Adios
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Especially? So its the worst of the dinghy anchors ? Come on, admit it you're fishing for a juicy anchor argument. No thanks! Unlike you I don't have anchor OCD so I'll take it as I find it and know the resale value is there if I need it.
Whats the best stern anchor
- Thread starter KAM
- Start date
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Especially? So its the worst of the dinghy anchors ? Come on, admit it you're fishing for a juicy anchor argument. No thanks! Unlike you I don't have anchor OCD so I'll take it as I find it and know the resale value is there if I need it.
I honestly get impression that some are just looking for excuse to expound theories .....
Here's my present setup for a 4ton 25ft Motor Sailer ... (I removed the short chain from the Anchorlina to AC14 as it was in use on my Soviet Speedboat and webbing was enough).
And here's the Fishermans that the small AC14 replaced ..
I still carry the Fishermans as I still think its one of the best once you get into weed / kelp ...
I certainly do not expect my anchors to be best ... but as long as they do the job I ask - then why should I change ?? I have no 'agenda' or drum to bang ...
In fact I have just wire-brushed and grey painted the Plough and AC14 ... (good old Hammerite) ... Look 'bees knees' now.
Adios
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On one small boat early on I had a fishermans and a fortress type. I knew I was suppose to think the fortress was better but I found half the time it turned into a ball of collected weed and eventually I realised the fishermans was better for always setting in every Thames Estuary and rivers place I anchored, and I was never riding out a hurricane so it always held. For the OPs question I think its been answered by all the times people have said "most people in the baltic use a bruce,"I honestly get impression that some are just looking for excuse to expound theories .....
Here's my present setup for a 4ton 25ft Motor Sailer ... (I removed the short chain from the Anchorlina to AC14 as it was in use on my Soviet Speedboat and webbing was enough).
And here's the Fishermans that the small AC14 replaced ..
I still carry the Fishermans as I still think its one of the best once you get into weed / kelp ...
I certainly do not expect my anchors to be best ... but as long as they do the job I ask - then why should I change ?? I have no 'agenda' or drum to bang ...
In fact I have just wire-brushed and grey painted the Plough and AC14 ... (good old Hammerite) ... Look 'bees knees' now.
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
Oh boy, this will run and run. Anchor threads always do.
Difficulty retrieving is good - anchors are supposed to hold
but as an old codger, I am a fan of the aluminium ones which are easy to handle weight wise.Having been through the full gamut of anchors from CQR to spade via manson , rocna, fortress and several nameless french ones I cant say that I have found huge differences . Holding seems to be as much about what the anchor lands in as anything else.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
My Soviet Speedboat.... full aluminium job .. Progress 4 ...
I had two of them, saved from scrapping. People here were scrapping for the metals value.
Finally sold one which ended up in Riga and in regular use. Remaining one I put a Mariner 20 on the back ... painted ... added the old seats from my Volvo and a pals BMW .....
Before the work - everyone was telling me to get rid of it ... but once done - they soon changed their minds and love it ...
14kts in still water all day long - no prob.
Before BMW seats fitted in rear ..
With the original seats ..... trip out with wife ...
I had two of them, saved from scrapping. People here were scrapping for the metals value.
Finally sold one which ended up in Riga and in regular use. Remaining one I put a Mariner 20 on the back ... painted ... added the old seats from my Volvo and a pals BMW .....
Before the work - everyone was telling me to get rid of it ... but once done - they soon changed their minds and love it ...
14kts in still water all day long - no prob.
Before BMW seats fitted in rear ..
With the original seats ..... trip out with wife ...
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KAM
Well-Known Member
The Aluminium Fortress always seems to get good reviews but I can't help thinking a bit of weight helps if there's not much chance to check it's set. The boats a long keeler too so you don't really want to be reversing amongst all the smart motor boats to try a reset.
Adios
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My little aluminium fortress G5 is rubbish. Light weight is nice for handling but no good as far as quickly digging into a seabed. Bigger aluminium anchors may be better but they seem to need some weight. But fortress generally for sure there are times when it s a bad choice. If most people in the area use a bruce get a bruce
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I realise it is just perpetuating the everlasting argument but this is just not true. I use my Fortress FX16 as a kedge over the stern or in a V for fork mooring many times per season. No fancy anchoring technique, I row it out in the dinghy and throw it out. In most cases I am taking a bit of a chance on the seabed as in Greece it is typically sandy patches between weed, not usually deep but can be in some places. I can say, hand on heart, that it has never failed to set immediately. The rode is 16 mm Anchorplait for easy handling, with 5 metres of 8 mm chain.
