Upgrade to Sealine Anchor

I seriously looked into this a couple of years back for my S37 noticing that S38's had a larger anchor. The aperature is not big enough for any increase in size. A boatyard in our marina in Spain did the job for a Sealine (I think for a F42) but he said he would never do another one it was just too much agro and wouldn't even discuss doing the job for me.
It's a shame because the motor will easily take the extra weight because it's nothing compaired to the weight of chain it has to pull.
 
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Anchor Upgrade.

I had the same problem on firstly a T50 for coding last year, and subsequently a T60 for coding this year. We have to put on the next size up anchor from standard factory fitment for the requirements of the coding surveyor.

We have rectified the problem very simply by pouring molten lead into the "V" underneath section of the Delta Anchor. The lead is retained in place by firstly drilling the flukes and putting long bolts through to act as retaining studs.

The amount of molten lead is first weighed to the weight we require, and when set we re-stamp the anchor weight after weighing on bathroom scales.

Result = a heavier anchor from 32 to 40 kgs that fits the anchor aperature, and coding requirements.
We have tested the anchor several times now in Studland Bay and the anchor has set and held for 48 hours.
 
splosh said:
I had the same problem on firstly a T50 for coding last year, and subsequently a T60 for coding this year. We have to put on the next size up anchor from standard factory fitment for the requirements of the coding surveyor.

We have rectified the problem very simply by pouring molten lead into the "V" underneath section of the Delta Anchor. The lead is retained in place by firstly drilling the flukes and putting long bolts through to act as retaining studs.

The amount of molten lead is first weighed to the weight we require, and when set we re-stamp the anchor weight after weighing on bathroom scales.

Result = a heavier anchor from 32 to 40 kgs that fits the anchor aperature, and coding requirements.
We have tested the anchor several times now in Studland Bay and the anchor has set and held for 48 hours.
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Very clever and I'm sure it does the job but doesn't an anchor have to be properly balanced in order to dig into the sea bed. By altering the weight distribution you may be altering the anchor's ability to set?
I know Sealine have a blind spot when it comes to sizing anchors (I know 'coz I've had 3 of them) but it really is a disgrace when they can't even design a £1m boat with an adequate anchor that conforms with coding requirements. I mean they must know that many owners code their boats for charter so how stupid is it to make it impossible to size the anchor to coding requirements. And to save how much? Maybe £100
 
Hi Davidj. We melted the lead in a cut down metal 1 gallon can on a couple of bricks.
We then used a roofing or plumbers blow lamp with propane. A saucepan would be ideal without teflon inside.
Don't forget to scrape the word removedword removedword removedword removed off the top of the molten lead before pouring.

And as to the Anchor setting or balance when deployed, well I can confirm it is fine - maybe better!.

I don't have any photos - sorry.
 
Splosh, what a clever way to get extra weight on the hook. I like it.
As I am nose first on a finger pontoon I got underneath and did some crude measurements, I am currently thinking that the next size up will fit, I just have to get a friendly chandlers to let me try one and of course I would have to be damn sure there would be no damage on retrieval, may even contact Sealine when I get home.... if not, then appart from church roofs (joke everyone), where do you get the lead?
 
PRH, we actually located the lead in chandlery that specialises in 2nd hand bits locally.
But, as everyone else says - try the builders merchants, or a scrap yard whom will definetly have some.
 
splosh said:
I had the same problem on firstly a T50 for coding last year, and subsequently a T60 for coding this year. We have to put on the next size up anchor from standard factory fitment for the requirements of the coding surveyor.

We have rectified the problem very simply by pouring molten lead into the "V" underneath section of the Delta Anchor. The lead is retained in place by firstly drilling the flukes and putting long bolts through to act as retaining studs.

The amount of molten lead is first weighed to the weight we require, and when set we re-stamp the anchor weight after weighing on bathroom scales.

Result = a heavier anchor from 32 to 40 kgs that fits the anchor aperature, and coding requirements.
Click to expand...
Good grief. Are you serious? Guys, modifying your anchor is not the solution. Lewmar produce the Delta according to their design the way it is for good reason.

Holding power is dictated by the fluke surface area - adding weight will not improve its performance one iota. Further, the weight of the anchor is carefully distributed to optimize setting characteristics. Adding or removing weight anywhere in the anchor is likely to adversely affect this. The Delta anchor for its part depends on what Simpson-Lawrence called "three point geometry"; moving the balance away from the roll axis of the anchor will affect this and result in changed behavior on different sea-beds.

