What size Fortress?

[samwise]

We are looking to buy a new kedge anchor and have heard generally good things about the Fortress ( although I did find a few negative responses on this forum recently) Our boat is 10.1 metres and we could get away with an FX 11 (2.7kg) recommended for boats between eight and 10metres. They run out at around £140. Next size up at 3.2kg and recommended for boats 10-12m, hits the wallet for £200.
We will be using this as a stern anchor when we go to the Med in 2006. Our boat is on the cusp of both recommendations and I am disinclined to shell out more than I have to but -- following the well established rule that you should not stint on ground tackle, I'm inclined to bite the bullet and go for the big one. Or should it be even bigger?
Constructive thoughts and experiences welcome.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

i have 2 fortresses, a FX16 as a kedge and a huge FX35 for emergencies. my boat is a 40ft cat, 5.5 tonnes.

i have used the smaller anchor as both a kedge and occasionally as the main anchor. it has been most useful in very soft mud when it buries itself so deep it needs to be winched out. in sand it tends to skim across the bottom without biting.

i'm glad to have it on board but wouldn't want to have to rely on it for all bottoms. if you want a lightweight anchor for regular use i think the spade (al version) might be of more general use.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

sorry...

didn't answer your original question! unless you plan to use the anchor as your sole anchor in bad conditions you should generally go for one size smaller for your kedge. the smaller of the sizes you mention would do fine.

be a little wary of manufacturers' reccommendations on size, i have come across some bizarre variations, e.g. a 15 kg delta is listed as suitable for 40-50 ft whereas a 15 kg spade only up to 35 ft!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

I wouldn\'t

advise using ANY Danforth type anchor for your rear mooring anchor in the Med.

Fortunately, excepting the odd fishing harbours and mainly in the Eastern Med, you'll find aft tails supplied.

The reason I say this is the impossibility of hitching a trip line on a Danforth type anchor. My experience (admittedly only 4 years) in the Med is that you'll have a foul in about 40% of cases where you use your own stern anchor.

Those I've spoken to, who have the Fortress have one major reservation - the difficulty of getting down to the seabed and to penetrate when you're moving, and nobody used it as their main kedge.

I'd stick to either the delta or bruce. Both are easily stowed, self-launching and set quickly (the bruce quicker than delta but having less holding power weight-for-weight).

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hylas]

If you are going to anchor in the Med, I will discourage you to use a Fortress anchor.

Med bottoms are mainly hard sand and weed... Exactly the type of bottoms that the Fortress doesn't like too much... just because the anchor doesn't dig in.. and if the anchor doesn't dig in, you can take any size you want.. it will never hold! :0)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[scarlett]

I have used the smaller Fortress for about 8 years. I would not recommend it for your only anchor type but it will be good in mud without weed. The smaller one should do fine as your pull on it will be ' in a straight line' ish so when it is in will not unhook till it fails completely.

An anchor which appears to set every time but must be used in over large sizes is the genuine Bruce.

The Delta is also nearly as good but not cost effective.

On the stern of my 32 footer I have used a Danforth type [ genuine 5 kg Meon or Genuine 3 kg Fortress ] usually but not always successfully.

I have had frequent failures with a Plastimo CQR, now in a second hand shop.

Now I am lazy and usually go stern-to and get the benefit of the winch on an Oceane.

I agree with the comments about Med sand and weed being the downfall of the Danforth style anchors and the Fishermen fail too. 'Luckily' a lot of Greek habours are full of 'mud' from sea toilets and the weed has died for the same reason.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[wagenaar]

On my 34 foot, 5,5 ton Koopmans, I used the Fortress FX 16 as kedge, with mixed succes. In mud it functioned excelently, but in sand it dragged. This was particularly the case in Lipari(island N. of Sicily). The problem is to get the anchor to penetrate. The first time I used the Fortress I saw it go down like a leaf from a tree. This was caused by the large size of the flukes as well as having to pull down the anchor-rode. Later I first dropped part of the chain before dropping the anchor. The anchor is pulled down by the chain. Be aware not to drop to much chain/rode, because the anchor may get entangled in it.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hylas]

manufacturers\' reccommendations on size

"Be a little wary of manufacturers' reccommendations on size,I have come across some bizarre variations, e.g. a 15 kg Delta is listed as suitable for 40-50 ft whereas a 15 kg Spade only up to 35 ft!" (snowleopard)

I should give some explanation about this question of manufacturers' reccommendations on size..
Any manufacturer will have the tendency to reduce the recommended size.. just to be able to say "He! looks.. you just need to buy a small 10 kg XXXX when our competitors recommend at least a 20 kg anchor for the same boat size!! Our anchor is much more efficient and it will be a good bargain for you.. " (and they know you will still oversize your anchor! :0) )

Modern technology anchors are more efficient than the old generation of anchors, and in a good holding bottom, you could have the tendency to reduce the size!.. But you should also consider that you will not always anchor in the best holding seafloor..

To give you a comparison, Sticky mud will have an holding coefficient of 1.50 – a good sandy bottom : 1.00 – Soft mud only 0.45 – Gravel as low as 0.35.... If a 15 kg anchor will be far enough for a 40-50" boat anchored in sticky mud, what about the same boat anchored in soft mud or Gravel???..

A good main anchor must be adapted to your own boat, regardless of the type of bottom. Like most other sailors, I will prefer to use an oversized anchor, than to drag in the worse conditions..

One more point: - In France, untlil recently (september this year) the size of the anchor was given by an official "décret" (law) and the SPADE (like any other French anchors) reccommendations on size, are made in accordance to this decret.

And finally, as weight has nearly no relation with holding, manufacturers' reccommendations are only given as a guide line. It is the responsibility of every sailor to make the selection of the anchor size in accordance with the type of boat, the sailing program and the specific anchoring conditions he will meet.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

Re: manufacturers\' reccommendations on size

Alain

as you're here, i'd appreciate your comments on this idea...

i currently have a 16kg delta as main anchor. a 15 kg aluminium spade would presumably give vastly greater holding power without extra bow weight. apart from the high cost, do you see any disadvantages?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hylas]

Re: manufacturers\' reccommendations on size

Hi Chris,

No, the only disadvantage will be the much higher cost.

The 15 kg Aluminium Spade is the same size than the 30 kg steel version.. Then you will have enough holding for two boats like yours at the same time... :0)

<hr width=100% size=1>