Fortress anchor

[CJB220]

I am considering purchasing a Fortress FX-23 anchor for my Hunter 36. I sail the Chesapeake Bay and my current Lewmar Delta (#22) is a bit squirrely in the wind. Has anyone used the FX-23? Does my anchor roller need modified to accommodate the FX-23? Thanks - Chris

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I am considering purchasing a Fortress FX-23 anchor for my Hunter 36.

A Fortress is an aluminum anchor. Need I say more ?

Stick with the weight of a cast iron or SS anchor and forget the bikini clad babe cradling the feather light Fortress in her arms before casting it over the side .

 

[peterwynndavies]

The Fortress anchor is a great anchor with massive holding power for it's weight. I had a bigger version which sat on the bow roller without a problem. The issue is that it's a danforth with a long "roll" bar which in my experience can get caught up in the chain and unset the anchor. All anchors are bad in weed but the fortress is particularly bad.
Go for a modern anchor like a mantus, spade or my choice a Rocna vulcan.

 

[LaDonaMina]

… forget the bikini clad babe cradling the feather light Fortress in her arms before casting it over the side .

Now I can’t get that vision out of my mind! Get the Fortress… You won’t regret it!

 

[tfox2069]

When I bought my 2009 H36 in 2018 it had a Fortress FX-23 on the bow from the PO. I did a lot of anchoring in the middle Chesapeake Bay and it typically held pretty well under normal conditions. However, it drug very badly during a thunderstorm with 50 knot gusts that whipsawed the boat (so not totally the anchor's fault). Also, when I attempted to anchor in the Little Choptank after dark one night it took me 9 tries in 3 different spots before I got it to dig in. I'm guessing the bottom there is different than the muddy bottom of the other parts of the middle bay I'd been anchoring in and the Fortress didn't like that. BTW the Fortress anchor hung off the bow roller just fine without modification.

After that I relegated the FX-23 to be a backup anchor. Its very light, can be disassembled and carried in a dinghy and deployed easily. I keep that and backup rode stored inside the boat and out of the anchor locker. I replaced the FX-23 with a 35 lb galvanized Lewmar Delta I bought used at Bacon Sails in Annapolis. I also put 50 feet of chain on there instead of 25, and added a FinDelta riding sail (to greatly reduce the sailing at anchor). That solved my problems and over the next 3 years I never drug an anchor again before I sold the boat. I also think the FinDelta makes a HUGE difference, as it keeps the boat from actively trying to rip the anchor out as the boat swings back and forth. It doesn't completely do away with sailing at anchor, but for us it reduced it by probably 70%. I loaned it to a friend who was headed to the Caribbean in an H41DS and instead of mailing the sail back at the end of his season he sent me a check. Pretty good endorsement.

I'll be surprised if there's not a vigorous debate on the "right" or "best" anchor. I present my experience above as anecdotal and not an endorsement for the Delta style of anchor as the "best", but it worked well for me with 50 feet of chain and careful anchoring technique the entire length of the Chesapeake Bay. I do think your Delta is a little light for that boat at 22 lbs. I wouldn't go with anything below the 35 lb option, and without a riding sail maybe even go one more size up.

 

[jssailem]

There were test results published about anchors that hold in the Chesapeake bottom. As I recall the Fortress did an acceptable job. Size matters in the world of anchors.

Not all sea beds are the same. What might work in the Chesapeake may malfunction in the Caribbean.

Note: the anchor you put on the seabed is a part of a system. Chain, rode, and how you set the anchor are also factors in not waking up on the shoreline.

Steve at this site has some of the best analytical info on anchors.

SV Panope

www.youtube.com

 

[Screen Saver]

Sorry guys.... You want a Manson Supreme. it is (or perhaps was not sure now) the only anchor certified by Llyods for us. I have tested in many conditions, sat in 72Knots. it will hold with a ratio 3:1 in 40 knots, resets inside about 5 meters. If that wont hold nothing will.

 

[tfox2069]

I'll be surprised if there's not a vigorous debate on the "right" or "best" anchor.

Told ya

 

[Screen Saver]

Nothing wrong with a good debate, good for ones education sometimes, Over 100,000 nm, 15 years, Llyods certification on Anchor they will need some solid foundations and yep no anchor is perfect. I came back to the boat in Borneo, up Kumai river a fairly fast flowing river. I was away from the boat 36 hours chasseing Orangutangs when I got back the boat had traveled 1.5nm down the river. I was horrified and pissed off. When the anchor was pulled up it bought up a tarpaulin about 5m x 5m, the tip of the anchor had punched through it but not much else. But other than these explainable stories that I guess most have, it has not let go or dragged yet

 

[Sailgunner]

Guess you didn't ask for anchor advise but just how it would fit on your boat. LOL.
Anyway, I agree a Manson on Rocna is the best for many conditions. I have a Fortress as a backup. My concern with the Fortress type anchor is resetting when the boat spins due to wind or current. I've had the best luck ever with my Rocna.

 

[CJB220]

This is a very good discussion. It all started when I reviewed the article in Practical Sailor "Anchoring in squishy bottoms" detailing the test conducted near Solomons Island which showed the Danforth style at 45 degrees held the best in a direct line pull. I purchased a Fin Delta riding sail (late last year from Bacon Sails, Annapolis) but didn't get to use it much, so I have yet to see if it will decrease yawing, but it won't help holding power. I have anchored in the Miles and Little Choptank with my delta in 25kn winds without problem using a 10:1 scope (I have 30' of 5/16 HT chain and 3 strand nylon rode). However, I didn't sleep very well those nights. I appreciate everyone's advice.

