Life of an anchor

[NYSail]

Hello all,

My Uncle just gave me a danthford styled anchor that he had used on his boat. Not sure of the brand as it only has "Trade Junior" etched on one of the flutes. Overall it looks to be aluminum and in good condition, however it has to be at least 25 years old. For the past 15 years it has been in his garage.

Just wondering...

Thanks!

Greg
P36-2

 

[Ross]

They can rust away but I don't believe that you can wear one out. So if it still looks like an anchor, it probably is an anchor, and will do what anchors are made to do.

 

[Ron20324]

Not sure of the brand as it only has "Trade Junior" etched on one of the flutes. Overall it looks to be aluminum and in good condition, however it has to be at least 25 years old. For the past 15 years it has been in his garage. Just wondering... Thanks! Greg P36-2

Did it keep his garage from blowing away?

Mostly, you'd look at any pivot point to see if the holes have worn out to being oblong. Even then, it would depend on how much metal is left

 

[Ross]

Touch it with a magnet and confirm steel or aluminum.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Another 15 years!

danthford styled anchor...For the past 15 years it has been in his garage.

The Danforth anchors had a number of knockoffs that were very inferior to the original Danforth anchor design, because the flukes and the angle of twist from the flukes to the shank were different. The knockoffs' performance was horrible. I don't recall when they started making Fortress light weight anchors, but it may not have been more than 25 years ago, so you may have a poor performing knockoff. Hard to tell how to figure if it's a real Danforth or not. Anybody with ideas?

It would also be helpful to know the weight of the anchor.

For your boat size (similar to mine), given the new Rocna and Manson Supreme designs, plus everything we've learned about anchors on this and other forums, the only thing I'd use a Danforth for would be as a stern anchor in non-opposing tidal/current situations.

 

[sailaway78]

I have to disagree a little bit

With Stu's statement. You do not have to have the latest and greatest, overpriced piece of metal to anchor a boat. A lot depends on your area. Here on the gulf coast, where we have mostly soft bottoms, with very good holding, not much grass, and minimul tidal changes, almost anything will work fine. I have three anchors on my boat, and use a slightly undersized, older danforth style anchor a lot of the time. With a bad back, and a lot of years on me, the less I have to pull up the better. I am familiar with my area, and would never use something I thought would put me in any danger, and would never use a danforth on a grassy or hard bottom. You have to consider the conditions, the size of the anchor and the size of the boat. But don't not use it, just because it is a danforth. In some locations, under some conditions, enough is never enough, but not all the time for every situation.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I have to agree a lot with Nice

on his conclusions and reasoning. I lived with Danforths (real ones, not knockoffs) for 15 years, before I learned a lot more about anchoring. The type of bottom, the protection offered in anchoring spots, the wind and the size of your boat make the decision pretty straightforward based on everythign ever written about anchoring.

Your boat, your choice, but I now aim for solidity and a good night's sleep, where, for at least me, with anchoring bigger is better (same back problems, too). My boat costs a lot more than my anchor...