Anchor testing

Chief RA · Dec 10, 2014

This looks like the same test that Sail mag. published and I just posted info about on here. Of course there were several forum members who said it was all bunk. Fortress and Danforths smoked all the rest of the newer style stuff! I think I will just stay with my Danforths. Wait until you see what kind of responses you will get! Chief

Gunni · Dec 10, 2014

Informative but no veer testing. I use both a Manson Supreme and Fortress. I sleep on the Manson, but kedge with the Fortress.

Stu Jackson · Dec 10, 2014

Gunni said:
Informative but no veer testing. I use both a Manson Supreme and Fortress. I sleep on the Manson, but kedge with the Fortress.

Well put, gunni.

Why NEW GEN Anchors are Better:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2705.msg19651.html#msg19651

Fortress and danforths are great for one directional pulls. Until I did research into this subject, and thanks to Maine Sail, I used danforths, but in retrospect not in reversing conditions. Skippers shouldn't.

But anchor discussions are always such fun.

Gunni · Dec 10, 2014

All-U-Get, yes they didn't appear to use the standard protocol of allowing the anchor to settle, orient and dig in before pulling full set strain. The new spade anchors work better if their point has a chance to slowly burrow before you load them. I was however impressed by the power of that small Fortress and the combination of light and packable is hard to beat. Every boat should probably have one packed away for emergency use, along with a rope rode.

Bad Obsession · Dec 10, 2014

Yep....I drug with my Danforth. A 180 degree wind shift will do that to you. Had the same thing happen numerous times with my Lewmar Claw and it reset and dug in big time.

I would prefer a 25 pound Manson Supreme but the Lewmar will be it until I can boat budget the Manson Supreme.

Anyone who has cruised on the Chesapeake in the summer knows the routine. Get into the anchorage by 5 at latest so you are ready for the storms. The storms always have a wind shift with them.

Fortress and Danforth are great as a second anchor but they don't reset.

justsomeguy · Dec 10, 2014

Bad Obsession said:
Yep....I drug with my Danforth. A 180 degree wind shift will do that to you. Had the same thing happen numerous times with my Lewmar Claw and it reset and dug in big time.

I would prefer a 25 pound Manson Supreme but the Lewmar will be it until I can boat budget the Manson Supreme.

Anyone who has cruised on the Chesapeake in the summer knows the routine. Get into the anchorage by 5 at latest so you are ready for the storms. The storms always have a wind shift with them.

Fortress and Danforth are great as a second anchor but they don't reset.

I've never minded a 180 on my Manson Supreme. Grabs fast.

I've not given my two spare danforth-style anchors much thought in a couple of years.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Dec 10, 2014

Right at 10,000 miles with a Lewmar Claw tip of Texas to Annapolis, and Wash DC, plus Bahamas

Failed to grab, ONCE and we were told NOTHING would hold there- they were right (Frazier Hog Key, Berry's)

As an anchor the Danforths are wonderful- if the current doesn't change. I've seen them come up too many times with mud (or a beer can) jammed in the flukes to trust them to reset. As an anchor they are wonderful- two set up up and down- but not a single. I would NEVER sleep on a single Danforth (or Fortress) in a changing tide situation. Sorry- don't trust them

And by the way- when away from home port I carry three anchors- A Claw, a Danforth and a Northill ( for weed) sized for the boat, with chain and rode for each. I've had to cut away a rode and run from an anchorage once in 30 years. Was very glad I had a second aboard.

rufus1138 · Dec 11, 2014

chalk me up for the claw, I love my lewmar, easy, resets quick on a large swing and in Pensacola there's almost never anywhere it wont grab big time.

Jackdaw · Dec 11, 2014

Best advice is to 'use what the locals use.'

Unless the locals are using CQRs.

rufus1138 · Dec 11, 2014

Jackdaw said:
Unless the locals are using CQRs.

lol :dance:

seadaddler · Dec 11, 2014

Mantus

I have Delta anchor with 90' of chain and been very happy but had a
collision with a channel mark pole straight on and bent one side,so
been looking at the mantus as a new main anchor and have heard
many good things.
Still thinking which anchor best for here Florida ?????????.
Nick

thinwater · Dec 11, 2014

You really need to look at all of the data, not the dumbed-down, advertiser friendly summary:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87754&d=1409925575

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87755&d=1409925673

Instead of the best test result, look for the most consistent anchors. Those were the lowest results are high enough to be useful. This leaves the Manson Supreme, Mantus, and Ultra looking best, with the Fortress very strong for a kedge.

You will also note a LOT of scatter in the data. The bottom was quite variable.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Dec 11, 2014

Had a friend in Florida who tried the Fortress. He sold his because in strong currents, the durned thing would plane and simply NOT go to the bottom- it was too light.

jibes138 · Dec 12, 2014

Watch the videos on the Mantus 2 pound anchor. Pretty impressive. Most people would use this as a desk ornament but after watching the video I think it would make a good storm anchor.

gettinthere · Dec 13, 2014

Storm anchor? I hope you are kidding!
I should be receiving my mantus dink anchor next week. This will be our 4th dink anchor. So far, the 1st 3 did poorly. They have no weight to dig down and hold. Videos of the mantus dink anchor look promising. We'll see...

But for storms, we'll stick with the mantus 65

Gunni · Dec 13, 2014

gettinthere said:
Storm anchor? I hope you are kidding! I should be receiving my mantus dink anchor next week. This will be our 4th dink anchor. So far, the 1st 3 did poorly. They have no weight to dig down and hold. Videos of the mantus dink anchor look promising. We'll see... But for storms, we'll stick with the mantus 65

Please provide an update on that Mantus dink anchor - and how you secure it onboard. I have the Fortress Commando but keep it broken-down in the bag because it has so many sharp edges. Not many good places to store an anchor on a RIB. Really like that Mantus design.

Fortress · Dec 18, 2014

Thank you all for your input regarding the Chesapeake Bay testing. When set at the 45° angle for soft mud, the American-made 21 lb Fortress FX-37 achieved far superior holding capacity than any other anchor in this test.

During the 5 tests of the FX-37, two pulls ended with this anchor still climbing above 2,000 lbs of tension. During another pull, it spiked at 1,800 lbs and remained engaged into the bottom and finished at over 1,000 lbs, and in one other test the tension was climbing to over 800 lbs when the test ended. The FX-37 did not set during one test.

By contrast, it was rare for any of the 44-46 lb steel anchors (weighing over 2x more) to exceed 1,000 lbs, and when they did, they typically broke free and did not re-engage the bottom.

Video from the 4 days of testing can be found on our YouTube channel below:

Day 1: Chesapeake Bay Soft Mud Anchor Testing – Tuesday 8/5/2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KSTQaXngpg

Day 2: Chesapeake Bay Soft Mud Anchor Testing – Wednesday 8/6/2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRUUxU5sApc

Day 3: Chesapeake Bay Soft Mud Anchor Testing - Thursday 8/7/2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df12fEpA14s

Day 4: Chesapeake Bay Soft Mud Anchor Testing - Friday 8/8/2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ga1_LCZ90g

justsomeguy · Dec 18, 2014

Did you do any reversing testing, i.e. 180 degree change in direction of pull?