Fortress vs Manson Racer?

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FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
Need a new anchor this year. no bow roller, no windlass, anchor sits in anchor locker on foredeck that will only fit a danforth style anchor. I've heard great things abou the Fortress anchors, and heard bad things about the old Manson. I see they have a new Racer series that looks to be competing with Fortress, so my question is if you were buying one for your boat, which would you pick and why?

Fortress FX-11 vs Manson Racer 6.9lb
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Tough Call

I think the Fortress is designed for holding and strength vs. compactness & weight. I mean, it's a matter of degree. To put it another way, one is more about being used, the other more about weight & space. Mind you, this is from a two-Fortress owner and someone that has NO first hand experience with the Manson, so the opinion is probably worth less than what you paid for it.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Rick D said:
I think the Fortress is designed for holding and strength vs. compactness & weight. I mean, it's a matter of degree. To put it another way, one is more about being used, the other more about weight & space. Mind you, this is from a two-Fortress owner and someone that has NO first hand experience with the Manson, so the opinion is probably worth less than what you paid for it.
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My thoughts too.. I'd go with the Fortress.
 
FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
Maine Sail said:
My thoughts too.. I'd go with the Fortress.
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My thoughts as well, but I wanted to double check before commiting. I didn't want to get the fortress and find out a few months later that the Racer's are suddenly the preferred anchor for XYZ reason.

In addition to being a little more expensive, I don't see anything about the Racer where it's mud / sand adjustible. It looks like it's setup with the correct angle for sand, and I'm anchoring mostly in mud.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,356
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Since you're such a regular here, we're sure, then, that you understand the limitations of using a "danforth" type anchor. You know, current changes, wind shifts, and all those things that the new generation of anchors deal with much better than a "danforth" type. Understand that your foredeck gear is limited, as you first posted.
 
cat38skip

cat38skip

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Jun 6, 2004
173
Catalina 38 San Francisco Bay
Yeah ...... But that Manson is a pretty blue and etched with all those cool graphics !!!
If you are a sponsored racer, You are gonna need one of these !!!!!!!!
Whether it works or not~!~!~!~!~
 
FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
Stu Jackson said:
Since you're such a regular here, we're sure, then, that you understand the limitations of using a "danforth" type anchor. You know, current changes, wind shifts, and all those things that the new generation of anchors deal with much better than a "danforth" type. Understand that your foredeck gear is limited, as you first posted.
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If my boat was larger, with a bow roller, I'd probably have a Ronca, but it isn't, so I have a "danforth" type anchor...
 
shanker

shanker

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Oct 10, 2010
269
Hunter H260 Gull Lake
I'm curious as to what negatives have you heard about the Mason?? My homework points to the Mason Supreme as being a more versitle (bottom types and re-setting) and faster setting anchor than the Fortress, although they are bulkier that the fortress. I haven't heard of any reviews of this Racer? I'm leary just because of how flashy it is.
 
Tom J

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
FourPoints said:
If my boat was larger, with a bow roller, I'd probably have a Ronca, but it isn't, so I have a "danforth" type anchor...
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An anchor doesn't have to be on the bow roller or in the anchor locker to be useful. Stow the Ronca somewhere and use it when you need it. You should always have more than one anchor on board anyway, right? (At least that's what I tell my wife.)
 
FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
shanker said:
I'm curious as to what negatives have you heard about the Mason??
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Sorry, confused the Rocna's and the Manson's. I knew about the Rocna's metalurgy problems and west marine's recall, when I saw the Manson Racer at west marine I guess I was thinking it was a Rocna with the same possible metalurgy problems. The fact that WM sold both Manson and Rocna for some reason never occured to me.


shanker said:
My homework points to the Mason Supreme as being a more versitle (bottom types and re-setting) and faster setting anchor than the Fortress, although they are bulkier that the fortress. I haven't heard of any reviews of this Racer? I'm leary just because of how flashy it is.
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Apples and Oranges. I don't have room to fit a Supreme on the bow, and I don't have room to store it below without creating a trip hazard and damaging the interior, or just simply being completly impractical to store.

As I mentioned originally, I'm only looking for a "danforth" style as that's all I can fit.

As to multiple anchors, I also keep a spare anchor, also a danforth, on a mount hanging from the stern pushpit rail.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
A Fortress just looks like a danforth, the Fortress is a much improved anchor, with the mud palm and fluke settings. These are great small boat anchors. Because they are light and compact you can carry a couple, which is a good plan. I rode out a Nor'easter gale in the Pamlico with a Fortress on the bow and one on the stern to keep me to wind and prevent swing. Practice your setting technique and you will develop complete confidence in this ground tackle.
 
Shoaldrafter

Shoaldrafter

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Dec 8, 2006
1,085
Oday 26 Starr, SC
Fortress vs Danforth

Great comment on distinuishing between them.

"A Fortress just looks like a danforth, the Fortress is a much improved anchor, with the mud palm and fluke settings. These are great small boat anchors. Because they are light and compact you can carry a couple, which is a good plan."

Ed K
 

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Fortress

Fortress

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Apr 20, 2012
21
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Hey guys, I would like to weigh in on the OP's question from the manufacturer's side of the fence, and I am sure my friends at Manson will be ok with this comparison:

The Manson Racer and Fortress are only similar by the fact that they are both pivoting fluke, "Danforth" type anchors, and they are made out of aluminum. From there, the Racer is closer in shape and machining to a welded steel "Danforth" anchor, like a Hooker, Sentinel, or West Marine Traditional anchor model.

Unlike all other fluke anchors, the Manson Racer anchor does have a nifty blue paint job (maybe we should copy them on that!?!), but the Fortress does looks pretty sleek as well with its anodized finish.

Fortress anchors are also precision-machined for greater structural strength and faster & deeper penetration into common sea bottoms, they can be disassembled for easy storage, they have an adjustable shank/ fluke angle, and they offer a hassle-free Lifetime Parts Replacement Warranty.

For the past 25 years, they have been proudly manufactured in the USA at the exact same facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

I would be glad to answer any additional questions.

Safe anchoring,
Brian

Fortress Marine Anchors
 
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