New Anchor - Bruce or Delta?
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Personally I would go with newer technology such as a Rocna, Manson Supreme or even a steel Spade. I have owned both a genuine Bruce and a Delta and prefer the Bruce but they have relatively low holding power per pound so I would opt for a 33 pounder over a 22 pounder, if you have your heart set on claw. I would also prefer a genuine heat treated cast steel, used, genuine Bruce over the knock offs.
There is no better anchor than the claw!!! I challenge any purveyor of any different opinion to a duel.
I got my manta for $99 including shipping on ebay. It's a 33 lb. I have about 10 anchorings under my belt so far. But it's dug in perfectly every time and hasn't drug even in some nasty blows. I designed and built a bow roller out of about 12 lbs. of plastic. Also I don't run the rode back through a chock. I let it ride in the bow roller. I designed it and mounted it to take the shock and load. The roller is as important as the anchor. Trying to deploy and retrieve a 33 lb. anchor without one is madness.
I got my manta for $99 including shipping on ebay. It's a 33 lb. I have about 10 anchorings under my belt so far. But it's dug in perfectly every time and hasn't drug even in some nasty blows. I designed and built a bow roller out of about 12 lbs. of plastic. Also I don't run the rode back through a chock. I let it ride in the bow roller. I designed it and mounted it to take the shock and load. The roller is as important as the anchor. Trying to deploy and retrieve a 33 lb. anchor without one is madness.
I have both the Delta (plow) and Claw (Bruce knockoff). It really depends on the bottom where your sail. The Claw holds very well in sand and mud (soft bottoms) but I had problems where the bottom was hard, the Claw would not break though. My Delta plow worked great there.
Had a Bruce, liked it a lot, rarely dragged, now have a Rocna, pulls me off the bow when setting. 'Nuff said.
I hesitate to jump to any "new" anchor technology: I've used Danforths and CQR for many years, and then I hear of the Wonderful New Bruce, that is a Miracle Anchor that holds in anything, sets anywhere... Then people start using it in Real Life and results are not so miraculous. Then along comes the Delta - another Miracle Anchor. Again... not so miraculous.
So I think I'll pass on the Miracle Rocna anchor, at least for now.
I did really like my CQR, so I'm leaning towards the Delta, especially since you can't get a new genuine Bruce any more.
druid
So I think I'll pass on the Miracle Rocna anchor, at least for now.
I did really like my CQR, so I'm leaning towards the Delta, especially since you can't get a new genuine Bruce any more.
druid
Same here... it's quick reset ability after wind shifts is impressive, and judging by how difficult it usually is to break it free when leaving, I sleep very well at night.
--Michael
Yes, the Rocna has a great following, for good reasons, but...
* The Delta comes up clean, no mud. I like that.
* The Delta is easier to break out vertically. I like that.
* The Delta requires a little more weight to creat the same hold, but is still the same price or cheaper per pound of hold. Noted.
These statements aren't always true, but few general statements about anchors are.
Now for a breif rant. I tire of those who call the Delta a plow, because it isn't. It is a wedge, designed to place the soil in compression. It couldn't be more different from a farmers plow, which is designed to lift and turn soil. Just the same, I wouldn't compare a Rocna to a Northill, though the angles are very similar.
Tie a 35-pound plow to a horse and see how he feels about that. He'll know it's different.
(no knock-offs. every expereinced sailor has seen bad ones of every style. small differences in geoetry or fabrication make all the differernce.)
Secure
The CQR is probably the most widely used anchor in the whole sail boating community out there so maybe it is for a reason? The Danforth is the anchor I see used almost 100% by power boaters, most likley because they anchor in about a foot of water and jam the stern anchor directly into the dry beach.
My buddy has an anchor that I consider the worst anchor in the world. So instead of us discussing the best anchor in the world again, MaineSail has already tested all of them and made an Oscar winning movie documentary to prove it, why don't we have a discussion about what is the worst possible anchor? One of us has a great story about the bulwagga I think.
The CQR is probably the most widely used anchor in the whole sail boating community out there so maybe it is for a reason? The Danforth is the anchor I see used almost 100% by power boaters, most likley because they anchor in about a foot of water and jam the stern anchor directly into the dry beach.
My buddy has an anchor that I consider the worst anchor in the world. So instead of us discussing the best anchor in the world again, MaineSail has already tested all of them and made an Oscar winning movie documentary to prove it, why don't we have a discussion about what is the worst possible anchor? One of us has a great story about the bulwagga I think.
