Anchor size

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

In that latest Sail mag anchor review, they tell you in the front editorial page that the anchor test was sponsored by the winning anchor! Who would have known!

 

[shemandr]

In that latest Sail mag anchor review, they tell you in the front editorial page that the anchor test was sponsored by the winning anchor! Who would have known!

Sail tells its readers this upfront.
There are problems with these tests for many reasons. I don't know if it's necessary to impugn Sail for publishing this. It seemed to me they would rather have evaded the controversy. The last test, according to Sail, cost them advertising. So I guess you can believe the "Big Anchor" lobby controls Sail or maybe Sail felt that they owed their readers the curtesy to not suppress this info; and let the readers decide how to use it.

 

[Chris Patterson]

In that latest Sail mag anchor review, they tell you in the front editorial page that the anchor test was sponsored by the winning anchor! Who would have known!

Not unlike "The Boat of the Year"?...

 

[jibes138]

IIRC they also make all kinds of disclaimers about the results only apply to those specific bottom conditions. Let's face it "holding power" is only one of many aspects of anchoring that matters. Many other tests are out there including the tests MaineSail ran in his parking lot with his truck that recommend other anchors and that show better setting and resetting results. Last time I anchored in a HURRICANE with around 90 mph winds for about 8 straight hours I used a 35 pound CQR, a 25 pound Danforth and a 40 pound Danforth. I placed them in a circle around the boat so 120 degrees apart. The boat was still there but most other boats in the area were up in the trees. Only one other boat survived. Next time I would use heavier ground tackle and maybe a few more anchors.

 

[Kestle]

Our boat came equipped with a 40# Danforth, 30 feet of 5/16" grade 40 chain and 250 feet of 5/8" three strand nylon. When we first purchased the boat in 2002 I had some anchoring lessons to learn. Those lessons have helped make what I consider to be a very effective anchoring system suitable for just about any occasion. Still have the 40# Danforth. Very effective in PNW waters. Also, still use a 20# kellet (lead down rigger ball). So, Belle-Vie now has 50' of 5/16" grade 40 chain, 150 feet of 5/8" three strand nylon, another 50' of 5/16" grade 40 chain and another 150 feet of 5/8" three strand nylon. Each is connected to the other using a warp splice. Typically I shoot for 25 feet of water to drop and set the anchor. Usually settle with a minimum of 110 to 140 feet of rode unless sour weather is in the forecast. A SS carabiner secures the kellet to the end of the first 50' segment of 5/16" chain. This helps with catenary. Catenary is also the reason for alternating between chain-to-rope to chain-to-rope. This tip came from another seasoned sailor that seemed to make sense when lots of rode is needed for much deeper water and/or sour weather conditions. In all the years of anchoring hundreds of times in PNW waters, one time the anchor did not hold and that was in a strong blow in Cortex Bay on Cortez Island, BC. It is a notoriously poor anchorage consisting of a thin layer of mud over hard shale. Needless to say even with 300 feet of rode, Belle-Vie at 35,000 pounds still moved about 100' that night. Our Danforth resets when a wind shift occurs or when tide current changes. I have yet to experience a time when the Danforth did not reset itself. Perhaps there are other more modern anchor designs and styles, but as long as the Danforth does its job, I'm a happy sailor.

I'd suggest using a snatch block, instead of a carabineer. Much less chafe to worry about. It also makes bringing it up easier.

Jeff

 

[Chief RA]

This has turned into a very good discussion about one of our most vital jobs as sailors. Indeed our concern should be selecting the best anchor style for our area coupled with developing the best technique to set the anchor. Slamming various anchor makes accomplishes nothing but cheap arguement. Learning through each other is the best thing about a forum. Thanks Guys, I am still learning! Chief

 

[Terry Cox]

Chief

Hi Chief, almost overwhelmed by your lucid reply. I would be nice for some to follow in your style of prose.

 

[Bad Obsession]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYfoki6vW-M

This video is a good one. If you can keep an anchor holding in these conditions then you are doing it right.

Oversized anchor
Oversized gear
Single Anchor

 

[Chief RA]

Thanks Terry, I don't always do so good either, so I need to heed my own advice as well. Chief

 

[NotCook]

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?

To respond to your original post, conventional wisdom is to always go one size larger than the charts recommend. This recommendation is probably valid regardless of which brand/style of anchor you chose.

 

[NotCook]

There's really no perfect anchor for all conditions & bottoms. Which design will hold fast on a flat rock bottom? Non that I know of.
CR

This should do it...

 

[Chief RA]

Notcook: as big as your boat is, I'll bet that anchor in the picture came off your bow! ha Battleship anchor? Chief

 

[NotCook]

Notcook: as big as your boat is, I'll bet that anchor in the picture came off your bow! ha Battleship anchor? Chief

Ha! No, not THAT big! We do have a 100# Fisherman anchor on deck which we have never had occasion to use. Our primary anchors are two 75# Bruces with 400 feet of 5/8" chain each (that's over 2400 pounds of chain). There have been some occasions when we might have liked to have this big one, though!

I took this photo about 2 weeks ago near the fuel dock in St. Georges, Bermuda. I suspect it was from a battleship or carrier back in the 60's...