I would like to upgrade my ground tackle in preparation for a cruise up the Inside Passage to Alaska in my 335. Is anyone aware of an unbiased study of the holding power of different types of anchors, e.g. CQR, Bruce, Danforth in clay versus sand versus rock, etc. bottoms?
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Practical Sailor
They rate anchors regularly. Their number is here in the archives somewhere. They also rate the anchors based on the type of bottom you may encounter wherever you are going. Good luck Bob Knott S/V Serenity
They rate anchors regularly. Their number is here in the archives somewhere. They also rate the anchors based on the type of bottom you may encounter wherever you are going. Good luck Bob Knott S/V Serenity
Holding power
As you'll see when you get into the reviews, holding power is only part of the story. Bottom characteristics are a huge factor, as is the ease of set. A Danforth with tremendous holding power won't do you much good when the current swings your boat around and kicks it loose. I'd say the consensus of NW sailors I've talked to is either the Bruce (better set / less holding power) or the Delta (more power, a bit tougher to set). Both are good in our NW clay/mud. And to go north, don't forget your 100-200' of stern-tie line! ph.
As you'll see when you get into the reviews, holding power is only part of the story. Bottom characteristics are a huge factor, as is the ease of set. A Danforth with tremendous holding power won't do you much good when the current swings your boat around and kicks it loose. I'd say the consensus of NW sailors I've talked to is either the Bruce (better set / less holding power) or the Delta (more power, a bit tougher to set). Both are good in our NW clay/mud. And to go north, don't forget your 100-200' of stern-tie line! ph.
Go heavy and with redundency
Most of the time the inside passage is fairly benigh, BUT, it can really blow. In the summer of '91 (August 8), we were at Winter Harbor when Solander Island weather satation blew away at 103 knots. The system was so large that people in Barkley Sound and Queen Charlotte City were feeling 75 knot winds. While the intensity of this storm may have been greater than average for this time period, I've noted some fairly strong sytems in other years. People don't talk much about them because this is "summer" and the "good" season. Due to the remoteness of some of the areas and the rapid approach of systems (sometimes less than a day warning) it would be advised to asume a marina might not be available and you'd be on your own. Recommendation: Go oversize and have redundency. For the primary anchor a plow would be my recommendation. Some bays which look like good anchorages have shallow mud bottoms and fluke type anchors will drag (similar to Poulsbo, Ganges, etc.). For our H-35 our standard anchor is a 33# Delta with 45ft of 5/16 high-test and 250 ft of Samson gold braid. My shackles are made in Japan (not China) and are oversize (I don't trust shackles). For a backup anchor I have a Fortress (big), 40 ft of 5/16 high-test and 350 ft of 7/8 braid. When going north of Campbell River I use the 350 ft rode due to the depths one has to anchor in. At Shearwater the depths are in the 70 to 80 ft range so the 350 ft rode is handy. The OEM anchor rode I use for the lunch hook. Plenty of stern tie line (like Phil said, preferably line that floats so it won't get caught in your prop), mushroom anchor(s), dive gear (wet suit, gloves, booties, head, and weights) to unsnag stuff around the prop or winged keel are handy additions. I take 5 plastic 5-gal Gerry cans for diesel and one for gas (plus the outboard gas tank), and numerous one-gal water jugs. Water: If you must take on water between Comox and Ketchikan put some in a clean clear glass jar first to see if you like the looks of it. Hope you have a good time!
Most of the time the inside passage is fairly benigh, BUT, it can really blow. In the summer of '91 (August 8), we were at Winter Harbor when Solander Island weather satation blew away at 103 knots. The system was so large that people in Barkley Sound and Queen Charlotte City were feeling 75 knot winds. While the intensity of this storm may have been greater than average for this time period, I've noted some fairly strong sytems in other years. People don't talk much about them because this is "summer" and the "good" season. Due to the remoteness of some of the areas and the rapid approach of systems (sometimes less than a day warning) it would be advised to asume a marina might not be available and you'd be on your own. Recommendation: Go oversize and have redundency. For the primary anchor a plow would be my recommendation. Some bays which look like good anchorages have shallow mud bottoms and fluke type anchors will drag (similar to Poulsbo, Ganges, etc.). For our H-35 our standard anchor is a 33# Delta with 45ft of 5/16 high-test and 250 ft of Samson gold braid. My shackles are made in Japan (not China) and are oversize (I don't trust shackles). For a backup anchor I have a Fortress (big), 40 ft of 5/16 high-test and 350 ft of 7/8 braid. When going north of Campbell River I use the 350 ft rode due to the depths one has to anchor in. At Shearwater the depths are in the 70 to 80 ft range so the 350 ft rode is handy. The OEM anchor rode I use for the lunch hook. Plenty of stern tie line (like Phil said, preferably line that floats so it won't get caught in your prop), mushroom anchor(s), dive gear (wet suit, gloves, booties, head, and weights) to unsnag stuff around the prop or winged keel are handy additions. I take 5 plastic 5-gal Gerry cans for diesel and one for gas (plus the outboard gas tank), and numerous one-gal water jugs. Water: If you must take on water between Comox and Ketchikan put some in a clean clear glass jar first to see if you like the looks of it. Hope you have a good time!
CARRY THEM ALL+ LOTS OF CHAIN
I suggest you carry them all, rather than selecting, they each have their limitations, practical sailor has surveyed all of these and then some, and there isn't one that can handle every type of bottom, and you plan on cruising you'll need at least two that will work, only one will be under the load, and the second as backup, also you'll need 100' of chain per anchor, the alaska tides exceed 40 feet, from Pince albert up to Juno and beyond, and you'll need twice that amount for rode. but from the San juan islands to glaiser bay each step of the way will take your breath away.
I suggest you carry them all, rather than selecting, they each have their limitations, practical sailor has surveyed all of these and then some, and there isn't one that can handle every type of bottom, and you plan on cruising you'll need at least two that will work, only one will be under the load, and the second as backup, also you'll need 100' of chain per anchor, the alaska tides exceed 40 feet, from Pince albert up to Juno and beyond, and you'll need twice that amount for rode. but from the San juan islands to glaiser bay each step of the way will take your breath away.
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