Best all-around anchor

[SEA KATA]

BRUCE ALL THE WAY

I was having problems anchoring on year with a danfoth, spent one sleepless night in a storm so I moved to other bay looking for a dock, of course the dock was full.With a thunder storm in the forcast I had to use the danforth again !. When the dock opened up, I quickley pulled up the anchor it was set and set good. When I finaly got it up it was attached to a BRUCE AND 30FT OF CHAIN, At first I thougt I un hook a fellow boater, but no it was not attached to other boat so I got my self a nice BRUCE and it has held from Georgian bay to Bahamas in all types of weather Bruce is the way to go

 

[Larry]

Delta fast set

I've been using a 35# Delta with 30 ft chain on my Morgan 382 (18000 lb displacement). During the two years I've used the Delta here in LISound waters, it's never missed a set and it's never dragged. I prefer it over the CQR, where I've had occasional problems getting it to bite. Larry

 

[ex-admin]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending January 25, 2004:What's your favorite anchor for the waters you sail? 53% Danforth or Fortress 21% Bruce 19% CQR 06% Other

 

[Stefan Leader]

Have a Good night sleep on us!

When winds shift 180 degrees and blow 50 knots in a squall or when a frontal passage roars through during the night from an entirely new direction I want to be on my 35 pound CQR plow with 40 feet of chain. I sleep like a baby at anchor knowing that nothing resets better than a CQR. If straight line holding power were the only criterion, a Danforth or Fortress would be fine. But in the real world its the shifts that make you drag and when the wind shifts there is nothing better than a CQR. whatever the bottom.

 

[Tom S.]

Stefan, Nothing resets like a CQR ?

I think the Practical Sailor tests that were specifically for anchor resetting would say otherwise. (they did reset testing I beleive at 160 or 170 degrees veer).Not saying the CQR is not a decent anchor. I had it on my last boat and I was mostly happy with it.One surprising thing about the Practical Sailor resetting tests is that the Fortress did really well (I did not expect that), but the danforth did not (I expected that). Something about the exact shape of each being a bit different.

 

[R.C.]

I Own a CQR, Fortress, Delta and Bruce

I own 7 different anchors and use just one a 33LB Bruce. The Fortress is nice and Light weight but here in Maine with tide swings, current and shifting winds it never fails to break out and not re-set. I relegated it to being my stern anchor. The Delta may have good holding power but it also does not like to re-set. I used it three times and it now sits in my shed. The CQR and the Bruce are by far the best, however, I have not used my CQR in three years as I've had better luck setting the Bruce and having it stay set. In August of 2003 we were anchored during a storm on Vinalhaven Island and the wind speed reached 56 knots. We were only one of two boats in the cove that did not drag anchor. A 77 foot Swan with a very large CQR dragged down on us and I had to blow the air horn to get the captain back on deck. That was a close call! Two boats went up on the rocks one had a Fortress and the other a Danforth. The two boats directly behind us dragged over 75 yards before finally throwing out aditional anchors. Those two boats (sail boats) both had CQR's. The next morning everyone was asking what anchor I had out and I told them a Bruce 33 although they could see my CQR was ready and on deck. When the two boats behind me pulled up the CQR's they had both obviously pulled out in a wind shift and tried to re-set but got clogged with sea grass. Fortunately both of those boats had large Danforth style anchors that held. By the way the other boat that did not drag also had a Bruce out. My boat is a Catalina 36 and I run 25 feet of 3/8 chain and 5/8 rode. That night I was running an 8 to 1 scope at high tide. If I had to guess I would say that all the boats should have held if the skippers knew how to actually anchor a boat. When I anchor I usually back down with the line taught at 3/4 throttle for at least 30 to 45 seconds. I never see anyone do this??? Most people I see just drop it and kill the engine!! Raw holding power ratings are very misleading. What really counts is how the anchor re-sets. The Fortress has far more holding power than a Bruce if your boat always pulls in the same direction! I have been sailing for a long time and since using a Bruce have not had a major anchoring mess up!!! That said the CQR is my next in line...R.C.

 

[Gary Kalember]

In the Gulf

I use a Bruce, Delta, and Danforth. The Bruce is my primary and the Delta my backup. Never had a problem with the Bruce always sets and never lets up. I also do as R.C. does and set my anchor at 3/4 throttle for at least 60 seconds. I haven't had a problem yet.