Axel said it best...it really depends on where you intend to anchor, and what the bottom is like at that location. Different anchors are designed to perform better in different bottom conditions. I have a genunie Rocna, genuine Bruce, and genuine Danforth on the boat and I have had difficulties getting each of them to set in different conditions. Since you only asked about one of those three, the Bruce works very well in the soft mud / clay that we have around here.
Good Luck,
--Eric
Good Luck,
--Eric
Compliment the Anchor you have
Eric says you need a verity of anchors. I agree. In Vancouver you have a verity of bottoms ranging from hard rock to soft mud. What anchor do you have now? If it is a claw get a plow. If the one you have now is for soft bottoms get one for hard bottoms. Almost all anchors are well made so I am not particular as to the brand. You need to compliment the inventory you have.
Walt
Eric says you need a verity of anchors. I agree. In Vancouver you have a verity of bottoms ranging from hard rock to soft mud. What anchor do you have now? If it is a claw get a plow. If the one you have now is for soft bottoms get one for hard bottoms. Almost all anchors are well made so I am not particular as to the brand. You need to compliment the inventory you have.
Walt
If you can find a copy of PS from a few years ago they did several different types of tests. You can use that to "assist" you in your evaluation.
If you have one type of anchor you should consider a different type to hold in alternative bottom conditions. My experience says that the "danforth type" anchors would well in mud/sand, but are almost worthless in grass/weeds. Then you need to realize that not all danforth type anchors work the same either.......
You should have asked about Fords, Chevy or Dodges before you asked about anchors! <g>
If you have one type of anchor you should consider a different type to hold in alternative bottom conditions. My experience says that the "danforth type" anchors would well in mud/sand, but are almost worthless in grass/weeds. Then you need to realize that not all danforth type anchors work the same either.......
You should have asked about Fords, Chevy or Dodges before you asked about anchors! <g>
Dave said it very well: What's the worst anchor?
Someone here recently noted: "Stupidity is a condition, ignorance is a choice."
Given Maine Sail's testing and testing by others, including West Marine, it seems that ignoring the newer technology of the Rocnas and Mansons and going back to CQRs is strange, illogical and counter-intuitive. A Danforth is good for one direction only and doesn't reset. It's useful in certain conditions (like a one way current in a river) and great for a stern hook.
As noted here many times, why argue over a better mousetrap when you're trying to "save" the cost of your entire boat, which could range from a trailer sailor to well over $100K.
I've "graduated" from Danforths (un-knowledgeable beginner sailor), to our Bruce (used for 10 years) to our two year old Rocna. I sleep better at night on the hook knowing we'll be in the same place the next morning.
Why wouldn't you?
Someone here recently noted: "Stupidity is a condition, ignorance is a choice."
Given Maine Sail's testing and testing by others, including West Marine, it seems that ignoring the newer technology of the Rocnas and Mansons and going back to CQRs is strange, illogical and counter-intuitive. A Danforth is good for one direction only and doesn't reset. It's useful in certain conditions (like a one way current in a river) and great for a stern hook.
As noted here many times, why argue over a better mousetrap when you're trying to "save" the cost of your entire boat, which could range from a trailer sailor to well over $100K.
I've "graduated" from Danforths (un-knowledgeable beginner sailor), to our Bruce (used for 10 years) to our two year old Rocna. I sleep better at night on the hook knowing we'll be in the same place the next morning.
Why wouldn't you?
Worst Possible Anchor
Here is a picture of the worst anchor I have ever seen. I hand set this at the beach and it will just drag by a small amount of pull on it. Nothing I did could make this anchor not drag, even pulling downward on the rode. My buddy uses it as a stern anchor on his small power boat and frankly the only anchor benefit comes from the shear weight of the thing. A scuba weight would work about the same, maybe better. If someone has a worse anchor let's see it.
Here is a picture of the worst anchor I have ever seen. I hand set this at the beach and it will just drag by a small amount of pull on it. Nothing I did could make this anchor not drag, even pulling downward on the rode. My buddy uses it as a stern anchor on his small power boat and frankly the only anchor benefit comes from the shear weight of the thing. A scuba weight would work about the same, maybe better. If someone has a worse anchor let's see it.
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Going back to steam too Druid? Going to pass on that new fangled diesel technology?
A good idea is still s good idea even if it's only 10 years old.
Everyone in my marina owns a plow or a danforth type anchor. Just because everybody's doing it doesn't make it the best thing to do. MOST people in my town (San Antonio) are obese.
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