Anyone found out there found the perfect anchor for thier Hunter 460 or is it truly personal choice?
Consensus on best anchor for a big Hunter?
- Thread starter 29palmsailor
- Start date
I have a Rocna 25 (55#) on my 410. Best anchor I ever had. Mine is a little over sized for my boat but you might want one size larger for a 460.
Sailboat size/displacement is not a factor in selecting the type of anchor. The Rocna is a new design that has out-performed older designs (Danforth, Bruce, plow) for setting, holding, and resetting in several careful tests. Once you have selected a type of anchor with good holding for your bottom type, you check the maker's recommendation for the weight of the anchor for the displacement of your boat.
Going a size heavier than recommended will increase holding strength at the cost of a heavier lift when raising the anchor.
Going a size heavier than recommended will increase holding strength at the cost of a heavier lift when raising the anchor.
There is not a perfect anchor, they are all tradeoffs in their design, but there might be a "Best" for you based on your needs. We all would like to find the anchor with the most holding ability for the bottom in our sailing area. Also that anchor would need the ability to set and reset quickly and would need to be the lightest in design that could accomplish those tasks. We need to consider storage and that anchor would need to also to fit in its locker or roller assembly. There are weight limitations in place as we would also need to be able to adequately haul it aboard taking into consideration our average anchoring depth and the size and length of the chain. These limitations may vary whether the retrieve is manual or by the use of a windlass. Seek for an anchor that meets the conditions you sail in at least for 90% of the time as there is no need sporting a storm anchor for everyday sailing. You may also consider taking more than one anchor; we pack a "lunch hook" for ease of deployment in light conditions instead of using the primary. The storm anchor stays at home until we go on a trip. You may also need to determine the need for an all chain rode or if rope rode will be adequate. They both carry different elasticity and obviously weight. There are different techniques for setting and releasing an anchor so besides choosing the best anchor there is much to be learned on how to use it.
Anchor System Sizing Tables (Reply #6) & Why Swivels are a bad idea http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4990.msg30400.html#msg30400
there is soooo much to read about this on the internet... here is a good start
it depends on where, and how, you use your boat.
if all you do is tie to a dock some where, then you dont need much more anchor than will satisfy the law for what you should carry....
if you are a fair weather sailor and do a few overnights a year in a protected anchorage, or anchor out for an afternoon round of cocktails, that anchor will probably be fine....
if you are more adventurous and anchor out a lot in all types of weather, or ever anchor on the windward side of the shore, then a much bigger anchor will be a better choice... maybe two of them.
no one can say what you need for your boat, but we all want an anchor the will be easy to draw up, will set fast and hold like a bollard set in concrete on all types of bottom, and will stow away in a small locker.... unfortunately I havent found this kind of anchor yet.
the new generation anchors are a good choice, but until that were on the market, the world used the bruce, delta, CQR and danforth... they worked then and they still work now, but like there is a difference between a rock and a navy anchor, there is a difference between the new generation anchors and the anchors of 20 years ago...
at a relatively small size, they will all hold in calm waters with no wind, but the bigger the boat, the more current, the more wind and the more waves you get, the more anchor you need. the same with the size and type of the rode
it depends on where, and how, you use your boat.
if all you do is tie to a dock some where, then you dont need much more anchor than will satisfy the law for what you should carry....
if you are a fair weather sailor and do a few overnights a year in a protected anchorage, or anchor out for an afternoon round of cocktails, that anchor will probably be fine....
if you are more adventurous and anchor out a lot in all types of weather, or ever anchor on the windward side of the shore, then a much bigger anchor will be a better choice... maybe two of them.
no one can say what you need for your boat, but we all want an anchor the will be easy to draw up, will set fast and hold like a bollard set in concrete on all types of bottom, and will stow away in a small locker.... unfortunately I havent found this kind of anchor yet.
the new generation anchors are a good choice, but until that were on the market, the world used the bruce, delta, CQR and danforth... they worked then and they still work now, but like there is a difference between a rock and a navy anchor, there is a difference between the new generation anchors and the anchors of 20 years ago...
at a relatively small size, they will all hold in calm waters with no wind, but the bigger the boat, the more current, the more wind and the more waves you get, the more anchor you need. the same with the size and type of the rode
Our boat came equipped with a 40# Danforth, 30 feet of 5/16 grade 40 chain and 250 feet of 5/8 three strand nylon. When we first purchased the boat in 2002 I had some anchoring lessons to learn.
