50% of owners of owners carry more than two anchors when cruising - and 50% don't - according to those responding to last week's Quick Quiz. How many do you carry, and which are your anchors of choice? For those who can stop at just one, is your all-purpose anchor really adequate for every purpose? Explore this weighty subject here.
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We have three.
We carry a large and small danforth type and a delta. The delta was purchased for grassy bottoms and it works great. The danforths are for the mud and sand. The small danforth is only a lunch hook and that is exactly how we use it. Both of our larger anchors have about 10+ feet of chain and the lunch hook has 6 feet of the plastic covered chain.
We carry a large and small danforth type and a delta. The delta was purchased for grassy bottoms and it works great. The danforths are for the mud and sand. The small danforth is only a lunch hook and that is exactly how we use it. Both of our larger anchors have about 10+ feet of chain and the lunch hook has 6 feet of the plastic covered chain.
Tools for waking up where I went to sleep.......
Aboard our H40.5 Best Revenge,this is an inventory of our ground tackle: Our main is a 60# U.S. Anchor(factory supplied Danforth copy) w/300ft. of chain and 200ft. of 5/8 braided nylon. Our secondary main is an FX23 Fortress w/mud wings, 50ft. of chain and 200ft. of 5/8" 3-strand nylon. Our stern anchor is a 30# Danforth w/50 ft. of chain and 150 ft. of 1/2" Dacron double braid. When I go to sea, I'll also carry my 60# CQR with 50' of chain and 200'of 5/8" 3-strand nylon. We also, carry 300' of 5/8" floating polyproplene for stern ties in the deep anchorages of the Northwest. We most commonly lie to the main alone at or near 5-7/1. In some close and protected anchorages we lie to both bow and stern anchors so as not to swing. In a relatively unprotected anchorage, we would lie to 2 of my 3 mains, most probaby the U.S.(Danforth type) and the CQR set at 90 degrees to each other and a single rode ending with a 3/4 inch nylon snubber at the bow. Ron
Aboard our H40.5 Best Revenge,this is an inventory of our ground tackle: Our main is a 60# U.S. Anchor(factory supplied Danforth copy) w/300ft. of chain and 200ft. of 5/8 braided nylon. Our secondary main is an FX23 Fortress w/mud wings, 50ft. of chain and 200ft. of 5/8" 3-strand nylon. Our stern anchor is a 30# Danforth w/50 ft. of chain and 150 ft. of 1/2" Dacron double braid. When I go to sea, I'll also carry my 60# CQR with 50' of chain and 200'of 5/8" 3-strand nylon. We also, carry 300' of 5/8" floating polyproplene for stern ties in the deep anchorages of the Northwest. We most commonly lie to the main alone at or near 5-7/1. In some close and protected anchorages we lie to both bow and stern anchors so as not to swing. In a relatively unprotected anchorage, we would lie to 2 of my 3 mains, most probaby the U.S.(Danforth type) and the CQR set at 90 degrees to each other and a single rode ending with a 3/4 inch nylon snubber at the bow. Ron
Additional Question about multiple anchors
Got more than two? Where/HOW do you put/stow them and what size boat do you have? Thanks, Jay
Got more than two? Where/HOW do you put/stow them and what size boat do you have? Thanks, Jay
But wasn't the question 'more than two' ?
Unless I'm mistaken the question was 'do you cruise with more than 2 anchors?'. I answered no as we have only 2 on board. According to your results that would mean that 50% have more than 2, not more than 1. Our main anchor is a Bruce with 40ft chain, 250ft rode. Backup anchor is a danforth type on 30ft chain & 120ft rode. Usually set at least 7/1 scope. We may be just coastal cruises but like to sleep well, although all this gear probably hurts our racing performance. Especially when we have the extra fuel tanks, dingy & outboard with us, along with the minimum cruising provision of beer & rum. Scott 83-H34 Island Hops
Unless I'm mistaken the question was 'do you cruise with more than 2 anchors?'. I answered no as we have only 2 on board. According to your results that would mean that 50% have more than 2, not more than 1. Our main anchor is a Bruce with 40ft chain, 250ft rode. Backup anchor is a danforth type on 30ft chain & 120ft rode. Usually set at least 7/1 scope. We may be just coastal cruises but like to sleep well, although all this gear probably hurts our racing performance. Especially when we have the extra fuel tanks, dingy & outboard with us, along with the minimum cruising provision of beer & rum. Scott 83-H34 Island Hops
Scott's right
The question was not just two, but more than two. So, those who voted yes have three or more. I hate this math stuff. Sorry about the confusion. I always carried three. My theory has been that in normal weather conditions setting is a bigger issue than holding. (most dragging I've seen is due to a poor set, rather than conditions pulling an anchor through the mud). I used an oversized Bruce (later a Delta) as a primary due to good setting qualities. My secondary was a Fortress due to its great holding power, just in case the anchorage got really windy. I kept the danforth-type factory anchor in a lazarette, just in case. On the 42 I had 50' of chain, but on the 450 I finally went 200' chain / 100' rode so I wouldn't have to switch them on the windlass very often.
