We drug at anchor saturday night!!!! Anchored behind Shell Island near Panama City,Florida an early morning storm broke out our plow anchor and it didn't reset!!! We had a Danforth on shorter scope that didn't reset because of a shell stuck on a fluke tip. We had dragged about 1/2 mile before my wife got up and looked out and couldn't see the sailboat that was anchored beside us. The GPS came up with 0.46 NM from out initial position!!! Fortunately we were blown away from shore and didn't hit another boat. Except for a sore back from hauling up two anchors in high winds at 4 am no harm was done. I want a better anchor at a good price!!! A Bruce anchor is supposed to be great at resetting. A "Claw" is a Bruce copy because the patent expired. The Claw is a lot cheaper. Anyone with comments??? Please no "you get what you pay for" statements as I have found that sometimes you get a good deal and sometimes you get overpriced junk. Free enterprise demands that consumers search for the best value!!! Thanks Tom
"Bruce" versus the Lewmar "Claw" any difference??
- Thread starter p323ms
- Start date
- Status
Read Practical Sailor
Practical Sailor has done definitive tests on anchor performance, using standard pulls with a shore based windlass, and different types of ground. I only remember the following from the article I read: Matching the anchor to the ground is important. Although they weren't the best, the Danforth types did quite well in resetting. I'm not sure where you can find a library of Practical Sailors, but they are the best on "no bull" evaluations. David Lady Lillie
Practical Sailor has done definitive tests on anchor performance, using standard pulls with a shore based windlass, and different types of ground. I only remember the following from the article I read: Matching the anchor to the ground is important. Although they weren't the best, the Danforth types did quite well in resetting. I'm not sure where you can find a library of Practical Sailors, but they are the best on "no bull" evaluations. David Lady Lillie
I prefer the claw
I use the 44lb Claw knockoff with 75' chain and 200' of nylon rode on our H380 without a lot of worries. I set 5:1 in crowded anchorages for the day, and 7:1 at night. My boat sails at anchor and we have ridden through thunder storms with 55knts gusting higher without dragging. I had the motor on and was ready to help the ground tackle if needed, but it never drug, even though the wind clocked 180 degrees. The botton in the Carolinas has to be close to Florida with sand and mud being the primary holding material. Just my $0.02 worth...
I use the 44lb Claw knockoff with 75' chain and 200' of nylon rode on our H380 without a lot of worries. I set 5:1 in crowded anchorages for the day, and 7:1 at night. My boat sails at anchor and we have ridden through thunder storms with 55knts gusting higher without dragging. I had the motor on and was ready to help the ground tackle if needed, but it never drug, even though the wind clocked 180 degrees. The botton in the Carolinas has to be close to Florida with sand and mud being the primary holding material. Just my $0.02 worth...
I don't mean to argue... but...
I don't want to start an argument but I have had much different results with a Danforth anchor. I use one for a lunch anchor, but would never trust one to reset. I found them easy to jam with anything from shell to grass and not reset at all. Back to original question, I have a friend that has a bruce knock-off and he is quiet happy with it. The only problem he has had was he purchased one with a chrome finish which did not hold up. He could have (should have) bought one galvanized. Don
I don't want to start an argument but I have had much different results with a Danforth anchor. I use one for a lunch anchor, but would never trust one to reset. I found them easy to jam with anything from shell to grass and not reset at all. Back to original question, I have a friend that has a bruce knock-off and he is quiet happy with it. The only problem he has had was he purchased one with a chrome finish which did not hold up. He could have (should have) bought one galvanized. Don
Anchoring
You can get a copy of the article on anchoring from Practical Sailor for $10. Very comprensive. I think the Dec 2003 was the most recent. http://www.practical-sailor.com/backissues/anchorsanchoring.html
You can get a copy of the article on anchoring from Practical Sailor for $10. Very comprensive. I think the Dec 2003 was the most recent. http://www.practical-sailor.com/backissues/anchorsanchoring.html
Don, Danforth not suitible in grass/weeds.
Don: I must agree with you on using a danforth anchor in grass and weeds. This is probably one of the worst choices for that type of bottom. On the other hand there is probably not a better anchor in sand/mud (like we have in the Ca. delta). We use a Delta when we are in a grassy bottom and think that they actually work better than the bruce (point penetrates quickly). A friend of ours had an incident with a Bruce in this type of grassy bottom (using a 33# Bruce on his Catalina 34). I really doubt that there is a perfect anchor. As someone has stated, you need to match the anchor to the bottom.