Adios
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Fortress FX16 = 4.5kg Fortress G5 = 1kg. Seems like 1kg just isn't enough weight for that design, needs the weight to push on the back tab which forces the point down. But generally I've had lots of uninspiring experience with the fortress design and find the shape awkward so wouldn't buy another. On the other hand the mantus dinghy anchor videos I've seen also 1kg seems to dig in more willingly. Christ I don't know. Or care. Arghh.
sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
So here my question , why bow first , ( too shallow for the rudder )?
If we gone stern first once we gone in 1000s times , we planning to cruise the Baltic soon which is why am asking .
Unless there a very good reason we be looking at dropping the bower and going in astern .
Lines ashore easily done from a dinghy ,
And if you had to make a quick escape , just dump the lines .
I guess if your a very shallow boat and want to step off bow first does the job.
We used some marinas lately in the Netherlands where there have box berth with poles ,
We get looked at strangely when we reverse in ,
Nearly everyone goes bow first.
If we gone stern first once we gone in 1000s times , we planning to cruise the Baltic soon which is why am asking .
Unless there a very good reason we be looking at dropping the bower and going in astern .
Lines ashore easily done from a dinghy ,
And if you had to make a quick escape , just dump the lines .
I guess if your a very shallow boat and want to step off bow first does the job.
We used some marinas lately in the Netherlands where there have box berth with poles ,
We get looked at strangely when we reverse in ,
Nearly everyone goes bow first.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Yes, too shallow for the rudder. More often than not the rocks slope down into the water and you wouldn’t want your rudder anywhere near them. One thing I had not worked out for myself was the fact that you can improve your shore fixture by laying out two, or even three lines. Mooring bows to shore was something we only did a few times but it was satisfying to get right, though a certain degree of athleticism was required if there was no-one ashore to take your line, even with a split pulpit.
KAM
Well-Known Member
Some of the mooring spots round here have a tyre attached. You can just plonk your bow on the tyre and step ashore. Might start carrying a tyre to hang on the bow.
BabaYaga
Well-Known Member
KAM
Well-Known Member
Maybe an anchor with provision to add a bit more weight without the faff of using a chum.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Especially? So its the worst of the dinghy anchors ? Come on, admit it you're fishing for a juicy anchor argument. No thanks! Unlike you I don't have anchor OCD so I'll take it as I find it and know the resale value is there if I need it.
If you are happy go for it.
An Inquiry into Anchor Angles - Practical Sailor
Jonathan
Adios
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Come on surely you know enough about anchors now and can move onto something else?
Adios
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i hate myself for biting but as you linked to a Practical Sailor anchor article this is their take on the Mantus
Mantus Dinghy Anchor
The Mantus is the only 2-pound anchor weve ever felt safe leaving the dinghy attached to. During testing, the dinghy felt as though it were nailed to the bottom. We even used it as a lunch hook for an 8,000-pound catamaran on good sand, to see how it would hold when really challenged. Though it would start to drag when white caps came up, the holding remained steady and the force required was substantial.
Dinghy Anchors: Big Anchor Tech Scaled Down - Practical Sailor
Their assessment of the fortress g5 was exactly what i found “hard bottoms (not enough mass to bite)”. Its a critical failing. If it doesn’t bit the higher ultimate holding power means nothing. To me its all about setting ability in the most substrate types and if holding power is an issue get a slightly bigger one of that design. Thats all I need to know so i’m graduating myself from anchor school.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
As johnalson says, yes it’s go avoid the rudder bashing the rocks.
And until,recently bows to was the norm in the Med also - as there were often rocks / dislodged stones near the quaysides
If you look round a Baltic harbour, often fewer than 5% of boats have a bow anchor on deck, and often 80% don’t even have a roller bow fitting
Adios
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Whats their obsession with getting ashore? Do they have to sit on rocks to eat?
Refueler
Well-Known Member
If you came here and tried it - you'd understand.