We have a Fortress #23 on our '90 Legend 35.5. That's supposedly the top rated anchor one size larger than required for the boat. Usually we are at dock at night. But we plan to cruise Door County Area (Lake Michigan) this year. Will anchor out. Do we "need" a second anchor? If so, what ?
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Bruce Anchor
I have both a Fortress and a 35 lb. Bruce on my h34. I find, in most conditions, the Bruce sets easier. If wind direction or current changes, the Bruce will reset itself. The Fortress has great holding power, but doesn't set as easily, and will not reset if the boat swings a lot due to wind and current changes. When using my Fortress, I normally dive over the side to check or manually reset it. That's not difficult in Biscayne Bay, water temperature around 80 degrees, but in Door County... I would recommend a Bruce or CQR as your main anchor, with the Fortress as a back-up. Of course, for different bottoms, different anchors hold better.
I have both a Fortress and a 35 lb. Bruce on my h34. I find, in most conditions, the Bruce sets easier. If wind direction or current changes, the Bruce will reset itself. The Fortress has great holding power, but doesn't set as easily, and will not reset if the boat swings a lot due to wind and current changes. When using my Fortress, I normally dive over the side to check or manually reset it. That's not difficult in Biscayne Bay, water temperature around 80 degrees, but in Door County... I would recommend a Bruce or CQR as your main anchor, with the Fortress as a back-up. Of course, for different bottoms, different anchors hold better.
good combo
I'm seeing that combination more and more: a Bruce main anchor backed up with a Fortress/Guardian. On my 410 I use a 20kg Bruce on an 200' all-chain rode backed up by a Guardian G-37 with either 50 or 20 feet of chain, depending on how I use it (as in a stern anchor). The only weakness of this combo is that neither anchor sets well on a grass bottom, which is where a CQR excells. (Neither is designed for rock, either, but I've never been inclined to anchor in rock, so no loss.)
I'm seeing that combination more and more: a Bruce main anchor backed up with a Fortress/Guardian. On my 410 I use a 20kg Bruce on an 200' all-chain rode backed up by a Guardian G-37 with either 50 or 20 feet of chain, depending on how I use it (as in a stern anchor). The only weakness of this combo is that neither anchor sets well on a grass bottom, which is where a CQR excells. (Neither is designed for rock, either, but I've never been inclined to anchor in rock, so no loss.)
Can't get satisfaction with a single anchor
Mick: Good idea to have two anchors and better idea if they are different types. Different bottoms require different characterics. Also look at a Delta Anchor
Mick: Good idea to have two anchors and better idea if they are different types. Different bottoms require different characterics. Also look at a Delta Anchor
Added a Bruce
When I bought my Legend 37 6 years ago all it had was a Danforth. I immediately went out and bought a 33# Bruce as my primary anchor. I've only deployed the Danforth as a stern anchor since then.
When I bought my Legend 37 6 years ago all it had was a Danforth. I immediately went out and bought a 33# Bruce as my primary anchor. I've only deployed the Danforth as a stern anchor since then.
Two necessary
The delta hanging off the bow and the fortress stowed as a backup works for me. In those conditions where I can v the anchors out in a heavy wind to avoid having the boat search, the 2nd anchor is invaluable. I would assume Door County would also have anchorages where a change of wind could bring you too close to shore. The 2nd anchor set to prevent this makes it, again, invaluable.
The delta hanging off the bow and the fortress stowed as a backup works for me. In those conditions where I can v the anchors out in a heavy wind to avoid having the boat search, the 2nd anchor is invaluable. I would assume Door County would also have anchorages where a change of wind could bring you too close to shore. The 2nd anchor set to prevent this makes it, again, invaluable.
Best Anchor
I live in S Florida and the best all around anchor around here is a Delta. I carry 4 anchors, a Delta, a Bruce, a Fortress, and a Danforth (stern anchor). Each has it's strong points and weak points. Danforth's, Fortresse's, and Bruce's suck in grass, big time, they pick up a wad of grass and off you go. Danforth's and Fortresse's just slide over rocks and don't set well in hard stuff. Bruce's , Delta's and CQR's plow through very soft sand and mud. I had my Bruce drag through some soft sand, right up to the turtle grass, it then picked up a wad of turtle grass and off the boat went. I was diving at the time, thank god the boat dragged until it came upon some rocks (Bruce's are good in rocks). CQRs are too heavy for their holding power, are top heavy, and have flukes smaller than a Delta. Delta's are much better. (call Simpson Lawrence, they make both Delta and CQR and they'll tell you to get a Delta, even though it costs less). This how I choose an anchor. Soft mud or very very soft sand, I use my Fortress. Rocks, I use my Bruce or my Delta usually the Delta). Grass, hard sand, rocks, or combination, I use my Delta. Also, as far as wind shifts, the Bruce and Delta can handle them to a degree. The Fortress and Danforth can't. All around, I find the Delta sets faster, deeper, and in more varied conditions than my other anchors.
