Knock-off anchors any good?

cat30 · Dec 9, 2009

What size CQR would you be looking for? i might be able to help.

Stu Jackson · Dec 9, 2009

Why bother? What's your BOAT worth to you at the expense of saving maybe $100. I just don't understand the cost benefit ratio.

Buy a real anchor, like a new generation Rocna or Manson Supreme. Why buy something that has been shown to not be as good as the new generation anchors? There are thousands of people who still swear by their CQRs, but the ones that don't hold tell a different story.

Maine Sail · Dec 9, 2009

I'll sell you a real one, if you really want one, I own two... I rather see you buy a Delta, Manson Supreme or a real Bruce though..

Steve Dion · Dec 9, 2009

Ron:

I have never had one! After hearing about cruisers that have used them, there are enough bad stories. These newer anchors hold better in different bottom conditions and are lighter.

Deadhead · Dec 9, 2009

Manson Supreme for Me

I bought a 35# manson supreme for my Beneteau 343. I still have it actually. I used it this past summer and it held great. One evening the winds went from 0 to well over 30 in a second. We were 1 of only 4 boats anchored in the Fairlee Creek that evening who did not drag. I did have a good scope on the rode and had set the anchor properly beforehand. Under similar conditions the next night on the Queenstown Creek it also held fast.

At any rate I just bought a 60# MS for my Beneteau 46. I still have the 35.

Ted

zeehag · Dec 9, 2009

the tales i have been told by users of fake bruces -- even the lewmar ones........

Bob S · Dec 9, 2009

I have a 25# Mason Supreme and haven't had any problems. It is the recommended size for my boat. I also have 2 boat lengths of 5/16 chain (60').

Benny · Dec 9, 2009

Ron, not a CQR. I have seen more than a couple of knockoffs CQRs where the rings on the swivel were just ripped apart. They seem to be okay for fair to moderate weather but would not ride a storm with one. If you are going to get one, choose an anchor with no moving parts and at least one size up from the recommended for your boat.

Anchor Down · Dec 9, 2009

What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate

Ron,

Stu isn't saying knock-offs are bad. He's saying that the CQR design drags. It doesn't stay put. You could plow a field with one. Get it?

Maine Sail · Dec 9, 2009

OK once more...

OK once more, but just cause I took the time to make the video..

Genuine CQR vs. Rocna Hard Sand Setting:

[TTYOUYUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmGAckf69pE[/TTYOUYUBE]

Tim R. · Dec 10, 2009

RonRelyea said:
and what I see on Defender .. I can get a 35# manson supreme galvanized for $380?
Defender say this is good for a 35-40' boat so is this conservative for my 32'??

That is exactly what I use on my Ericson 35. I use 50 ft. of 5/16" chain and my wife has no problem pulling it up(once it is broken free). It usually brings up a good chunk of the bottom. I sleep so much better at anchor now.

David in Sandusky · Dec 10, 2009

Some Knock off Bruce Designs are Inferior

From what I understand, duller ends and altered angles on the blades of some Bruce knock-offs make them less likely to set or reset.

While I'm still not convinced on some of the newer designs, I would recommend buying the real thing, whichever one you pick. And the CQR has has had issues in every test I have read about.

jibes138 · Dec 10, 2009

TimR...You make your wife pull up your anchor???

Wow, Do you give lessons on wife training? Tiger could probably use some advice from you about now. Are you sipping a beer and yelling at her while she struggles to get it up?

Isn't the MS a knock-off of the Rocna? The Rocna website several years back kind of implied it was and inferior construction to boot. I still use a 35 CQR and it has been fine iin the anchorages I've used, mostly mud bottoms. But no question the new anchors are much better.

Hermit Scott · Dec 10, 2009

RonRelyea said:
I'm in the market for a CQR type plow anchor .... and I've seen knock-off CQR "style" anchors for sale on e bay pretty cheap.

Does anyone have any experience with these? Is it "let the buyer beware" and "you get what you pay for" OR is 35 pounds of galvanized steel equal to 35 pounds of galvanized steel ????

The alternative is to go to craigslist and do 4 hours of driving for a "real" cqr a decent price??

