Which Anchor is best

Salty John

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Have at it. We cruised for a total of 5 or 6 years and always had great service from our CQRs. We went 10 months without ever tying up to a dock and only dragged once - when we put the anchor down in grass and didn't set it properly, my fault not the anchor's fault.
I don't know what problem the new generation of anchors have solved but they are certainly money-spinners for their manufacturers. (With one exception, obviously!)
 
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jimbaerselman

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A quote from my web site, written in the context of Mediterranean anchoring, with a background of running up to a hundred charter boats equipped with many types of anchors for 15 years;
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 in the direction of pull. 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.
Both anchors on your list are modern anchors. The reason it's difficult to determine which modern anchor is best is because there is very little difference between them, and differences mainly depend on the conditions in which they are used (bottom, scope, yawing, etc). As Twister Ken hinted, the biggest cost of fitting a different anchor may be the cost of modifying your bow fitting to suit. Perhaps that should be the basis of your choice.
 
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lustyd

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Jim
Are you classing the Delta as modern or plough? Or modern plough?

The Delta is an improvement on the CQR design - the lack of hinge stops it lying and pulling sideways as shown in the YM review, and there is more weight in the tip to help it dig in point first. This is why it sets better than a CQR - holding power will be similar but a CQR is less likely to set as fast or as reliably.
The new generation ones are now also getting roll bars which will put them tip down immediately to further improve setting speed and reliability.
Some of the new gen ones also have the angle and shape of the plough part changed for various reasons which may or may not improve holding.
 
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Trying to make a sensible and helpful comment, if you do go for one of the rollbar anchors carefully check you can stow it beforehand. They are a cow to handle from that point of view and I have had both Manson and Rocna.

A pal with a 12tonne boat and an inclination to anchor a lot either Scillies or Scotland swears by his Fortress. It certainly dig in and holds quick but again its a cow to stow and is dodgy in areas where there is a big tidal change and it needs to reset.

Havent heard anything bad about the Spade except 1/ its French and 2/ its expensive
 

Plevier

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The Delta is an improvement on the CQR design - the lack of hinge stops it lying and pulling sideways as shown in the YM review, and there is more weight in the tip to help it dig in point first. This is why it sets better than a CQR - holding power will be similar but a CQR is less likely to set as fast or as reliably.
The new generation ones are now also getting roll bars which will put them tip down immediately to further improve setting speed and reliability.
Some of the new gen ones also have the angle and shape of the plough part changed for various reasons which may or may not improve holding.

Agree all that but think you're missing my point.
OP asked for opinions on Delta and Manson.
JimB said
Quote (trimmed):
Plough anchors are common and popular, but need skill to set as they travel a distance before digging into a typical hard sand bottom.
modern anchors (..., Manson, ...) set very reliably, some on shorter scopes, and tolerate wind shifts well.

Then he said
Both anchors on your list are modern anchors.

Hence my slightly tongue in cheek question for Jim - as most people would call a Delta a plough, what is he classing it as? (Nothing against deltas, i have one.)
 

lustyd

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Agree all that but think you're missing my point.
OP asked for opinions on Delta and Manson.
JimB said
Quote (trimmed):
Plough anchors are common and popular, but need skill to set as they travel a distance before digging into a typical hard sand bottom.
modern anchors (..., Manson, ...) set very reliably, some on shorter scopes, and tolerate wind shifts well.

Then he said
Both anchors on your list are modern anchors.

Hence my slightly tongue in cheek question for Jim - as most people would call a Delta a plough, what is he classing it as? (Nothing against deltas, i have one.)

I think I'd actually class the Delta (I have one too) as an old design rather than modern. Most of it's "design" was in removing the hinge which could just as easily have been a cost cutting exercise :)
 

Danny Jo

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A quote from my web site, written in the context of Mediterranean anchoring, with a background of running up to a hundred charter boats equipped with many types of anchors for 15 years;
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 in the direction of pull. 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.
Both anchors on your list are modern anchors. The reason it's difficult to determine which modern anchor is best is because there is very little difference between them, and differences mainly depend on the conditions in which they are used (bottom, scope, yawing, etc). As Twister Ken hinted, the biggest cost of fitting a different anchor may be the cost of modifying your bow fitting to suit. Perhaps that should be the basis of your choice.
Putting aside the question of how "modern" the Delta is, I think this is an excellent summary. Thanks.
 

KellysEye

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>Bear in mind that all anchor tests are a straight line increasing load. I don't trust any of the tests because at anchor the loads are angled snatch loads.

>ANY testing is better than hearsay and Internet forums it's too expensive to personally test them all and this is the best info available so I'm happy to trust it.

