310 primary anchor

Aug 26, 2020
21
Hunter '87 hunter 26.5 Three Islands Mallets Bay
Hello friends. I just picked up a Catalina 310 hull 334. It oddly didn’t come with an anchor on the bow roller. There is a backup danforth stored in the anchor locker. What is the right size bow anchor for this boat that will work with the roller and windlass?
Thanks in advance
 
May 17, 2004
6,108
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
It depends on the style of the anchor you choose, and that will depend on your anchoring grounds. What works in mud might not be the best selection in sand or weeds, for example. Once you select the style go to the manufacturer’s website. Most of them have sizing charts, and several have templates you can print out to see how it fits in your roller.

There are a few places you can get reviews on different anchor types. The SV Panope YouTube channel is one example.
 
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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,453
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
:plus: With @Davidasailor26. The areas and the seabeds you plan to use as anchorage’s should be an important guide in your selection process.

The anchor manufactures will provide insight as to the size for your boat.
 
Jul 28, 2024
69
Catalina 310 238 Berkeley, CA
Congratulations and welcome to the club!

Mine came with a 33lb (15kg) Rocna, which worked well with that roller and is a great anchor with a big fan base (it's a pretty religious topic). It served me well, even in some high-wind and high-current anchoring.

Here's the Rocna:

Rocna.jpeg


I added a Selden bowsprit to my boat (for flying an asymmetrical spinnaker), that would have interfered with the anchor, so I switched to a Bruce anchor because it nicely tucks downward after the roller and allows the bowsprit to pass next to it.

Here's the new Bruce with the bowsprit:

Bruce_with_Bowspirt.jpeg
 
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Aug 26, 2020
21
Hunter '87 hunter 26.5 Three Islands Mallets Bay
Thanks to all for the responses!

Max Sailing-The sailors on Lake Champlain do like the ROCNA. Good to know that a 15kg will fit well. Couple followups. How much chain did you have? The windless mine came with is the kind for rode and not chain links. Did is launch easily?

Cheers!
 
Jul 28, 2024
69
Catalina 310 238 Berkeley, CA
I think I have 50’ or 75’ of chain then a few hundred feet of rode.

The windless not working for chain is a common complaint, and there’s no easy upgrade. These’s a few threads on this forum about it with no good answer. I just enjoyed the usefulness for the rode and dealt with the chain by hand.

Launch with the Ronca was always easy.
 
Apr 5, 2009
3,288
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
My boat is a C30 not the C310 but it is very close in windage and displacement. I have been using a Mantus 35-lb with 30' of 5/16 chain and 400' of 1/2" nylon an it has never moved an inch. Now that I have a powered windlass, I plan to increase the chain to 120' just to allow deeper anchorages that we can get here in the Pacific NW.
 

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