I live in S Florida and the best all around anchor around here is a Delta. I carry 4 anchors, a Delta, a Bruce, a Fortress, and a Danforth (stern anchor). Each has it's strong points and weak points. Danforth's, Fortresse's, and Bruce's suck in grass, big time, they pick up a wad of grass and off you go. Danforth's and Fortresse's just slide over rocks and don't set well in hard stuff. Bruce's , Delta's and CQR's plow through very soft sand and mud. I had my Bruce drag through some soft sand, right up to the turtle grass, it then picked up a wad of turtle grass and off the boat went. I was diving at the time, thank god the boat dragged until it came upon some rocks (Bruce's are good in rocks). CQRs are too heavy for their holding power, are top heavy, and have flukes smaller than a Delta. Delta's are much better. (call Simpson Lawrence, they make both Delta and CQR and they'll tell you to get a Delta, even though it costs less). This how I choose an anchor. Soft mud or very very soft sand, I use my Fortress. Rocks, I use my Bruce or my Delta usually the Delta). Grass, hard sand, rocks, or combination, I use my Delta. Also, as far as wind shifts, the Bruce and Delta can handle them to a degree. The Fortress and Danforth can't. All around, I find the Delta sets faster, deeper, and in more varied conditions than my other anchors.
Best results with Bruce
Always had great results with a Bruce, and carry a Fortress as a 2nd anchor. Both of these anchors set from any angle unlike the Delta which will lay on its side and just drag across the bottom.
Always had great results with a Bruce, and carry a Fortress as a 2nd anchor. Both of these anchors set from any angle unlike the Delta which will lay on its side and just drag across the bottom.
Where to you put all these anchors?
I have a Legend 37 with a Simpson Lawrence version of the Bruce anchor on the anchor roller. I have a 15 lb Danforth as a second anchor off my Calatina 25 but haven't determined where I am going to store it. With the chain and road for the Simpson-Lawrence I expect it will fill the anchor locker. Where do you store all the other anchors? With the limited lazerette space there is no extra room for an anchor, chain and road in them.
I have a Legend 37 with a Simpson Lawrence version of the Bruce anchor on the anchor roller. I have a 15 lb Danforth as a second anchor off my Calatina 25 but haven't determined where I am going to store it. With the chain and road for the Simpson-Lawrence I expect it will fill the anchor locker. Where do you store all the other anchors? With the limited lazerette space there is no extra room for an anchor, chain and road in them.
On Legend 37
I don't have a windlass, but I can store the Danforth in the locker with the rode coiled below it. The Bruce is on the roller with the 8' of chain and 150' of coiled 3/4" nylon rode stored on top of the danforth.
I don't have a windlass, but I can store the Danforth in the locker with the rode coiled below it. The Bruce is on the roller with the 8' of chain and 150' of coiled 3/4" nylon rode stored on top of the danforth.
Keep one back by you
You might want to keep the lighter weight Danforth tied to the pushpit or stored in a stern locker, for quick deployment from the cockpit.
You might want to keep the lighter weight Danforth tied to the pushpit or stored in a stern locker, for quick deployment from the cockpit.
fortress for the SW fla area.
We cruse a lot on the west coast of fla and have found that our fortress anchor works great. I guess the bulk of our anchorages are slimey muck/mud, we try to avoid grass areas due to the enviromental impact on the sea grass beds. If the wind is blowing hard we have a VERY hard time getting the anchor out. Only once have we had the anchor drag, even in rivers with tidal current (yeah I know, we've been lucky so far).
We cruse a lot on the west coast of fla and have found that our fortress anchor works great. I guess the bulk of our anchorages are slimey muck/mud, we try to avoid grass areas due to the enviromental impact on the sea grass beds. If the wind is blowing hard we have a VERY hard time getting the anchor out. Only once have we had the anchor drag, even in rivers with tidal current (yeah I know, we've been lucky so far).
I vote for the Delta as well
We cruise the San Juans, the Canadian Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound and anchor in a variety of bottoms. I've used most of the anchor types and I've never had as much success as with the Delta. Mike
We cruise the San Juans, the Canadian Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound and anchor in a variety of bottoms. I've used most of the anchor types and I've never had as much success as with the Delta. Mike
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