Vulcan anchor anyone used one.

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Lucy52

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Hi, I don't want to start another this anchor better than that one thread. lol. :) What I am hoping for is for any user experience of the Ronca Vulcan anchor. And no, a roll bar anchor won't fit my stem head bowsprit fitting. Ah yes, I know but the Spade would but is more expensive, nearly double, S80 15Kg £510. The plan is a 12Kg Vulcan in place of a 25Kg genuine CQR, only £320 from amazon. Boat 31ft over deck and 6 tons displacement.
 
I have a 9kg Vulcan. Unfortunately I haven't done much sailing since I bought it but the few times I've use it as a lunch hook I've been impressed. I knew when my old plough anchor was about to leave the sea bed because I could feel the chain get heavier. With the Vulcan however (in sand off Weymouth) when the chain was vertical I had to wait whilst the anchor slowly extracted itself before I could heave any more chain up. It was that well dug in. The same in Lulworth Cove.
 
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I used a 20kg Vulcan on a Rival 38 replacing a CQR. The only time I was aware of it failing to quickly set and hold was when it landed on a patch of kelp and slid. Once you have checked that it has set properly you should sleep well.
I won’t comment upon your choice of weight. There are likely to be plenty of opinions offered on that question.
 
Sorry cannot help.

Its odd - after all the brouhaha of 'holding capacity', part orchestrated by young Craig Smith - Vulcan does not appear to have enjoyed much, or any, independent testing (but I may well have missed something) of its holding capacity. However don't let this hold you back - other anchors have not be tested either - and they have support (how quickly we forget).

I will be interested in comments. There have been positive comments over on Cruisers Forum - but who is going to admit they bought a lemon - when there were no independent tests to support their purchase

If you can wait Lewmar have an alternative 'in the wings' (and also obviously not having enjoyed any indpendent testing) which is rumoured due for release before the end of the year - I know a long time to wait. But if you have been using the CQR - wait a bit longer. Then you might have more of a choice.

It, Vulcan, 'looks' the business - but I have not used one, nor even handled one. I don't even know if it is ballasted (like a Spade). I'm not very popular at CMP, even after all these years - so I'm unlikely to get one on loan
:(

Jonathan

If you go into CF and use their search engine with 'Vulcan Anchor' it should throw up a few good reports (as above).
 
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This thread includes many photos of anchors performing in real life on the sea bed so may be of se help. The performance differences between the best modes and the rest is quite easy to judge. Many modern designs are incuded and there are quite a few photos of the Vulcan (type Vulcan into the “search this thread”), so you can make up your own mind.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f118/photos-of-anchors-setting-126073-141.html

Unfortunately, sailing magazines are struggling to survive so the large scale independent anchor tests have not been seen for some time.

There have been some recent tests that have included some new anchor models:
the Fortress Chesapeake Bay test (Mantus, Ultra, Manson Boss & Supreme, Spade, Rocna, Delta, Fortress , Danforth , CQR, Claw) and the Kippari 2015 test (Mantus, Rocna, Fortress, CQR, Delta + others). Each of these studies has some flaws, and while they test some of more modern designs, the Vulcan is not included.

Panope’s videos are also excellent. Once again, they include many modern designs, but sadly not the Vulcan:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f118/videos-of-anchors-setting-155412-18.html
 
It is worth noting, to possibly save you time:

The Kippari test was conducted in a quarry - and as has been commented by a number of forum members beach testing has been discredited (though not sure what 'beach' testing means) but in a quarry??? Quarry fines have no resemblance to a seabed - at all - different, size of particle, different shape of particle, different packing density, different water content.

But if you think a seabed is like the 'dust' on a quarry floor - you go for it.

I would not rate highly testing in and on a beach but testing from a beach in water - has some merit - its cheap, for one.

Jonathan

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Looked at in marketing terms

Rocna, despite it troubles, has become a successful product. A considerable number of people here use one - and seem happy.

Vulcan comes from the same camp - and has the same, apparent, backing - but has none of the success of Rocna, nothing has rubbed off onto Vulcan. I have heard no negative comment - but there is an odd, given its older brother (Rocna) and father (Peter Smith) - little uptake, or if the dearth of user information (and independent testing) is anything to go by - CMP don't seem interested.

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Thanks to all, I noticed that there was a lack of independent reviews and wondered whether it was being dammed by faint praise.
Thanks to Dipper and Cardinal for their experience it is reassuring. The size comes from The Ronca web site, I have read here that size may not be everything. In the end if it proves to be on the small side then it will become a lunch hook kedge anchor. In time I will report back when it has been tested. It should prove easier to haul than the CQR.
 
There are some reviews on Trawler Forum, (its the same as CF - for their search facility) mostly good - but some have dragged (any anchor can drag). There have also been some sightings of bent toes

Part of the answer is in the absence of replies here - any who are interested are waiting for more comment - the dragging is something of a concern because people simply do not admit their anchors, second generation, drag. Given the few that have been sold and buck the trend and say they drag - I'd be cautious.

No-one is raving about it. In the absence of data and positive replies I would say its 'alright' maybe on a par with Delta, Bruce and Mantus - but not on a par with Spade, Rocna, Excel with Kobra somewhere in between.

Getting a bigger anchor will not make it better. It will;l simply cost more and tip the choice toward Spade.

It merits mention - few are going to use any anchor to the limit of its straight line pull capabilities (this includes Delta, Mantus and Bruce) - its yawing and horsing that are the killers - control the yacht movement and you have won most of the battle. Unfortunately smaller yachts tend to move more - and thus need the better hold of the second generation anchors.