Those lessons have helped make what I consider to be a very effective anchoring system suitable for just about any occasion. Still have the 40# Danforth. Very effective in PNW waters. Also, still use a 20# kellet (lead down rigger ball). So, Belle-Vie now has 50 of 5/16 grade 40 chain, 150 feet of 5/8 three strand nylon, another 50 of 5/16 grade 40 chain and another 150 feet of 5/8 three strand nylon. Each is connected to the other using a warp splice.
Typically I shoot for 25 feet of water to drop and set the anchor. Usually settle with a minimum of 110 to 140 feet of rode unless sour weather is in the forecast. A SS carabiner secures the kellet to the end of the first 50 segment of 5/16 chain. This helps with catenary.
Catenary is also the reason for alternating between chain-to-rope to chain-to-rope. This tip came from another seasoned sailor that seemed to make sense when lots of rode is needed for much deeper water and/or sour weather conditions.
In all the years of anchoring hundreds of times in PNW waters, one time the anchor did not hold and that was in a strong blow in Cortex Bay on Cortez Island, BC. It is a notoriously poor anchorage consisting of a thin layer of mud over hard shale. Needless to say even with 300 feet of rode, Belle-Vie at 35,000 pounds still moved about 100 that night.
In all the years of anchoring, the Danforth has always reset itself when a wind shift or tide current change occurs. Perhaps there are more modern designs that do a better job than the Danforth, but as long as the Danforth does its job, I am a happy sailor
Those lessons have helped make what I consider to be a very effective anchoring system suitable for just about any occasion. Still have the 40# Danforth. Very effective in PNW waters. Also, still use a 20# kellet (lead down rigger ball). So, Belle-Vie now has 50 of 5/16 grade 40 chain, 150 feet of 5/8 three strand nylon, another 50 of 5/16 grade 40 chain and another 150 feet of 5/8 three strand nylon. Each is connected to the other using a warp splice.
Typically I shoot for 25 feet of water to drop and set the anchor. Usually settle with a minimum of 110 to 140 feet of rode unless sour weather is in the forecast. A SS carabiner secures the kellet to the end of the first 50 segment of 5/16 chain. This helps with catenary.
Catenary is also the reason for alternating between chain-to-rope to chain-to-rope. This tip came from another seasoned sailor that seemed to make sense when lots of rode is needed for much deeper water and/or sour weather conditions.
In all the years of anchoring hundreds of times in PNW waters, one time the anchor did not hold and that was in a strong blow in Cortex Bay on Cortez Island, BC. It is a notoriously poor anchorage consisting of a thin layer of mud over hard shale. Needless to say even with 300 feet of rode, Belle-Vie at 35,000 pounds still moved about 100 that night.
In all the years of anchoring, the Danforth has always reset itself when a wind shift or tide current change occurs. Perhaps there are more modern designs that do a better job than the Danforth, but as long as the Danforth does its job, I am a happy sailor
I have a 60# Manson Supreme with 350' of chain for my 410. If I had a 460 I would looking at a modern anchor (Manson Supreme, Rocna, Mantus) a size bigger at around 80# for a general everyday use anchor. But if I were in a location than was mainly soft mud I would be looking at a Danforth/Fortess type anchor.
We have a Hunter passage 456, had a 60 pd Bruce, drug once in the Bahamas, that was enough, cruised with friends with a spade and another with a rochna, there's buried, mine seldom did, did my research and ended up with a 65 pt mantus, great anchor, as good or better than a rochna, but if the price on the mantus was way better, since we have a blog and agreed to mention the anchor they gave us a sponsor price of 480 bucks, way better deal than the grand or more for a similar rochna, spade etc. Left Miami Jan 14 and sailed to Grenada West Indies, the anchor hold like. It was drilled into the sea bed, when I can snorkel on it I can't se anything but the shank if that. It rocks, we sleep like babies!
