft mobo and my last Delta anchor was a 60kg model but it still dragged on 3 occasions in 2 seasons. I changed it for a 55kg Rocna 5 yrs ago and it has not dragged once in that time. Yes its not as pretty on the bow as an Ultra but who really cares
 
The stainless steel swivel on the Ultra cost as much as a Rocna, and it’s necessary. But by all accounts the Ultra is a very impressive anchor, however, the Lewmar Epsilon is arriving in the chandlers about now. It hasn’t been tested but it might be the latest and greatest AND it’s very cheap
 
ShaneAtSea said:
I watched this video....its quite useful for newbies like me (y)
Click to expand...

As far as it goes. What it fails to say is that with all chain rather chain/rope, the scope (ie ratio length/depth) can be less, typically 3:1, because the chain is heavier and provides more friction with the sea bed against dragging. But it also depends on the depth of water. If you are in 3m of water, you wouldnt just put out 9m of chain but more like 15-20m. Conversely if you were in 40m of water, you wouldnt put out 120m but more like 80m

And of course it depends on the expected wind strength, any expected change in wind direction, tidal strength and change in direction. Any or all of these things may cause you to put out far more than 3:1 chain

Lastly, if you were anchoring overnight (and thus have nobody keeping watch whilst you sleep) you would considering putting out more than 3:1 chain. For a lunchtime stop, I generally put out 3:1 but for overnighting at least 5:1
 
Deleted User said:
As far as it goes. What it fails to say is that with all chain rather chain/rope, the scope (ie ratio length/depth) can be less, typically 3:1, because the chain is heavier and provides more friction with the sea bed against dragging. But it also depends on the depth of water. If you are in 3m of water, you wouldnt just put out 9m of chain but more like 15-20m. Conversely if you were in 40m of water, you wouldnt put out 120m but more like 80m

And of course it depends on the expected wind strength, any expected change in wind direction, tidal strength and change in direction. Any or all of these things may cause you to put out far more than 3:1 chain

Lastly, if you were anchoring overnight (and thus have nobody keeping watch whilst you sleep) you would considering putting out more than 3:1 chain. For a lunchtime stop, I generally put out 3:1 but for overnighting at least 5:1
Click to expand...

I posted the video because it shows the different types of anchors etc

But thanks for the info

(y)
 
Deleted User said:
As far as it goes. What it fails to say is that with all chain rather chain/rope, the scope (ie ratio length/depth) can be less, typically 3:1, because the chain is heavier and provides more friction with the sea bed against dragging. But it also depends on the depth of water. If you are in 3m of water, you wouldnt just put out 9m of chain but more like 15-20m. Conversely if you were in 40m of water, you wouldnt put out 120m but more like 80m

And of course it depends on the expected wind strength, any expected change in wind direction, tidal strength and change in direction. Any or all of these things may cause you to put out far more than 3:1 chain

Lastly, if you were anchoring overnight (and thus have nobody keeping watch whilst you sleep) you would considering putting out more than 3:1 chain. For a lunchtime stop, I generally put out 3:1 but for overnighting at least 5:1
Click to expand...
The other big issue that is often forgotten - is other boats in the anchorage.
Especially if there is a mix between motor boats and sailing yachts because they swing differently.

In the crowded anchorages you can often hear the yachties asking "how much chain have you got out?"
Believe me, the answer is ALWAYS 20m
Nothing to do with the depth although the water will usually be about 3m deep - it is just the "political" answer that keeps the boat asking away!!
In fact, we have as much chain out as we think works - we then have to keep an eye on the nearby boats swinging.
And then, there is the "unwritten rule" - I WAS HERE FIRST - which actually means "?ugger off"
I have adapted that concept a little.
If I think that a boat that has just arrived is too close to us, I ask them a question "Do you think you are too close?"
One of two things then happens - they re-anchor or they say "No problem".
If they re-anchor it is no more of a problem to us - if they say OK, then they will be watching carefully making sure that their decision is right.
The hole in my concept all changes if they is a chartered boat because they don't care as much.

This kind of thing happens quite a lot to us because we "kind of" think that we are a yachtie and anchor in the shallow places like the yachties.
It is usually quieter and less swell.
 
Hurricane said:
The other big issue that is often forgotten - is other boats in the anchorage.
Especially if there is a mix between motor boats and sailing yachts because they swing differently.