 

[Screen Saver]

ii an anchor wont hold in 3 or 4 to 1 (excluding storms) you should get a new one. I anchor in anything from 3m to 35m absolute max, usually the deep anchorages are trying to avoid destroying coral or off the lea of an atol etc. Cant imagine trying to carry 5 or 6 to 1 in 35m. I would be keen to see or get info on the Solomons test. Been there many times and yep on that anchor I to would want 10:1. One must think about ones fellow cruiser as well. To often I have been anchored in spots where some "bleep bleep bleep" will put out 70m of chain in 5 or 10m of water. The motto that anchor chain in your locker is useless has been taken to extreme, equally the novice who puts out 20m of chain but he at least has the excuse he is a novice. Yawing is a bit of a Hunter problem due to quite fine bow cut and keel location from a sailing plan where power comes from the main, so they blow off easier. I increased my chain size to help keep the bow facing the wind. With rope you will definitely struggle a lot, In 15 knots Im fine these days no yawing.In 15-35 knots pending how deep the water is (ie how much chain I have out) I can almost reach 1knt SOG. After 35 knots the yawing slows down, by the time I get to about 45knts its almost stopped. I have in mast furling and leaving the tail out makes it worse, so I rap the tail around the mast which is better all round if the wind is up.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I would be keen to see or get info on the Solomons test. Been there many times and yep on that anchor I to would want 10:1

Just to be clear - the Practical Sailor test was in Solomons Island Maryland, not the Solomon Islands in Oceana.

Anchoring in Squishy Bottoms - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

 

[JBP-PA]

I purchased a Fin Delta riding sail (late last year from Bacon Sails, Annapolis) but didn't get to use it much, so I have yet to see if it will decrease yawing, but it won't help holding power.

While eliminating yawing or "sailing at anchor " won't technically help holding power, it will greatly decrease the demand on your holding power. As your boat yaws back and forth, it gives a great big yank on the anchor, first to one side then to the other, trying to rip your anchor loose.
There are a number of tricks in addition to riding sails too, @Screen Saver's idea to use extra heavy chain, essentially a kellet, will help. A kellet or small anchor off the stern on very short scope will help. If you have a tiller, lashing it hard to one side will help a lot. Taking your tender off the bow will help.

 

[Ward H]

@ CJB220 I found this book, Rigging Modern Anchors authored by fellow SBO member @thinwater, very informative. In it Drew explains the differences in setting modern anchors vs older style anchors. He has performed many anchor tests in the Chesapeake so his findings may be of special interest to you. I'm in the Barnegat Bay which has a similar bottom as the CB so I used his findings to choose my anchor.

 

[Screen Saver]

Just to be clear - the Practical Sailor test was in Solomons Island Maryland, not the Solomon Islands in Oceana.

Anchoring in Squishy Bottoms - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

Yea I was thinking Solomons Oceana for sure... ops. Interesting article & perhaps I need to modify my thinking. if anchoring in a swamp with bottomless mud I need ahhhh dare I say Danforth style... .. (feels like a mono owner saying he needs a cat) Interesting article and clearly a topic with room for much debate. I will Ignore the fact Manson Supreme dont make a 44lb one as listed and the 45lb one listed is relative to boat weight and the FX 37 is for a bigger boat. But very hard to actually measure an anchors performance, but also I can't logical defend/support the Supreme when the reports notes 650 pounds verse 1500 pounds for FX16. I will keep my eye out for an FX16 owner as he drags it astern at full power trying to bed it in while Im having a beer. All joking aside yep it would seem one needs to consider their typical anchoring environment more than I had thought.

 

[jssailem]

it would seem one needs to consider their typical anchoring environment more than I had thought.

Yes. As with so many things sailing, your environment should influence the selection of gear/boat you choose.

If I was planning a circumnavigation I’d look more to a Cape George Dory or a Rustler 36 than a Hunter or a Catalina.

 

[tfox2069]

To reinforce @jssailem 's point about

your environment should influence the selection of gear/boat you choose

To further reinforce @jssailem 's point above (not that any of us doubt its validity), and my earlier point about the Fortress not holding well at a particular anchorage on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake, you can see in the graphic below that a surficial sediment survey of the MD part of the bay revealed a hugely diverse bottom made of varying mixes of sand, clay and silt. Finding one anchor that will hold dependably under most conditions in all three of those bottom compositions is challenging. Hence the wisdom of carrying at least two anchors of different types in the event one will not set well in the local conditions. Link to the study is here if you're interested: Surficial Sediment Distribution of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay (md.gov)

 

[Screen Saver]

If I was planning a circumnavigation I’d look more to a Cape George Dory or a Rustler 36 than a Hunter or a Catalina.

Himm we moved from anchors to boats.


I don’t quite agree with implication that your two boats of choice are necessarily better than another or a Hunter. I met and sailed with Mike Harker the first Hunter 49 to circumnavigate the world and mine has now done the equivalent miles of 3 circumnavigation, seen 8m seas and 75 knts and I do not have to many complaints. I just punched into Google “Rustler 36 problems” the first thing that came up was mast position adding weather helm, for H49 first was about AC and 12kw generator and for the Cape Dory it seems many many builds never followed the design, along with timber decks. Perhaps a good question for another post is how many would change there current boat, for what, and why ?

Back to Anchors, Is there anyone reading this that has an FX 16 ??? I would be keen to know boat size weight sailing ground and your actual experience ?