Thanks for your input!

I bought a knock off Bruce, 33 lb. on ebay for $99 including shipping. It is one piece of cast with a hole in it. I don't fear in any way the it will some how fall apart. That is rediculous. I am concerned about the gavanization but it seems to be thick enough and seems that it will last as long as any other. According to an archive post by a prominate memeber the dimensions are the same as the "yachting"(expensive) claw anchor.
In my area with the bottom conditions there is no anchor could do any better(easy anchoring). That said, if soemone will give me $100 for this one, I would spend the rest of the money and get a manson supreme. It will work better in other bottom conditions than I have here in Corpus Christi Bay, which I hope to encounter next summer.
Do yourself a favor and buy a new design anchor; manson or Rocna.
Forget about walking the docks to see what everyone else has. This is one area to look at the research, and the theory on the new designs. They are better, no doubt.

Maine Sail · Dec 10, 2009

Hermit Scott said:
I bought a knock off Bruce, 33 lb. on ebay for $99 including shipping. It is one piece of cast with a hole in it. I don't fear in any way the it will some how fall apart. That is rediculous.

Not really so ridiculous..

The original Bruce was heat treated the knock offs are not...

Photo courtesy Craig Smith

Hermit Scott said:
According to an archive post by a prominate memeber the dimensions are the same as the "yachting"(expensive) claw anchor.

I don't know whom the member was but this is not always true. Place a genuine Bruce next to many a knock off and you will see differences in shape and geometry.

Even the Lewmar "Claw" is, and always has been, a knock of of the Genuine Bruce that is different in many ways. The angle of the shank, the wings/flukes and over all shape are not identical to the Genuine Bruce and this is about the best quality cast knock off. It is also not a heat treated anchor as the Genuine Bruce was.

I have personally had an original Bruce and a Lewmar Claw side-by-side and they are absolutely not identical nor are they the "same". Lewmar even readily admits to this, that it is slightly different, if you ask..

Seeing as my own boat was hit, to the tune of nearly 25k in damage, by a guy who insisted on using "knock off" shackles that were cast, not forged, and one failed, a non heat treated Bruce knock off would be very low on my personal list of recommended anchors. Now if you want a real Bruce or a Manson Ray then that's a different story they are both very good quality.

Lewmar, for example, even freely admits that the dimensions of the Claw are "similar" but "not the same as the original Bruce" and that the anchor is not heat treated as the Genuine Bruce was. The lack of heat treating is a major difference and one Bruce was not willing to compromise on to be "competitive". They pulled their product off the market entirely rather than compromise it to be competitive..

One other point about the Lewmar Claw is that Lewmar only puts a three year warranty on it..? The CQR & Delta Fast Set, other Lewmar anchors, have lifetime warranties, but not the Claw?

Perhaps Lewmar does not have the full confidence in the construction quality to even match the other anchors they sell and own? Food for thought anyway..

There is a difference between the Genuine Bruce and all the knock off anchors including the Lewmar Claw.

The Manson Ray is probably the best constructed "claw" style anchor but like the Genuine Bruce you will have to pay $$$$ for this level of quality.

While the odds of you breaking a Bruce knock off are probably quite low, it has happened..

Hermit Scott · Dec 10, 2009

Maine Sail said:
I don't know whom the member was.... but this is not always true. Place a genuine Bruce next to many a knock off and you will see differences in shape and geometry.

Interestingly enough, the prominate member was you! lol I read some old posts about claw anchors. It appeared it was your favorite until you found the Rocna. I'd have to go back and try to find that post again where you are comparing the dimensions of some claw type anchors. I'm sure you could find it faster than I. Sorry if I misquoting you.
I am more concerned that the rode would fail before a 33 lb knock off bruce. That broken anchor is an 11 lb. anchor. There is quite a bit of cross sectional differnece to a 33 lb., but anything can fail. I admit I would rather have a forged anchor than cast by far. Before I take off on a serious cruise intending to anchor out alot, I will invest in a manson. From what I remember the rocna sizes go from 10,000 lb boat to something much higher with a higher price also. The manson has an anchor in between that covers my size boat.

Click to expand

Knock-off anchors any good?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.