Anchor size

Kings Gambit · Nov 25, 2014

sailnoproblem said:
I have a 34C Tartan, 12,000lbs. Have a fluke anchor now but am switching to a Lewmar Delta.
I have seen the size chart and my boat falls in the middle. It seems a 22lb is fine but would it be better to go bigger the 35lb?
Any thoughts?

You might consult the latest issue of Sail magazine for your answer. If anchoring in muddy bottoms, fluke anchors hold best if the flukes are set at 45-deg angle. If not, the article recommends an oversized fluke anchor, with Fortress being the best holding by far in mud. So, where are you going to anchor? And by switching, do you mean taking the fluke off the boat, or merely adding the Delta to your arsenal of ground tackle?

Rick I · Nov 25, 2014

I would definitely go with the 35 pounder but look at other anchors. I was in the market for a Delta when I bought my new boat (ten years ago

) but decided on a Manson Supreme. Really glad I did. Lots of "new generation" anchors on the market now and all perform better than the Delta.

Warren Milberg · Nov 25, 2014

Give some thought to the 33-lb Rocna....

sailaway78 · Nov 25, 2014

I firmly believe

I firmly believe in going bigger than the recommended. I have a 37' Seidelman, and the charts all recommend a 35#. I have a 35# CQR that I use for a lunch hook etc. But we have some pretty strong tide rips in places I anchor, so I use a 44# Delta for overnight.

Brian S · Nov 25, 2014

You ought to have more than one anchor on board, just in case. Because Fortress makes anchors that can be broken down, and Danforth anchors are so annoying to store, I think I'd get a Fortress to disassemble and have on standby.

Then, I'd for sure get a "new generation" anchor like a Manson Supreme, Rocna, Mantus, etc. before I'd get a Delta. I have just seen too many tests and reports that indicate these new generation anchors set quicker and more reliably in almost any bottom than just about anything else. Rocna just introduced the new Vulcan, which is based on the original Rocna design, but is designed without the roll bar, so that it will fit bow rollers better.

Kings Gambit · Nov 25, 2014

Brian S said:
You ought to have more than one anchor on board, just in case. Because Fortress makes anchors that can be broken down, and Danforth anchors are so annoying to store, I think I'd get a Fortress to disassemble and have on standby.

Then, I'd for sure get a "new generation" anchor like a Manson Supreme, Rocna, Mantus, etc. before I'd get a Delta. I have just seen too many tests and reports that indicate these new generation anchors set quicker and more reliably in almost any bottom than just about anything else. Rocna just introduced the new Vulcan, which is based on the original Rocna design, but is designed without the roll bar, so that it will fit bow rollers better.

According to the Sail article I cited above (#2), the roll-bar anchors had trouble setting in soft mud b/c the bottom was too soft (i.e., did not offer enough resistance) for the roll bar to turn the anchor efficiently.

rpwillia · Nov 25, 2014

I have a friend

sailnoproblem said:
Thanks for the info. I have a lot to consider, as I'll look into the new generation hooks.

His brand new Hunter 37 came with a Delta. After trying to anchor with it one night and dragging reapeatedly with lots of different scopes he pulled out at dawn to go home and get some sleep.

He picked up a nice new Mantis anchor at the boat show. If you really want to buy his delta (it really is pretty!) I can hook you up.

shemandr · Nov 25, 2014

I have a Delta for sale at a steep discount. It hasn't been in the bottom very long - it mostly skipped along it. My experience was a lot like rpwillia's . I could get some snoring going once I got the Manson Supreme. No REM sleep with the Delta.

sailaway78 · Nov 25, 2014

Depends

I think it depends on the type of bottom you anchor in. Also I might add, the the Hunters I am familiar with come new with the very minimum. I have a friend whose new 36 came with a 22# Delta. Not sure it was even a genuing Delta snd not a knock off. The Deltas do very well in soft bottom and sand conditions. Not so good in hard bottom conditions.

zzmeyer · Nov 25, 2014

Re: Depends

Go big with lots of chain. I also downloaded an anchor watch app that has added piece of mind.

Bad Obsession · Nov 25, 2014

Ah Crap.....Someone bringing up another anchor thread.

There is a TON of information out there. There has been some really good tests out there.

If you want to sleep good and do it right, buy one of the newer anchors. Ronca, Manson Supreme, etc. If you want to sleep good through bad storms, go a size up from the recommendations.

