Broken Danforth Anchor

JerryA

JerryA

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Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Hi Folks,
I was anchored out this past weekend in a sandy bottom. Wind was blowing 15-20mph overnight, but I was protected from wave action in a cove. Pulled up the anchor in the morning (by hand) and found one of the flukes bent about 20 degrees from the other. Upon inspection later I found that the weld had failed. There was very, very little weld penetration into the fluke. Approx. 50% of the weld area had no penetration at all. The anchor came with the boat so I have no idea how old it is, but it looked nice and clean.
Anyone else ever seen this happen on a Danforth?
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,192
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Is it a genuine Danforth (marked appropriately)? Only asking because there are tons of Danforth-TYPE anchors out there, many good, many not. I have seen one bent in a spiral after a blow with 50-60 knot winds and another that had a bent fluke when caught under a cable. No welds broken though.
 
JerryA

JerryA

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Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Here's a shot of the name and model. Looks real.
anchor2.jpg
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,835
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
But that is not a place that should have a weld, is it? Has it been repaired? (I could easily be seeing it wrong).

Something seems wrong, because that is no strain for that anchor.
 
Roadking Larry

Roadking Larry

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Mar 30, 2013
700
Allied Seawind MK II 32' Oologah Lake, Oklahoma
If the weld was a repair then it looks like they had it re-galvanized. A weld on galvanized metal is pretty obvious.
I'd have to look at my Danforth brand anchor to see if it has a weld in that area but that looks like a basic factory weld failure to me
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
A picture from farther away would be helpful to see just where that weld is. Looking at an old Danforth I have it looks like there is a yolk that attaches with a weld to both flukes but it is welded to the face of the fluke there is no slit in the fluke metal.
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Except for the small lumps at the base of that separation, it looks like a break rather than a cold weld. Check the opposite fluke and see if there is a weld in that location. I have a Danforth to check but it is not here at the boat house anymore. Will check when at boat again. Chief
 
JerryA

JerryA

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Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Here's a bigger picture to give everyone an idea where the break is located. It's not a split, it's the edge of the fluke where it should be welded.
JerryA
IMG_20170612_202712335.jpg
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Jerry: Checked my Danforth today and mine is made the same way with a weld on that overlapping piece. Definitely a bad weld! Chief
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Look at the weld on the fluke to the cross bar. That weld is separating too. Danforth should definitely be notified.
 
JerryA

JerryA

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Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
jibes138 said:
Look at the weld on the fluke to the cross bar. That weld is separating too. Danforth should definitely be notified.
Click to expand
Yup, that's what I found too. I needed to use it this weekend. It was straightened pretty easily. Ground away the galvanize in these areas and welded. Sprayed it with some cold galvanize, which should be fine in fresh water.

JerryA
 
capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
5,006
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
I should think that Danforth would stand behind that anchor, no problem at all. However, are the time and trouble you'd go through to get a replacement really worth the $39.00 it would cost you to just buy a new one?
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Capta: Danforth needs to be informed though as they may have many more of that lot out there. That is about a $150 anchor. Chief
 
capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
5,006
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Chief RA said:
Capta: Danforth needs to be informed though as they may have many more of that lot out there. That is about a $150 anchor. Chief
Click to expand
I'm guessing this is most likely a one off issue or we would have heard about it before now.
Of course, if you really want to spend $150.00 on a 14# galvanized anchor you may, but you certainly need not.
http://www.boatersland.com/dans920.html
https://www.amazon.com/Danforth-94013-Danford-Standard-Anchor/dp/B0014456R8
http://us.binnacle.com/p1690/Danforth-S-920-14-lb.-Anchor-/product_info.html
 
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jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
It is pretty clear the weld missed the joint and the stress on the cross arm fractured that weld. It is likely a robotic welding process so the likelihood of a lot problem is high. An ultrasonic inspection might be needed and/or a recall. High liability risk for danforth.
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Ron and Capta: I didn't research the internet! I went to Amazon to check on the cost of an appropriate size anchor for his boat and it was $150 w/ shpg for a Danforth, probably around a 20 pounder. I don't even use a 14# Danforth as my primary anchor. I use a 20# anchor on my Catalina 250. I didn't look up the 920 number so shoot me at dawn! Chief
 
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