Anchor for Vega

[John Keith]

The Vega I have just bought has a 7.5kg aluminium Bruce as the main
anchor.

I suspect this is a little on the light side. Can anyone advise on a
good solid anchor for the Vega and the appropriate weight.

I'm thinking about buying a spade as they seem to get a universally
good write-up. Given the shape of the bow I would expect that a Spade
could sit happily on the bow roller without being too near the GRP.

Advice on chain/ warp ratio and diameter of chain would also be
helpful.

Final consideration is steel vs. aluminium. At the boat show the Spade
rep. told me that an aluminium anchor can be half the weight of a
steel one and be equaally effective - can this be right?John

 

[bbach1949]

John: I doubt that your Bruce anchor is aluminum - probably galvanized
steel. 7.5 kg or 16 lbs is about right for a Vega, but you could go to a 22 lb
anchor without killing your back. I would go with a Delta for your bigger
anchor, still about 22 lbs or 10kg. Nigel Calder has an excellent table in his
Cruising book that indicates anchor and line sizes for different size boats.
A Vega is more like a 25 foot boat than a typical 27 footer given it's light
displacement (many 27 footers are more like 8000 lbs). Just my humble
opinion mixed with some experience. I keep my anchor in a bow roller (Simpson
Lawrence) made for a Bruce or Delta. Bill Bach V 1071

 

[pjacobs55]

I have a 7.5 kilo Bruce type, works great, has enough weight to get through grass and kelp.

Journeyman 1171Nicholas Walsh
Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial Street
Portland Maine 04101
Tel. 207/772-2191
fax 207/774-3940

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[pelagicasd]

John. I pretty much agree with Bill. We used a 7.5 Kg Bruce and were very
happy with it. One failure to set in an area with lots of grass on the
bottom. Dragged once when we were playing with the spinnaker at anchor and
once when we set it with to short of a scope.
As far as scope goes; with all chain for general conditions 3:1 measured
from bow roller to bottom and don't forget to figure the high tide into it.
5:1 if windy or overnight for peace of mind and 7:1 for extreme conditions.
Use a snubber to reduce shock loading.
If using line 5/16 is probably okay and 3/8 is even better but 1/2" makes me
feel very secure. Use 5:1, 7:1 and 9:1 ratios. At least 25 feet of chain
between the anchor and the line and I'd use 3/8". Don't forget to use a
swivel and safety wire the connections.
We went with all chain and used 1/4" hi-test. Mark the chain with cable
ties. One at 20', 2 at 40' etc,
You also should consider wave height as a factor as the higher the waves get
the shorter your scope becomes.
The ability of the anchor to hold depends on it's ability to bury itself. We
had friends with a 10 Kg bruce that kept dragging a 28' boat in clay like
mud, The Bruce would break free with a ball of mud beteen the flukes and
fail to reset. Next to them in the same conditions with our 7.5 we never
dragged. The used line and chain compared to our all chain. A CQR or Delta
probably would have worked better for them. Other friends with a knock-off
CGR dragged and when they pulled the anchor came up with only the shank, the
plow had brokn off. Caveat emptor.

Walt, S/V Lyric #120

 

[mphalv]

We also use the 10 Kg Bruce as a primary anchor with 50 ft of chain and 250
feet of 1/2 inch nylon. Even when cruising and living aboard for several
years, had only one or two minor episodes of dragging. I believe in a good
chunk of chain connected to a good sized anchor. I still hand raise the anchor
but sleep better at noc knowing that we should not go a wandering.

Paul