Well I will put in my two cents worth
Over the years (40) I have owned most every anchor out there. The only new age anchor I have not used is the Rocna! If you are a follower of ours you know that we promote the Mantus now.
After we got our 45# Mantus for our 42 Passage I was hooked. When we got ready to leave the dock and go Crusing we up sized our anchor. At that time Mantus did not make a 55# so we went with a 65#. Two and a half years later and we have NOT dragged anchor one time, we put it down put out a 5 to 1 scope and then back down on it. DONE! Then we can adjust the scope as needed. We also have a Fortress FX 23 on board to use in the really soft bottoms but have not found a time yet to not use the Mantus.
I also agreed with Stu on the swivel issue. That is until Mantus came out with there new swivel. It is NOT the weakest link in your chain with the Mantus swivel. I would not use a swivel before.
Dean
Over the years (40) I have owned most every anchor out there. The only new age anchor I have not used is the Rocna! If you are a follower of ours you know that we promote the Mantus now.
After we got our 45# Mantus for our 42 Passage I was hooked. When we got ready to leave the dock and go Crusing we up sized our anchor. At that time Mantus did not make a 55# so we went with a 65#. Two and a half years later and we have NOT dragged anchor one time, we put it down put out a 5 to 1 scope and then back down on it. DONE! Then we can adjust the scope as needed. We also have a Fortress FX 23 on board to use in the really soft bottoms but have not found a time yet to not use the Mantus.
I also agreed with Stu on the swivel issue. That is until Mantus came out with there new swivel. It is NOT the weakest link in your chain with the Mantus swivel. I would not use a swivel before.
Dean
I am currently using a Super Max Anchor in the pivoting version.
They come in a Fixed and a pivoting version
They come in a Fixed and a pivoting version
I found that a 66 lb claw and 50/300 ft of 5/16 chain/rope serves multiple duty, it stays set, and when on the bow, can always be used as an old style battering ram (ala greek or roman galley) as you enter the harbor.
For some reason tho........ no one else likes to pull it up
I have never considered it overkill in the NW tho. Have had over 50K lbs of boats hanging from it 45kts wind, 4ft waves with without resetting.
Just wish I had a windlass. I have the west marine version, purchased at a boat show when they offered free shipping, part of a boat show coupon deal for 79.00 5 years ago. I have found that design appropriate in the NW, tho I do carry two other 33 lb claws and a 30 Danforth as lunch/reserve hooks.
For some reason tho........ no one else likes to pull it up
I have never considered it overkill in the NW tho. Have had over 50K lbs of boats hanging from it 45kts wind, 4ft waves with without resetting.
Just wish I had a windlass. I have the west marine version, purchased at a boat show when they offered free shipping, part of a boat show coupon deal for 79.00 5 years ago. I have found that design appropriate in the NW, tho I do carry two other 33 lb claws and a 30 Danforth as lunch/reserve hooks.
That is true with the old style anchors, but the Mantus, Rocna and Bulwagga work better than all the others in every bottom type. I primary have been using my Bulwagga for 50+ anchorages and it always sets where it is dropped, even in hard bottoms or grassy bottoms where others just minutes before me with their old style anchors failed. I love being able to anchor where others can't. The Mantus is the best anchor you can buy now so if you are looking for a new anchor, go with a Mantus.
We had a 45 lb plow and found it difficult to set properly. Switched to a 65lb Mantus and STICK first time every time.
One problem we found early on was that the high freeboard caused the boat to swing away before sufficient chain was on the bottom and this allowed the anchor to skip. Now we try to hold on station using the engine until we have at least 40 - 50 feet of chain down ( depending on water depth) before we start to back down. This seems to keep the anchor fluke down better against the bottom and helps with the anchor set.
One problem we found early on was that the high freeboard caused the boat to swing away before sufficient chain was on the bottom and this allowed the anchor to skip. Now we try to hold on station using the engine until we have at least 40 - 50 feet of chain down ( depending on water depth) before we start to back down. This seems to keep the anchor fluke down better against the bottom and helps with the anchor set.