No-one has mentioned whether Vulcan is balasted - or if it simply looks like that, because it looks like a Spade (which is ballasted). If its unballasted, or does not have much ballast - its (by my visual interpretation only) - in the Delta, Mantus, Bruce camp. The crown seems to far forward.

People don't seem to worry - but it is reported to lift an enormous amount of mud, and considering Morgan's Cloud removal of recommendation for Rocna, this is another cause for concern - and may contribute to dragging (and the need for a good deck wash).

Until more reports are available I'd be cautious if I had invested and if I was thinking about one - I'd wonder whether the extra for the Spade might not engender a better night's sleep.

But Hey! - I've not used one - I'm just raise the question marks, I don't have an axe to grind nor an anchor to sell - and none of my comments might be valid.

I would like to see a development of Spade. Its a grossly expensive bit of production - the hollow shank particularly - but it could so easily and cheaply have a cast fluke and a sharp toe. Its cost could then come down.

In general you get what you pay for.

Jonathan
 
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Have been using a 15kg Vulcan for around 18 months and it has proven easy to set and has never dragged. We replaced (now our spare) the stainless 15kg Bruce (type?) that came with our Nimbus. This had dragged once and been harder to set on several occasions. This is just our experience but as this happened at spots in which we regularly overnight I feel the comparison is relevant. It doesn't fit in position as well as the original but we can live with that. ... Grae
 
I have used a 12 Kg Vulcan for the last 3 years. It replaced a 10 Kg Delta which I had lost confidence in due to a couple of dragging episodes. I have never dragged the Vulcan, although not used it in extreme conditions - up to about 30 kts. It sets very quickly in sand or mud, which required a change of technique vs the Delta which always needed a 10-15 M setting drag. Routinely use almost full reverse revs to set which gives good confidence for a sound sleep at night. Boat is 27 ft, 3 tons and the 12 Kg is probably oversized. I am beginning to feel that in some firmer seabeds even my setting does not fully bury the anchor on the basis of the ease of breaking out in the morning. In softer bottoms it can take quite an effort to break it out. The design is quite clever in the way that the rounded shank and ballasted tip make it naturally roll over into a tip-down setting position once any pull is applied. I now have every confidence in my anchor which sees a lot of use on the west coast of Scotland.
 
I had a Rocna Vulcan for a small motorboat a few years ago. I bought it because the normal Rocna wouldn’t fit.

It wasn’t as impressive as the normal Rocna and took a bit more effort to set. However, in mud it was fine. Also, because of its shape I imagine that it’s fine in rocky areas too.

By the by, I’ve had a spade too a few years back. It worked well but in soft mud it seemed to cut through it and sometimes drag a bit. I went back to the normal Rocna.

Garold
 
I have a 12kg Vulcan on a Sadler 32, replacing a dubious Sowester CQR copy. Haven't used it much but no problems so far. Main reason for choice was that it fitted! If it ever fails, I have a Fortress 16 which I was advised is usable as a primary.
 
Lucy52 said:
Hi, I don't want to start another this anchor better than that one thread. lol. :) What I am hoping for is for any user experience of the Ronca Vulcan anchor. And no, a roll bar anchor won't fit my stem head bowsprit fitting. Ah yes, I know but the Spade would but is more expensive, nearly double, S80 15Kg £510. The plan is a 12Kg Vulcan in place of a 25Kg genuine CQR, only £320 from amazon. Boat 31ft over deck and 6 tons displacement.
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I'm amazed you can buy anchors from Amazon! Online chandleries charge about £450 for the 12kg version. I got mine for £280, but that was a while ago. BTW I assume your CQR is 25lb, not kg (on a 31ft boat)
 
eddystone said:
I'm amazed you can buy anchors from Amazon! Online chandleries charge about £450 for the 12kg version. I got mine for £280, but that was a while ago. BTW I assume your CQR is 25lb, not kg (on a 31ft boat)
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I'm glad you asked.

With anchors - never assume anything.

Ask the questions. Its amazing that people make statements and cannot justify their stance - and a 25kg CQR on 31' boat - nothing surprises me! Portabler moorings are di rigour in some quarters - if the anchor is questionable - just get a very big one (and then claim it works well).


Returning to the OP - because of the shank design the toe of the anchor can ding the stem on retrieval (i've seen yachts with stainless plates - all dented). Just be careful. Mark the chain before the shackle is about to reach the bow roller, wash off all that mud :) and maybe complete the final retrieval of the anchor onto the bow roller by hand. Anyway its better for the windlass, especially if its a bit undersized, to pull the anchor over the bow roller by hand.

Jonathan
 
We have a 15kg Vulcan on a Hanse 350, used extensively in Greece for the past 3 years. It has dragged once which was totally my fault, in a moment of aberration we did not set it properly, otherwise once in, it has performed well for us. I would agree that it does not cut through weed well, and does not like setting if it is at all fouled.
 
I have been advised that in common with most anchors the Vulcan fluke appears to be mild steel, in Vulcans case - cast. This will be fine for the fluke itself but will lead to blunting of the toe (with time) and bending if used in rocky or stony anchorages. It is noticeable that most cast anchors already have blunt toes (as do some fabricated anchors) possibly to maintain toe integrity. Sharp toes are advantageous in hard seabeds - and to get through weed - though I very seldom hear of anchorages so hard it defeats any modern anchor.

Jonathan
 
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