I disagree. I wouldn't trust any data that doesn't use the real life paramaters. If the magazines can't afford a proper test they should stop publishing misleading data. I do agree about hearsay and what I often view as biased recommendations based simply on what anchor the posters uses.

The people who anchor most are long distance liveaboards who should know the best anchor for them. Having looked around marinas in the Caribbean chain and Venezuela checking what anchors boats have I have a good idea what the first and second most popular anchors are. However I dare not say what they are for fear of being slagged off by people who have a 'better' anchor.
 

jimbaerselman

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Jim
Are you classing the Delta as modern or plough? Or modern plough?

Good point. I'll duck the issue and amend my site to say "hinged plough anchors".

I'm ancient, so as far as I'm concerned, Deltas are modern. It's difficult to discern significant differences between Delta and "modern" anchor performance, so it becomes part of that class anyway.

And thanks, Dannyjo.

Hmmm. Forgot to say anything about these too . . .
 
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Looking only at the new anchors ( Spade, Rocna, Manson etc) the difference between them on tests is a lot less than the variation in the sea bed and the effect of being in just the right spot. In other words I would not agonise over which one in terms of holding power. Just get the one thats best made and cheapest
 

Sybarite

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Assuming you're not trying to start a big anchor thread, the Manson came out better in the YM tests than the Delta but either will work fine if they are the size specified for your boat.

Same thing in French tests but the Kobra 2 was best value for money.
 

Sybarite

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====================================================

"The first rule of Anchor Club is....you don't talk about Anchor Club
The second rule of Anchor Club is.....;)"

====================================================

Lakesailor - Don't I know it?! :p Just trying to referee this one to an extent, more through habitual stubbornheadedness - the OP asked a question about people's experiences of TWO SPECIFIC ANCHORS, so that he could make an informed decision...

He did not ask everyone to start clamouring to tell him why he should consider something else entirely and then start bickering amongst themselves.... :(

Why not?
 

PeterR

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Hi All
I have a beneteau 473 and I am looking for a new anchor with good holding.
I have considered the Delta 30kg and the Mason suprem 27kg
Does anyone have any preference or can recommend either both are similar in price new or if anyone has a second hand one for sale.

I apprieciate all the comments
Thank you Nick

If you want just a direct comparison of the Manson Supreme and the Delta I have 15kg versions of them both. In terms of holding the Delta works fine in east coast mud but has a tendency to drag and/or not reset in sand. It also drags more readily in fine mud/silt. The Manson works well in both mud and sand but tends to come up with clumps of mud embedded under the roll bar when used in thick mud to the extent I prefer the Delta for mud as it is easier to clean. If you have an open pushpit the roll bar makes the Manson easier to handle but if you have a closed pushpit the Delta is easier to squeeze through if you do not keep it permenantly mounted on the bow roller. Many manufacturers design their bow rollers specifically for the Dellta so they often fit better. Overall, if I was just keeping one anchor I would choose the Manson.
 

Plevier

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Same thing in French tests but the Kobra 2 was best value for money.

Yes they reckoned the Kobra was significantly better than the Delta didn't they?
Hard to understand why as they appear to be very similar but the Kobra just doesn't look as well engineered (to me anyway).
 

Sybarite

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Yes they reckoned the Kobra was significantly better than the Delta didn't they?
Hard to understand why as they appear to be very similar but the Kobra just doesn't look as well engineered (to me anyway).

I am looking at the Plastimo catalogue which quotes the test done by "Voile et Voiliers" in summer 2009 (free translation) :

" The Kobra (2) demonstrated the excellence of its conception, coming overall second (ie to Spade) amongst our anchors with a very healthy performance as may be seen in the videos; it never failed, digging in rapidly and distinctly.

Assuredly the best choice of this comparative test if one considers its very modest cost. A really good surprise and world champion of the price/performance ratio. With the possibility of being able to dismantle it to act as a second anchor.

Enough to make the competitors blush. Winner in the category sand and mud bottom."

Plastimo continues : " An anchor that digs in quickly with a very high holding power, thanks to its weighted point and its very wide base. The exceptional performance of the Kobra is due to its particular geometry which enables you to choose, in all safety, one or two sizes smaller than would be usual for a given size of boat."

The Delta was criticized in this same test for being more difficult to dig in again after turning.

The tests were carried out on a lifeboat with more than 3 tonnes traction on a variety of bottoms: straight pull and a turning pull. The break-out traction points were measured and the anchors performances were filmed under water. Rocnas were not tested.
 

Seagreen

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+1 ;D
 
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