Would you trust a lighter anchor?

J

johnegraham

New Member
Joined
2 Jun 2006
Messages
14
Location
Wherever the yacht is
Visit site
I want to buy a Spade or a Rocna anchor for my Contessa 32. The problem is that the largest model which would fit is a 22lb Rocna (which is the recommended model for a Contessa) and I have been using a 35lb CQR. A friend of mine has a Sadler 32 and has faced a similar dilemna; he has chosen to go the Rocna route. I have always believed that weight is important and read that I should use an anchor one size bigger than the manufacturers' recommendation . Though the surface area of the Rocna blade is a little greater (and therefore should provide better holding) than the CQR, the shank is shorter (probably not a relevant factor) but the anchor is only two thirds the weight. Forumites who have commented on their new generation anchors seem to have been able to buy an anchor of similar or greater weight to the model they replaced. Is ‘heavy good’ or is it irrelevant?
 
An anchor is not a weight on the end of a bit of string, unless you have one of those weights on a bit of string which they use in Norfolk. It is a mechanical device, the better the engineering and suitability to the ground in question - the better it will hold.

Far more important, in my experience, is what attaches the boat to the anchor. Very small anchors can hold boats.
 
This isn't terribly relevant, but some might find it interesting.
Twenty years ago I had (and still have) a small 2 lb aluminium Danforth type anchor (called a Viking, from the USA - I think it was the fore-runner of the Fortress anchor). I decided to test it out to see what it was capable of. It held our 10 tonne 37' boat very well in an average sand bottom, in about 10 - 12 knots of wind, on just rope (lots of scope) and no chain. I did not want to apply any engine power in reverse for fear of breaking it.....
This little anchor probably had / has far more holding power than a 200 lb weight resting on the sand (ie not completely buried).
 
The obvious purpose of weight is to help the anchor to dig in. Once dug in, its area that matters. And weight is not the only thing that must affect digging in - for example sharpness of the flukes must matter together with shape, and angle.

There is enough evidence of the effectiveness of Fortress anchors to suspend my cynicism and make me think that design is more important than anything else.

But in the end, any anchoring situation is as much about luck as anything else. The worlds best anchor wont do much when it lands on a dumped shopping trolley.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Re: Would you trust a lighter anchor?

[/ QUOTE ]


Possibly, depending on how you yourself feel about the data provided by the manufacturer and user published experience.

Would definitely go up a chain size though. Why ? I remember dragging chain across a cement hard. Nearly impossible the drag was incredible. I reckon that chain and scope must have saved the day in many cases when an anchor has unknowingly not bitten right.

I have always thought it odd that boats much bigger than my own, heavier, more windage etc , do not go up in anchor size pro rata. However, the chain size probably at least doubles . The chain area, weight scope must have a dramatic effect on holding power. Even if you start to drag, if you are big, heavy and long enough down below, there is every chance things could still turn out ok.

When you read the blue watering books the boats seem to bristle with all different kinds of anchors for each type of bottom. What to do ? I dunno
 
The Fortress is a terrific anchor and is one of the lightest on the market.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I reckon that chain and scope must have saved the day in many cases when an anchor has unknowingly not bitten right.

When you read the blue watering books the boats seem to bristle with all different kinds of anchors for each type of bottom. What to do ? I dunno

[/ QUOTE ]

You are probably right, but only up to a certain wind strength/wave condition.

My understanding is that if you reverse on the anchor to dig it in, (2000 revs in my case), you will know it's either bitten, (you stay where you are, or move sideways due to propwalk), or it hasnt bitten, (you go backwards quickly!!).

I suppose there are occasions when you might catch a rock, which holds you in reverse in one direction but, if you swing, and the wind gets up, perhaps it comes free - possible, I suppose.

In my experience, once the wind gets up to 10 or 12 knots +, the rode stretches to more or less straight, and the anchor is taking the strain .... so rode and scope are only achieving the low angle needed to avoid the anchor pulling up and out.

On the blue water guys - the blogs I have read suggest that once they have got a new generation anchor, (Spade in a lot of cases), they hardly use the others - maybe a big Fisherman in long kelp.
 
[ QUOTE ]
You are probably right, but only up to a certain wind strength/wave condition

[/ QUOTE ]
I find that, if the anchor hasn't dug in, 40m of chain won't hold the boat if I put her in even relatively low revs astern. Admittedly 40m isn't much, but from that I doubt that you get much holding effect from the weight of chain alone unless you're willing to use hundreds of metres of it. And even then...
 
