max anchor size

Ross · Jan 21, 2011

That depends. Are you a retired fullback for the NFL? Or are you a 125 pound accountant?

Stu Jackson · Jan 21, 2011

I usually anchor in about 7 feet with about 35' of chain.

Seems a tad short, since you don't include the height of the bow from the water.

The Rocna website has a very good discussion about anchoring and ANCHOR SYSTEM SIZING. You have to take into account each individual piece of the entire system.

Here is a thread with good sizing tables: see Reply #6: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4990.0.html

Have a great trip.

zeehag · Jan 21, 2011

i just found a 60 pound original bruce i am picking up in a couple of weeks for my formosa...which will affix to 200 ft of 3/8 chain and then need a manual 2 speed windlass for its particular use. my old standard is a 35 pound cqr--which i feel is a tad light-- and 200 ft 5/16 chain... with a lofrans electric 1000 windlass.......last yr on a 37 ft performance cruiser e used a 35 cqr and only 30 ft of 3/8 chain-- was a tad too little..needed more chain.....

zeehag · Jan 21, 2011

galynd said:
Thanks guys and gal. Ross, I'd say I'm somewhere in the middle of the two. Love'd your answer though.

My point was can an average joe, non nfl linebacker, handle a 33 lb or 35 lb anchor with 100 ft of chain? Or would that be too heavy for the average person to lift? what is the max that would be reasonable for one to lift under those circumstances? I could stick with the 25# anchor but I'm concerned that it might not hold in the bahamas daily. I have never drug anchor in my current area, but I don't have much of a current and have a muddy bottom. do I need to upgrade for the Bahamas?

i have 100 ft 5/16 chain and a 35 pound cqr on my ericson 35mII...i can pull it myself without a windlass--- but it gets old. ye may wish to invest in a manual 2 speed windlass for the cruising thing.

Ross · Jan 21, 2011

I can haul my 35 pound anchor and about ten feet of 3/8 inch chain. More depth than that means more chain out and I need some help in the form of a twenty foot line with a grab hook on it. I lead it back to the halyard winch on the mast. I pull up to zero scope and break the anchor out with the engine.

Craig Smith · Jan 21, 2011

You've not said what your existing chain is. Size and grade? Unfortunately if it's matched to a 22 lb plow, a Rocna 15 (33 lb) might demand, ideally, a commensurate upgrade for the chain. Conversely I am going to point out that, on a strict weight budget, once the chain is strong enough and long enough, all extra weight is most efficiently invested in the anchor.

If you have heavy low grade chain, you might save a lot by swapping it for stronger but lighter stuff.

Next issue, anchor sizing: this should be done with regard to the boat and the expected anchoring scenarios. I appreciate this is the point where it becomes marginal with manual retrieval, but - the inability to handle gear should necessitate a new way to handle it safely, not a down-sizing of that gear.

The Rocna recommendation for your boat is indeed the 15 (33 lb). The Rocna sizing is based on the rationale outlined here:
www.rocna.com/kb/Rocna_sizing_recommendations
You may decide it does or does not apply to you.

You would need a larger Manson knock-off than genuine Rocna to equate, and you will still have a weaker inferior product.

Stu hinted at some of these pages which may help you:
http://www.rocna.com/kb/Rode_optimizations
http://www.rocna.com/kb/Chain
amongst others.

aduffE37 · Jan 22, 2011

in the exhumas and south florida a delta fast set worked awsome for me. it would reset fast which is needed due to the constant changing tides and opposing winds. i use 70 feet of 3/8 on a 10 ton endeavour. most of the time anchored in 7-10 feet and let it all out till the 3 strand.........it was heavy but doable hand over hand. but!!!!!! but!!!!!! YOU NEED TO REMEMBER THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL OCEANS. can turn nasty in a very short time and this is where hand over handing can get really dangerous. a pitching bow, with the hook caught on some coral can really make thing challenging!

Barnacle Bill · Jan 24, 2011

Your 100' of chain is adequate if you are able to pull it off the ground. You certainly don't need any more. Your anchor size might be a little light if you are caught in a good blow, but all that chain will help to keep it in place. I am sure you will find yourself anchoring in more than 7' of water. Maybe more like 20'. You don't want to end up on a lee shore in the middle of the night. Also, in some anchorages some boats use two anchors off the bow and some use only one. You should have a 2nd anchor ready as a back up and for such situations. If you are in a spot where everyone is using two anchors, then you want to use two. If they are using one anchor, then you do not want to use two - use one, etc.

RichH · Jan 24, 2011

Barnacle Bill makes a very valid statement ... about 2 anchors in the Bahamas.

Most times a single anchor will suffice. BUT when anchoring in the narrow 'cuts' that have strong reversing tidal flow/surge AND when other boats are on 2 anchors, you really need that second anchor and set up for a "Bahamian Moor".

With the 'modern' Rocna, etc. type that 99,99% of the time will quickly re-set and when anchored 'alone' a single anchor will do; but, when in such locations that most boats (with 'crappy' anchors) use 2 .... you really then need to also use 2.