I am looking for a new anchor and sail on Kentucky Lake, which has a mud bottom. I was looking at the traditional Danforth type anchors when I noticed the new aluminum ones. The new aluminum anchors that "can replace" the larger steel ones. A 13 # alunimum can supposedly replace a 19# - 28# steel anchor. Does anyone have any experience with these? Should I just stick to the tried & true galvanized steel one?
New Anchor
- Thread starter Knot StressN
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You are talking about the Fortress - right? It's a good anchor. I've never crossed the beefier is better barrier but others swear by the aluminum "danforth" style anchors. As for experience, we've anchored rafted up to a Catalina 34MKII with our Hunter 356 with the Catalina's Fortress in 15 to 18 knots, muddy bottom with no problem. Sorry I can't specify the size Fortress.
The only real down sides to a danforth style anchor are the ability to reset (mostly in tidal waters) and their lack of ability to set/hold in weeds/grass. I would think that one of these would be fine in the Lake!
You may want to check around for a good used one.
You may want to check around for a good used one.
I use a 18# danforth digger style anchor on my bow and a navy type 10# that I use on the stern and both have held up very well for me. I use a 3ft length of chain on the danforth with great results. Have been caught in some good wind and they have held firmly.Also carry a 2# folding anchor for those brushy places/ or emergencies. Mud doesnt seem to bother any of them. The danforth is the only one not made of steel.
Defender has Lewmar claw (Bruce) type 22lb for $35 on sale. This is a great anchor and a great price. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|33872|66342&id=2036552
This type was designed to hold oil rigs in the North Sea.
I have one of these for storm anchor and a 11lb that I normally use. An old Danforth hi tensile in the bottom of the cockpit locker.
This type was designed to hold oil rigs in the North Sea.
I have one of these for storm anchor and a 11lb that I normally use. An old Danforth hi tensile in the bottom of the cockpit locker.
I have used Danforth anchors on KY Lake since 97. The only problem I had was loosing the last one when it hung up on something: roots, logs, or maybe an old fence row. I always used about 10 feet of chain and plenty of scope to help keep the flukes well buried.
I used the 22 lb Claw that came with my 34 footer for years in mud and sand, though 34 ft is at the upper end of what's recommended. If I was buying it new, I'd have bought the 33 lb for that boat. Worked well for me in the Great Lakes, which can get rough in a storm, but currents and tides aren't an issue (though changing wind direction is always a concern). They're cheap to buy, too, but I don't think that's more than a minor consideration for a primary anchor - holding power for the intended bottom type should be. And I always kept a much larger spare anchor, with 200 ft of 3-strand and chain rode, stored away but ready to go.
Fluke anchors are supposed to be particularly good in mud, and since they fold flat, should make a great primary for your area. Original Danforth, or even the Fortress aluminium. 7 lb Fortress is recommended for 28-32 ft boats, which has two fluke angle settings, so you can set it at a steeper angle for mud. If I was in the market for a mud anchor, I'd probably put this one on the short list.
And always have two or more anchors with rode, ready to deploy, and more than one anchor type (a third anchor, even) is wise, IMO.
Fluke anchors are supposed to be particularly good in mud, and since they fold flat, should make a great primary for your area. Original Danforth, or even the Fortress aluminium. 7 lb Fortress is recommended for 28-32 ft boats, which has two fluke angle settings, so you can set it at a steeper angle for mud. If I was in the market for a mud anchor, I'd probably put this one on the short list.
And always have two or more anchors with rode, ready to deploy, and more than one anchor type (a third anchor, even) is wise, IMO.
We've used Danforth anchors for our 25 footer in tidal waters for years without incident. If there's a stiff breeze or if it's rocking, I'll drop two. I've had the shrouds howling all night long (I didn't sleep a wink) and not a problem. But others are right on . . . no weeds.
We have a Fortress, which works very well, especially in sand and mud. It doesn't like weeds. It does set well in weeds, cuts right into them. It's just that the weed roots don't hold like the anchor would without them. Ask me how I know 
For a muddy bottom, I think a Fortress would work well. It's also light to retrieve, once you get it free. We're still working on our anchoring technique. That seems to be more important than the anchor, for us anyway. Any time (and I've only had a couple) that the Fortress let me down and dragged, I could easily fault my anchoring technique instead. It has never let us down in a good, weed free sand or mud bottom.
For a muddy bottom, I think a Fortress would work well. It's also light to retrieve, once you get it free. We're still working on our anchoring technique. That seems to be more important than the anchor, for us anyway. Any time (and I've only had a couple) that the Fortress let me down and dragged, I could easily fault my anchoring technique instead. It has never let us down in a good, weed free sand or mud bottom.
with a weed bottom, which is the better anchor, a claw or a plow style?.... how about on a bottom that is mostly fist sized round rocks, like river rock?....
I have used the quality danforth style anchors for years and in sand or mud they work very well, but as others have said, if you have weeds they are a waste of time as they usually wont even take a small bite of the bottom thru the weeds.... and some of the cheaply built imitations that are built loosely on the danforth design are not even worthy of being called an anchor....
I have used the quality danforth style anchors for years and in sand or mud they work very well, but as others have said, if you have weeds they are a waste of time as they usually wont even take a small bite of the bottom thru the weeds.... and some of the cheaply built imitations that are built loosely on the danforth design are not even worthy of being called an anchor....
I have been using a Bruce claw type for many years on Lake Pontchartrain and on the coast. Sand and mud, some with weed.. Sets well and resets on 180 wind shifts. No rocks here for experience with that. Would upgrade to a Rockna or something similar if changing, but I have no incentive to change ..
I've never used a plow, but I can tell you a claw/Bruce isn't going to cut it. Too blunt. You need an anchor that can cut through, and bury itself as deeply as possible.
Maybe a Rocna or similar next generation anchor. Or a trusty plow.
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