What's the best anchor?

ghostlymoron

ghostlymoron

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What\'s the best anchor?

I've had a Danforth and Bruce. Both seem to hold OK on sand and mud. What is your experience. The Danforth was easier to stow.
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

"What's the best anchor?"

The one that works for you! :)
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

A Plough type is good for me; however, anything that can hold my yacht especially when in a hurry.
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

I have a big magnetic one. My theory is that if the Earth has a magnetic field, I ought to be using it.
Only last weekend we hung 2 boats off my big magnetic anchor and I didn't wake up once.
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

I'm so weary of these debates...does anyone really have the energy for this? Sorry if the original poster is new to all this, but do try a search if you haven't already. You'll understand the reluctance by some to get involved...me for one.
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

I'm new to this (discussion of anchors), I've been wondering about this recently and reading a little. I don't anchor very often and hope to do so a little more. From what I read, the old style plough anchors (CQR, Bruce etc.) are not very good in comparison to the new generation anchors such as Delta, Spade and Rocna.

From what I can gather (and I'm no expert, but I do read a lot), the Rocna makes a convincing case for claiming to be the best modern anchor, and lists a bunch of magazine reviews on it's site. A useful starting point if nothing else. The Spade seems pretty close too.
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

This is the advice about anchors published by the Cruising Association for visitors to Greece in their Cruising Guides.

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Anchor Types

Plough anchors are common and popular, but need skill to set as they travel a distance before digging into a typical hard sand bottom. Claw anchors (Bruce type) clog easily with rock or weed when setting, and then have to be re-set.

Flat anchors (Danforth, Britany, Fortress) are light for their holding power (especially the aluminium alloy Fortress), need a lot of scope, set reasonably easily, but don’t tolerate changes of direction. However, they are very suitable as stern kedges when on a quay, or as a second anchor on a forked moor.

Roll bar and other modern anchors (Spade, Bugel, Rocna, Manson, Sword) set very reliably, some on shorter scopes, and tolerate wind shifts well. Form you own conclusions, check the prices, and check which will fit your hawse
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Conditions in Greece are often hard sand bottoms, and wind above 25kts when free anchoring is moderately common; so is anchoring bows or stern to a quay, with occasional big winds stirring the peace of the night.

Typically, when big winds are expected, most anchor with scope about 6 times depth, often using a forked moor if they're not attached to the shore in some way.

Views and feedback on the above are very welcome. They're been garnered from some 3500 members over the past 5 years, but there's always the chance we're out of date!
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

A big, heavy one. If it's big enough and heavy enough, the type is irrelevant - it's only on the margins that it matters.
Click to expand...

That being the case, why not a large rock with a hole through it? Cheap. And plenty around in Scotland.
 
Re: What\'s the best anchor?

I'm so weary of these debates...does anyone really have the energy for this?
Click to expand...

I agree with you, but I still find myself wondering which anchor to buy next. The debates we have here dont move things on - they are usually a list of people praising their latest anchor with a bias towards those who have just bought one. I dont trust the magazine tests either - there seems to be some national bias in them, and they say little about the materials used in construction. So how do we find which is the best all round anchor?

For example, lots of people praise the Rocna but there has been enough on here about the construction quality to make me doubt. Some tests show the Delta as being a good anchor and its less than half the price of a Rocna - but why should it be good when its a plough type?

FWIW I'll add my bit to the subject. I've some experience of using a Fortress and it uniformly digs in fast. But it bends (one fluke is a gentle curve) and clogs up with weed to the point where it couldnt free up and re-bed in a kelp anchorage like W Scotland. The light weight is a real advantage on deck and no disadvantage in digging in but its not, in my view, an anchor for areas with strong tides and weedy bottoms..

Rather more experience of the CQR which often takes several attempts to dig into hard sand but works well in mud. Strongly made. Doesnt clog

But what we really need is some clever person who can turn all the accumulated knowledge of these forums into some hard and useable info rather than just opinions.
 
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