In the crowded anchorages you can often hear the yachties asking "how much chain have you got out?"
Believe me, the answer is ALWAYS 20m
Nothing to do with the depth although the water will usually be about 3m deep - it is just the "political" answer that keeps the boat asking away!!
In fact, we have as much chain out as we think works - we then have to keep an eye on the nearby boats swinging.
And then, there is the "unwritten rule" - I WAS HERE FIRST - which actually means "?ugger off"
I have adapted that concept a little.
If I think that a boat that has just arrived is too close to us, I ask them a question "Do you think you are too close?"
One of two things then happens - they re-anchor or they say "No problem".
If they re-anchor it is no more of a problem to us - if they say OK, then they will be watching carefully making sure that their decision is right.
The hole in my concept all changes if they is a chartered boat because they don't care as much.

This kind of thing happens quite a lot to us because we "kind of" think that we are a yachtie and anchor in the shallow places like the yachties.
It is usually quieter and less swell.
Click to expand...

I'll avoid busy anchorages because i like to walk around naked.....my boat my rules (y)

:cool:
 
Sounds like a Bruce vs Claw scenario but this is what Peter Smith has to say: (New Generation Anchors: Explained and Compared)

Knock-offs

The Spade is expensive and complex to fabricate, making things a little difficult for the inevitable imitators, but this hasn’t stopped at least one.


The Ultra is a Spade look-alike produced by Turkish manufacturer Boyut Marine, available only in 316 stainless steel. The low strength of 316 stainless aside, the design is not a precise copy and introduces a number of compromises to the Spade design. Because the Spade is a sensitive design which pushes the limits in terms of both performance and construction, it is not a type which wants to be compromised any further.



Naturally I have a Spade at the moment, but did love my Bruce / Claw :p
 
ShaneAtSea said:
I posted the video because it shows the different types of anchors etc

But thanks for the info

(y)
Click to expand...
It is a shame that the video didn't mention the new modern anchors
It did call the Delta a modern anchor which I dispute - in fact, like Deleted User I don't have any confidence with Delta anchors.
I could never make my old Delta work unless it was in the thick mud of our lagoon.

It would have been interesting if the video had looked at some more modern anchors.
The Rocna
The Ultra (the OP's first question)
The Mantus
The Spade
The Vulcan
Just to mention a few

Virtually all the yachties that I know who spend long periods on anchor use the Rocna.

This pic shows how well a Rocna holds

anchor.resized.jpg

You can see the original furrow that it made when it was first deployed but more importantly, since then you can see where the chain has swung back and forth.
And it hasn't moved since it was originally set.

Usually, in the islands, we get sea breezes (wind/land generated) so the boat will swing 360 degrees
This pic shows what happens with a Rocna after a few days with the boat swinging round it.
Not going anywhere - you can sleep comfortably at night.

RocnainSP.resized.jpg

And just for completeness here is a photo of our catenary in 12m of water.
We don't usually anchor that deep but in that anchorage, the water was so clear it wasn't a problem.
I upgraded to 12mm chain from the original 10mm Princess spec - made a huge difference.

2018_0106_033525_003.resized.JPG
 
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We have a 27kg Ultra with a ultra swivel on a 50ft sports cruiser, the boat came with a 25kg delta which dragged frequently unless 5-6 x scope was let out, sometimes a problem with other boats in close quarters.
Since fitting the ultra it has never dragged, even with only 3 x scope if other boat have been close, very impressed with the Ultra, bought second hand by the way at a price too good to miss, but probably would buy another if we changed the boat.:D. we previously had a 25kg delta on a 52ft boat and it never dragged, but was 4-5 tonnes lighter than the 50ft, maybe just pushed the delta too far:eek:
 
Portofino said:
You not gonna persuade me to change whats hanging on my bow , comes with benefits ;).
Click to expand...
Pah! Retrofitted, non-OEM fairleads. (n)
I'll forgive you only because I don't think that's really your boat: that navlight was typical of the 46, IIRC.
 
MapisM said:
Pah! Retrofitted, non-OEM fairleads. (n)
I'll forgive you only because I don't think that's really your boat: that navlight was typical of the 46, IIRC.
Click to expand...

He claimed it's his bow. Has Porto been outed with a porkie? The pirate! :ROFLMAO: ?
 
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