[ QUOTE ]
I want to buy a Spade or a Rocna anchor for my Contessa 32. The problem is that the largest model which would fit is a 22lb Rocna (which is the recommended model for a Contessa) and I have been using a 35lb CQR.

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds like quite a big anchor for a C32, (less than 4 Tonne I'm guessing.... I use a 45lb Plough, (CQR copy), on Rogue which is a Moody 44, probably weighing about 14 tonne with all the gear on board. Holds without problem, (once dug in), in winds up to 25 knots so far.... and she yaws about much more than a boat with your fine lines is likely to.

Rogue sits between their 25Kg and 33Kg, so the advice has been that the 25Kg would be OK for normal anchoring duties, but if I were to be a liveaboard, blue water cruiser, then 33kg would be better advised.

I'm fairly new to this anchoring game, but learning fast, and see others dragging where I now stay put, (so far!), but there seems to be no doubt that heavier is better, but 10Kg might be fine for a C32

Is there an owners association where someone else may have tried one, or made a bigger one fit?

Richard
 
"Even if you start to drag, if you are big, heavy and long enough down below, there is every chance things could still turn out ok"

I thought we were discussing anchoring /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
If you look on anchor manufacturers' websites you'll find a wide range of recommendations on weight. Some, notably Spade, are conservative on weight and suggest a heavier model for a given boat size than others you would expect to be broadly similar. You need to visit a few sites and get an idea of whether the recommendations for your chosen anchor are realistic.

Personally I would reckon a 10Kg Rocna, Spade or Delta would be an ideal size for a 32 footer. They would hold in almost any conditions but could be backed up by a Fortress dismantled and stowed in a locker for the occasion when your nerve fails. I used a 16 kg Delta on my 40 ft cat for an Atlantic circuit and it did the job admirably, failing only in kelp and soft ooze (the latter case was handled well by a very small Fortress). The giant Fortress stayed in its locker the whole trip.
 
I can't remember where, but I read this little gem recently:

"How do you knnow your anchoring tackle is big enough? When everyone else on the pontoon is laughing at you."

I don't do marinas, but when I walk through one, I see an awful lot of boats - mostly stinkpots, but quite a lot of the larger marina-hopper type of ragtops - that I'd really rather not have upwind/uptide of me at anchor!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I want to buy a Spade or a Rocna anchor for my Contessa 32.

[/ QUOTE ]

John,

another couple of thoughts:

1) I would email Craig at Rocna directly and express your concerns. I have always had straightforward and honest responses from him. I'm guessing he must be on holiday or something, as he hasnt been here for a while, and I'm sure this is a thread he would have been onto like a shot.

2) Have you trawled through all the testimonials on the Rocna website - there may be someone there with a Contessa, or similar, and a few of them are willing to accept emails to discuss their experiences.
 
I think that to some extent that it depends on what sort of anchoring you do. If you want the boat to ride comfortably to an onshore breeze without you on board then I would go larger. If you go for anchorages with plenty of protection and tend to stay on board then maybe the lighter will be sufficient.
 
If you look on the Lewmar website they'll tell you that a lighter Delta will hold as well as a heavier CQR. The reason - the projected area is the same without all the superfluous weight in the hinge, etc. I suspect the same applies for the newer designs as well. Usually on this forum people will tell you that weight helps the anchor to dig-in (and perhaps within a specific design it may) but I've never come across an objective test that confirms this. If anyone has, please post us a link. I think it's just conjecture...but for certain someone will shoot me down /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Just bought a 10kg spade for my Elizabethan 30, 'poor man's contessa 32', yet to arrive but how long can you await results?
I also bought a 10kg sword but no way could I get it to sit on the bow roller without too much rubbing against the furling gear, gave up, any takers?
 
I use a 25lb CQR on my Contessa. I use it a lot, and it's fine. Would prefer a Spade/Rocna etc though if budget permitted (not from a holding point of viewas the CQR's fine, rather for ease of digging in)
 
[ QUOTE ]
In my experience, once the wind gets up to 10 or 12 knots +, the rode stretches to more or less straight, and the anchor is taking the strain .... so rode and scope are only achieving the low angle needed to avoid the anchor pulling up and out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes good point. Forgot about that. Larger and heavier chain probably acts more of a dampener in that kind of a situation.

I find John Goode's tip of putting a bite of rope between chain and deck cleat helps too.
I include one of those rubber expanders which works even better. Plus you get next to no 'chain grumble' when she swings.
 
[ QUOTE ]
"Even if you start to drag, if you are big, heavy and long enough down below, there is every chance things could still turn out ok"

I thought we were discussing anchoring /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top