What anchour. and rode

[Wansworth]

Anchoring mainly on sand/ mud.24 footer all up weight about two ton……existing an houses up seems to be a grapple type attached to a bit of 6 mm chhain and some indeterminate string…….will be mainly lunch stops and occasional overnight..no inflas and very small an hour locker

 

[Refueler]

Now your wallet is going to shriek in pain on some of the suggestions you will get .... you are opening Pandoras Box !!

Simple would be my thoughts ..... a small - moderate anchor you can handle .... in sand / mud - most any with reasonable weight / fluke area will hold ... then maybe 10m of chain .... followed by 20m or so of nylon or octoplait ..... that way you have anchor that holds, chain to keep first part of rode down and helping anchor ... then rope to make handling / stowage easier.

There are online tables for anchor sizes .... which I regard as minimum spec TBH ...

Contrary to some on here .... here's my 25ft 4 ton setup :

25lb Holdfast Plough .... 25m of 8mm chain .... 15m of 12mm plait ....

I've had that hold in some serious weather .... despite some who say get rid of the plough anchor !!

My 38ft'r has a Bruce with serious braid rode for stern use in Baltic ... its a right pain to handle ..... will be looking to change it for better handling.

 

[Wansworth]

Now your wallet is going to shriek in pain on some of the suggestions you will get .... you are opening Pandoras Box !!

Simple would be my thoughts ..... a small - moderate anchor you can handle .... in sand / mud - most any with reasonable weight / fluke area will hold ... then maybe 10m of chain .... followed by 20m or so of nylon or octoplait ..... that way you have anchor that holds, chain to keep first part of rode down and helping anchor ... then rope to make handling / stowage easier.

There are online tables for anchor sizes .... which I regard as minimum spec TBH ...

Contrary to some on here .... here's my 25ft 4 ton setup :

25lb Holdfast Plough .... 25m of 8mm chain .... 15m of 12mm plait ....

I've had that hold in some serious weather .... despite some who say get rid of the plough anchor !!

My 38ft'r has a Bruce with serious braid rode for stern use in Baltic ... its a right pain to handle ..... will be looking to change it for better handling.

thanks….I imagine a light stainless an hour with chain and a reel with as you say 15/20 meters of rope,lots of fisherman supply chandlers hereabouts so hopefully cost can be manageable…..unshackle the rope and store in cockpit locker

 

[Refueler]

In the Baltics most of us have the Ankolina reels - its a heavy tape for the rode ... some have a short chain to anchor then the tape ... others no chain ...

You can see the reel on my mates B31 next to my 38 ... mounted on pulpit ...

On the 38 ... my reel is fixed inside the transom locker - intended for stern kedge .... with the bruce in a bin next to it in the locker.

The light reels have a plastic integral handle ... while larger as my mates and mine in locker - they use a standard winch handle.

 

[Boathook]

Anchoring mainly on sand/ mud.24 footer all up weight about two ton……existing an houses up seems to be a grapple type attached to a bit of 6 mm chhain and some indeterminate string…….will be mainly lunch stops and occasional overnight..no inflas and very small an hour locker

Have you purchased a boat !

Possibly an anchor around 8kg, 10 metres of 6mm or 8mm chain and 30m of anchorplait or a 3 strand nylon. Length of rope depends upon depth of water you are likely to anchor in. Anchor choice will also depend upon what is in the local chandleries.

 

[Wansworth]

Have you purchased a boat !

Possibly an anchor around 8kg, 10 metres of 6mm or 8mm chain and 30m of anchorplait or a 3 strand nylon. Length of rope depends upon depth of water you are likely to anchor in. Anchor choice will also depend upon what is in the local chandleries.

Weighing options

 

[Kwik Decision]

If it were mine, I'd get a 6 kg rocna, and a combination of 6 mm chain and 12 mm 3 plat nylon. That will be relatively light both to stow in the bow, and pull up by hand, and will hold the boat in any weather condition you're likely to get in the UK. Personally I'd go for more chain (say 30m) so that when anchored in a busy anchorage in relatively light conditions it would be to all chain, so the boat would behave like most of the others. If you want a more budget option, swap the rocna for a 6 kg delta, and just get 10 m of chain.