A few sets in easy conditions is not a counter-argument that "it still works okay".

Finally, the anchor might appear to meet coding on paper, but if you ever have any issues - e.g. legal or insurance related - I would guess that the MCA or interested parties will not look kindly on modding the anchor outside of manufacturer spec in order to cheat coding requirements. For one, it technically is no longer the same classified and approved anchor type that met HHP standards, which affects the required size.
 
Splosh, are you sure the 32 kg didn't meet coding req'ts? I would only need 25 kg strictly for my 58 footer, although I have a 40.

From memory I don't think the T60 has the hull extended to the back of the bathing platform, so i'd expect length (not LOA) 19m, w/l length maybe 15m, therefore mean length 17m, which requires a 34 kg main. I don't think addding weight to the anchor will make any real difference to its performance, as you're not increasing the size of the blades. Aluminium anchors claim the same performance with half the weight of steel anchors, so its clearly not just about the weight.
 
Elessar said:
So what's your solution then if a larger anchor doesn't fit and the hole can't reasonaly be modified? Lots of can'ts in your post but not many cans.
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A little unfair on Craig if you don't mind me saying. Craig has opened my eyes to what is a 'cheat' to get around a regulation not a solution to the problem (necessarily!) I found his posting very useful since I was going to do the lead fill mod, but not any more!!
 
Elessar said:
So what's your solution then if a larger anchor doesn't fit and the hole can't reasonaly be modified? Lots of can'ts in your post but not many cans.
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If you're going to do a lot of anchoring, then the solution is not to buy a Sealine! If the anchor can't be upgraded, then IMHO it's worth increasing the chain size to the max the winch can handle. The greater catenary effect of a heavier chain will reduce the shock loading applied to the anchor and assist the holding power of an undersized anchor
 
Deleted User said:
If you're going to do a lot of anchoring, then the solution is not to buy a Sealine! If the anchor can't be upgraded, then IMHO it's worth increasing the chain size to the max the winch can handle. The greater catenary effect of a heavier chain will reduce the shock loading applied to the anchor and assist the holding power of an undersized anchor
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fair enough but a bit late for that. Anyway I anchor more than many and have never had a problem with the Delta on mine, don't even know what weight it is it just does the job.

But the problem posed in the thread was that a heavier anchor was needed to conform to a regulation. The problem was the regulation not poor anchoring.

An ingenious solution was found. This was dismissed and no practical alternative posed.

edit - actually i take that back the original problem WAS poor anchoring. I still like the lead for solving the coding problem though.

Thus far therfore the lead wins for solving the problem as posed so thanks for posting the idea!

edit actually i take that back the original problem WAS poor anchoring.
I still like the lead idea for solving the coding problem
 
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Elessar said:
fair enough but a bit late for that. Anyway I anchor more than many and have never had a problem with the Delta on mine, don't even know what weight it is it just does the job.

But the problem posed in the thread was that a heavier anchor was needed to conform to a regulation. The problem was the regulation not poor anchoring.

An ingenious solution was found. This was dismissed and no practical alternative posed.

edit - actually i take that back the original problem WAS poor anchoring. I still like the lead for solving the coding problem though.

Thus far therfore the lead wins for solving the problem as posed so thanks for posting the idea!

edit actually i take that back the original problem WAS poor anchoring.
I still like the lead idea for solving the coding problem
Click to expand...
Thats a bit unfair. I did suggest increasing the chain size to the max that the winch is designed for which is normally an easy thing to do just by changing the gypsy. Thats a practical and worthwile thing to do. I've done it on my own boat. I agree with Craig on adding lead weight to the anchor. It may satisfy the code but it's likely to affect the setting capability of the anchor and since the OP is not looking to code his boat, only increase the anchor holding performance, IMHO it's not a solution to his problem
As for Sealines, I have owned both a S37 and a F43 and I do know that Sealine do skimp on the anchor size by choosing the lightest possible recommended anchor size for the length of boat. This is less of a prob on the S37 'coz it carries less windage but the F43 is a lot of superstructure on not a lot of hull so it puts relatively more load on it's anchor/chain
 
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