Don: I must agree with you on using a danforth anchor in grass and weeds. This is probably one of the worst choices for that type of bottom. On the other hand there is probably not a better anchor in sand/mud (like we have in the Ca. delta). We use a Delta when we are in a grassy bottom and think that they actually work better than the bruce (point penetrates quickly). A friend of ours had an incident with a Bruce in this type of grassy bottom (using a 33# Bruce on his Catalina 34). I really doubt that there is a perfect anchor. As someone has stated, you need to match the anchor to the bottom.
What is the best anchor
for a Tennessee lake? I have a Danforth style fluke that holds sometimes, at others it will not hold at all. (I have an O'Day 25 that "sails" without canvas up in light winds) Yesterday I set and reset it about 5 times before it held. When it was time to leave, it wouldn't come up. Being cheap, I wasn't about to let an anchor eating lake have it, so I dove down to free it (only 10 feet or so). It was stuck under roots. My wife wants a heavier anchor, but I don't think that's the problem. Any thoughts? Thanks Alan
for a Tennessee lake? I have a Danforth style fluke that holds sometimes, at others it will not hold at all. (I have an O'Day 25 that "sails" without canvas up in light winds) Yesterday I set and reset it about 5 times before it held. When it was time to leave, it wouldn't come up. Being cheap, I wasn't about to let an anchor eating lake have it, so I dove down to free it (only 10 feet or so). It was stuck under roots. My wife wants a heavier anchor, but I don't think that's the problem. Any thoughts? Thanks Alan
Hard to anchor in shale
I used to live in Tennessee and in a lot of areas the bottom is shale. I don't think anything holds well in shale. We used a Danforth but were carefull to choose a muddy bottom. I too had to dive to recover my anchor several times. Our solution to poor holding was to go deep into a nice cove drop the anchor off of the stern and tie to a tree. The biggest problem there is that the fishing people often fill coves with trash and call it a fish shelter!!!(attractor)
I used to live in Tennessee and in a lot of areas the bottom is shale. I don't think anything holds well in shale. We used a Danforth but were carefull to choose a muddy bottom. I too had to dive to recover my anchor several times. Our solution to poor holding was to go deep into a nice cove drop the anchor off of the stern and tie to a tree. The biggest problem there is that the fishing people often fill coves with trash and call it a fish shelter!!!(attractor)
Try this link
We are lucky in the chessy that the bottom is almost all mud and easy holding,, we use a 65# CQR and a 40# danforth,,,with a small fortess as a stern anchor. We also are considering buying a Bruce or equiv for cruising.
We are lucky in the chessy that the bottom is almost all mud and easy holding,, we use a 65# CQR and a 40# danforth,,,with a small fortess as a stern anchor. We also are considering buying a Bruce or equiv for cruising.
Setting ability is important
I read the reviews in the link. The Bruce seemed to do well. I have a good danforth type anchor to use when I expect high straight line winds. saturday night the wind veered and this is what caused the plow to come out. I've had trouble before getting it to set. I've ordered a "33# claw" to put on the bow roller. I may put the plow on the bow also and keep the danforth in the anchor well. A 33# claw is oversized for my boat and will hopefully hold in all but extreme conditions. For me resetting is critical in that the wind often changes direction as a storm passes and I often anchor where there are tidal currents. Tom
I read the reviews in the link. The Bruce seemed to do well. I have a good danforth type anchor to use when I expect high straight line winds. saturday night the wind veered and this is what caused the plow to come out. I've had trouble before getting it to set. I've ordered a "33# claw" to put on the bow roller. I may put the plow on the bow also and keep the danforth in the anchor well. A 33# claw is oversized for my boat and will hopefully hold in all but extreme conditions. For me resetting is critical in that the wind often changes direction as a storm passes and I often anchor where there are tidal currents. Tom
Claw works fine
I use a claw & since it has no moving parts nor stress points that could give, the knockoff is just as good. RE; The CQR & danforth types, this is not the case.
I use a claw & since it has no moving parts nor stress points that could give, the knockoff is just as good. RE; The CQR & danforth types, this is not the case.
- Status