 

[Stemar]

I imagine a light stainless an hour with chain

You won't need a boat when you've looked at the price of a stainless anchor - the heart attack will carry you off!

The new generation anchors tend to be expensive and, (fits flak jacket and helmet) I'm not convinced they're necessary for light use in decent holding*, so I'd look around for what you can find second hand. CQRs have held many a boat through many a storm, as have Deltas. Just beware of copies, as many of them really are useless. I had a CQR that gave sterling service until I hooked a big chain just too deep for me to dive to. I never did get the boat jumble copy that replaced it to set, but the Delta I got only let me down once, in mud soup and a wind that really should have had me staying home.

A few metres of chain - 10 to15m of 6mm will be plenty, and lots of octoplait will do just fine as a rode.

* Before you all take me out and burn me at the stake for heresy, for someone who lives at anchor or expects to sit out a storm, a new gen anchor is absolutely a good idea, but if W ever buys a boat, he won't be doing that.

 

[Neeves]

Most of the modern batch of anchors Spade, Rocna, Supreme, Knox etc etc will work reliably in sand and mud and I'd simply keep a watch on the for sale adds until one comes up (or you could spend much more money and buy a new one, and it will look not new the day after you first use it in mud). Focus on 6kg plus or minus. Don't ignore Fortress if a small one is for sale its worth having board.

I'd use 6mm chain - it will give you more than enough exercise + cordage (the amount of the latter - depends on likely depth). I'd chat up the chandler owner and take an empty rope reel to store the cordage - those tape reels sold by the Ultra anchor people are a bit big for a 24' yacht (assuming its a yacht)

But I'd actually wait till you own the desired vessel - as you might change your mind

Jonathan

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I would recommend one of the old favourites that have stood the test of time. Roll back feature, stress less design, extension flaps for softer orientations and a strong frame. This is my favourite for strong, reliable, security, don’t let others dissuade you:-

https://shop.stressless.com

 

[Refueler]

Kwik Decision made a point of anchoring with others ....

I may differ with some on here but over the years I have come to following IMHO ...

1. I do not agree with all rope rode - unless its a short stop just to grab a bite or rest. Or as kedge as we use in Baltic ... bow tied to trees / rocks - stern to anchor.
2. I prefer all chain - but that can be a disadvantage on a small - medium sized boat as its a lot of weight to stow.
3. Compromise is enough chain to create a near horizontal pull on the anchor before rope rises to boat. A few m's ... 5m is usually enough.
4. Try not to anchor near a different type of boat - especially if using rope / they using rope. Example - a Mobo on rope will slide all over the shop as it has no deep underwater keel etc. to help quiet its riding anchor.
5. When I anchor - I try to lay chain in an arc rather than a straight line ..... I am using all chain usually which goes well with this. But with rope - I would lay straight. Why ? Chain has weight and that arc ... will soften the snatching .. helps anchor stay fast. In tidal or wind changes - the arc will be used as boat swings ..... again reducing snatch. But you cannot avoid snatch with rope.
6. I never need a snubber due to #5 ... but may use a rope to make off the rode to bow to reduce noise / chafe etc. Especially on my 38 which has no bow roller. many Baltic boats do not have bow anchor rollers ...

When approaching anchorage - I try to have anchor rode laid out along side deck ready to deploy .... I do not deploy from bin / bucket / navel pipe etc.

Now I am donning my Flak Jacket in readiness for the shots !!

 

[Wansworth]

Most of the modern batch of anchors Spade, Rocna, Supreme, Knox etc etc will work reliably in sand and mud and I'd simply keep a watch on the for sale adds until one comes up (or you could spend much more money and buy a new one, and it will look not new the day after you first use it in mud). Focus on 6kg plus or minus. Don't ignore Fortress if a small one is for sale its worth having board.

I'd use 6mm chain - it will give you more than enough exercise + cordage (the amount of the latter - depends on likely depth). I'd chat up the chandler owner and take an empty rope reel to store the cordage - those tape reels sold by the Ultra anchor people are a bit big for a 24' yacht (assuming its a yacht)

But I'd actually wait till you own the desired vessel - as you might change your mind

Jonathan

Forward thinking…

 

[Refueler]

Most of the modern batch of anchors Spade, Rocna, Supreme, Knox etc etc will work reliably in sand and mud and I'd simply keep a watch on the for sale adds until one comes up (or you could spend much more money and buy a new one, and it will look not new the day after you first use it in mud). Focus on 6kg plus or minus. Don't ignore Fortress if a small one is for sale its worth having board.