Then again, I was being cheap with my Compac 23. I have a Lewmar claw anchor at 22 pounds. I am going to 30' of 1/4" chain (the chain that I have now is not something I like and I want a heavier chain). I have a lot of experience in the Chesapeake Bay with my old boat and I had a 33 pound Lewmar Claw with 30' of 1/4" chain and never drug with that set-up. I slept well through bad weather.

Davidasailor26 · Nov 26, 2014

sailnoproblem said:
I sail the Barnegat Bay in South Jersey. It is a mud bottom, but I plan to add the Delta to my arsenal.

Barnegat Bay is actually only mud on the western shore. The eastern side along the barrier islands is sand. There's also a significant amount of seaweed there which in our experience makes it harder to set a fluke anchor.

gettinthere · Nov 26, 2014

My Mantus, with roll bar, set hard and fast in the very soft Chesapeake mud. Much better than my Manson Supreme which set pretty well but not instantly.

Anonymous 121765 · Nov 26, 2014

Sailn,

Here's the site to size your anchor pal.

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=8743&lid=23571

I see you're in Tom's River, I shared a Philly. apartment with a buddy Danny Noise, going to Temple back in the day...small world.

I bought a delta anchor when they first came out for several years & it had acceptable holding power. The one problem I had was if the anchor landed on its side. If so, it would drag & sometimes I needed to retrieve it in order to set it again. This was in mostly sand & mud bottoms. It could be a problem setting in grass bottoms. I stopped letting others work the anchor set after abit & did it myself to set first time.

If you decide to go this route, make sure when dropping, control the line peel-out & not allow any loose play in the line. Keep the anchor straight until bottom. after you feel it hit take up on the line slowly & you will feel it grab. I had a 22 lb. & liked it for the lighter weight but, not some tendencies in conditions.

CR

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=8743&lid=23571

seadaddler · Nov 26, 2014

Anchor

OK this anchor thread will drive you crazy which anchor to buy but what ever
one you get let it be 35lb.
I have a real Delta 25lb that came with my Hunter 36 from the factory and did up grade to a Delta 35lb and also added 90' of chain and since have never dragged here west coast florida and mostly mud seems to be what comes up
on my anchor most times and I do 3 -3 week cruisers each year 99% anchoring.
I decided on more chain with my 35lb delta and I usually cruise with 25 other sailboats and most use delta's and have not seen many of the new anchors being used like Mason or Ronco.
I think if I was in the market for a anchor I would buy a newer anchor like Ronco,Mason or I really like to try the Mantus only from all the test being
advertised and reviews from other sailor's.
Nick

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Nov 26, 2014

Bad Obsession said:
Then again, I was being cheap with my Compac 23. I have a Lewmar claw anchor at 22 pounds. I am going to 30' of 1/4" chain (the chain that I have now is not something I like and I want a heavier chain). I have a lot of experience in the Chesapeake Bay with my old boat and I had a 33 pound Lewmar Claw with 30' of 1/4" chain and never drug with that set-up. I slept well through bad weather.

I also have a 22 pound Lewmar Claw on my bow. That anchor has been on the bottom from the tip of Texas, up to Annapolis, and all through the Keys and Bahamas. Right at 10,000 miles of cruising. Boat is about 7500 pounds loaded for cruising

I carry 75 feet of 1/4 inch G4 in the rode. Only ONCE has it failed to set- off Frazier Hog Cay in the Berry's, and the guide books warned that the bottom there was hard scoured and setting ANY anchor would be very difficult. It was like trying to anchor in a concrete parking lot:neutral: We took a mooring.

Once set, it has NEVER dragged, even in 60 knot squalls.

I also carry a 16 pound folding Northill, with 25 feet of chain, for those places where only grass can be found, AND a 12 pound Hi Tensile (true) Danforth , again with 25 feet of chain, as a stern anchor in a Bahama Moor.

I would NEVER trust a Danforth style to reset on a tide swing- with a Danforth, I always have two anchors out.

I don't think any one style anchor will work perfectly in all types of bottom. That's why long distance cruisers carry a variety

Tim R. · Nov 26, 2014

My 45lb Manson Supreme held us in sustained 30kt winds with gusts to 40 a few nights ago. We used 125' rode with 100 of that chain in 10' deep to hold our 26,000lb Caliber 40LRC in mud bottom. I always say go a size bigger if it will fit. We also carry a 60lb Mantus as a storm anchor.