I'd use 6mm chain - it will give you more than enough exercise + cordage (the amount of the latter - depends on likely depth). I'd chat up the chandler owner and take an empty rope reel to store the cordage - those tape reels sold by the Ultra anchor people are a bit big for a 24' yacht (assuming its a yacht)

But I'd actually wait till you own the desired vessel - as you might change your mind

Jonathan

I use a tape reel (Ankorlina) on my 25ft'r for kedge ... and when using my small motor boat ... the reel is about 35 - 40cms diameter ... nothing big or unwieldy ... it has a small AC14 of about 10lb on it ...

 

[shanemax]

Bruce anchor
Two times your boat length in 8 mm chain.
Plus high tide depth of water
East coast mud
You will not move. I have slept on my boat 100s of times in all sorts of wind and tide conditions.

 

[Refueler]

Here yer go boys ....

My main plough and the small AC14 and reel by it ....

Its surprising the hold that AC14 has despite its small size ...

Someone no doubt will say ... that's not AC14 ... agreed - but its best way to describe it !! The flukes pivot about 40deg on that shank - making it highly efffective.

 

[Boathook]

Weighing options

Get the boat first and then worry about the anchor. Presently you are a bit like the tail wagging the dog !

 

[noelex]

Mud is a very forgiving substrate. Most anchor designs work well and as you are not intending to anchor frequently it would be reasonable to fit a quite inexpensive anchor. The kobra anchor is one on the better inexpensive designs.

On the other hand, some take the view that the anchor is a piece of safety gear and the difference in price is worthwhile even if you are unlikely to test the limits. The better anchor models (that I’ve seen enough to evaluate property) are the Mantus M1, Rocna and steel Spade. If you favouring a Rocna it is worth considering the new Mk2 version that is now available. This has some significant changes that should (on paper) improve the performance further. Panope is about to release a test of this anchor. These results are worth waiting for if contemplating purchase, as it will be the first practical assessment of this model.

The better anchors listed above will still perform adequately with a minimum amount of chain. Keep in mind that if anchoring overnight or leaving the vessel with rope rode, isolated debris and rocks pose a hazard. Most of the weight of the ground tackle is in the chain and with a lightweight 24’ yacht that anchors overnight infrequently, a mixed rode of say 10m of 6mm (or even 5mm if you find it) is a reasonable compromise.

 

[Neeves]

The Mantus is an acceptable anchor - if you go up in size, maybe double, as Noelex has done. His anchor weighs 50kg, the Rocna recommendation is 33kg.

Oversize anchors – necessary?

Deep Anchors Stay Put in Moderate Yawing - Practical Sailor

The shallow setting anchor in the article above that fails with yawing is a Mantus

By all means buy a new anchor, new out of the box, it will be the most expensive bit of kit on the boat.

You go figure.

Get the boat first and then worry about the anchor. Presently you are a bit like the tail wagging the dog !

Agree. Time to search the adverts on eBay

Many yachts are sold with their anchor - what are you going to do with one you buy and the yacht already has 2 or even 3 anchors - ah yes .... eBay.

Jonathan

 

[noelex]

For anyone including the OP debating between a Rocna and the Mantus M1:

We have used both, of identical weight on the same boat in the same cruising grounds for a substantial time. We used the Rocna for around 1600 nights at anchor and have now used a Mantus for over 2300 nights at anchor so both models were given a long term test in many different substrates.

The Rocna is an excellent anchor, but the Mantus M1 is better.

The only drawback of the Mantus M1 is while it looks the same in photographs, the roll bar and overall width of the anchor is much larger. So therefore it may not fit some boats that can comfortably accommodate the same sized Rocna.

The photo below puts this into perspective. It shows balancing the roll bar of my Mantus M1 placed on the fluke of my Rocna of identical weight.

 

[Bouba]

Personally I would never advise anyone that wasn’t anchoring in my cruising waters....go to the marinas in your intended cruising area and see what’s on the bow of everyone’s boat....and talk to the natives