The question was not just two, but more than two. So, those who voted yes have three or more. I hate this math stuff. Sorry about the confusion. I always carried three. My theory has been that in normal weather conditions setting is a bigger issue than holding. (most dragging I've seen is due to a poor set, rather than conditions pulling an anchor through the mud). I used an oversized Bruce (later a Delta) as a primary due to good setting qualities. My secondary was a Fortress due to its great holding power, just in case the anchorage got really windy. I kept the danforth-type factory anchor in a lazarette, just in case. On the 42 I had 50' of chain, but on the 450 I finally went 200' chain / 100' rode so I wouldn't have to switch them on the windlass very often.
We carry three
My boat "Dolly Phynne" is only a 27' but we always carry three. Two Danforths, one with 20' chain and 150" 1/2" nylon as our main and a second Danforth with 150' nylon. The third is a light (4 lb.) Danforth type we use as a lunch hook with 50' 3/8" nylon. The first anchor came with the boat and the second is off one of my other sailboats that being rebuilt.(29' wood sloop built in 1949). For our shallow waters 170' gives us more than 7 to1 scope in most places we anchor for the night. If we get caught out in deeper waters I can always hook the two lines together.
My boat "Dolly Phynne" is only a 27' but we always carry three. Two Danforths, one with 20' chain and 150" 1/2" nylon as our main and a second Danforth with 150' nylon. The third is a light (4 lb.) Danforth type we use as a lunch hook with 50' 3/8" nylon. The first anchor came with the boat and the second is off one of my other sailboats that being rebuilt.(29' wood sloop built in 1949). For our shallow waters 170' gives us more than 7 to1 scope in most places we anchor for the night. If we get caught out in deeper waters I can always hook the two lines together.
How to stow
I'm a totol newbie when it comes to anchor technique. Our #1 anchor rode, all chain, is captive on the Simpson Lawrence windlass, with no place to go but directly down into the below decks aft chain locker, through a very small opening in the electric windlass base, and no way to watch and adjust the rode manually if it bunches up, etc. Anchor #2 and its rode are located off-windlass in the forward anchor locker of the H430. Soooo, need to know how a rope/chain combo or straght rope rode would feed into and lay into the locker.Does a wet rode behave itself nicely coming off the windlass, or would I have a tangled mess below? Also, how would you drop or retrieve the second anchor when number one is captive on the windlass, assuming you have this type of windlass setup (which seems to be one heck of a compromise).
I'm a totol newbie when it comes to anchor technique. Our #1 anchor rode, all chain, is captive on the Simpson Lawrence windlass, with no place to go but directly down into the below decks aft chain locker, through a very small opening in the electric windlass base, and no way to watch and adjust the rode manually if it bunches up, etc. Anchor #2 and its rode are located off-windlass in the forward anchor locker of the H430. Soooo, need to know how a rope/chain combo or straght rope rode would feed into and lay into the locker.Does a wet rode behave itself nicely coming off the windlass, or would I have a tangled mess below? Also, how would you drop or retrieve the second anchor when number one is captive on the windlass, assuming you have this type of windlass setup (which seems to be one heck of a compromise).
THREE ANCHORS, HAVE I
My boat is a 1982 Hunter 27', my primary anchor is a forged CQR 25 lbs, it carries 30 feet of 3/8" chain and 150' of 5/8" 3 strand rode, it also has a 40" 5/8" rode that is led back to the cockpit,for wind/ direction changes, my secondary is a 16.5 lb Bruce with 50' of 5/16" chain and 150' of 5'8" rode, this is led from the stern to the bow roller sys. my third anchor is a 18 lb danforth used as a stern anchor, with 40' of 5/16" chain and 150' of 1/2" of rode.
My boat is a 1982 Hunter 27', my primary anchor is a forged CQR 25 lbs, it carries 30 feet of 3/8" chain and 150' of 5/8" 3 strand rode, it also has a 40" 5/8" rode that is led back to the cockpit,for wind/ direction changes, my secondary is a 16.5 lb Bruce with 50' of 5/16" chain and 150' of 5'8" rode, this is led from the stern to the bow roller sys. my third anchor is a 18 lb danforth used as a stern anchor, with 40' of 5/16" chain and 150' of 1/2" of rode.
MAX
The former NEVERMORE (H31) and the soon to be NEVERMORE carries three. We had 2 danforths, each with 25' of chain and 200' of 1/2 inch three strand nylon rode. The 36# MAX (from Creative Marine) was carried on the roller chock with 6' of chain and 250' of 1/2 inch three-strand nylon rode. We are more than happy with MAX! In June 98, we rode out hurricane force winds - microburst energy - while anchored behind Martin Point on La Trappe Creek. The boat was knocked on beam ends several times during the storm. It was impossible to discern the creek from the air - it was all liquid. The storm lasted about 40 minutes. One other boat in the anchorage had two anchors down. The next morning we recovered their half full outboard fuel tank on the beach. It had apparantly been blown out of their dinghy during the storm. Anyway, MAX held; we didn't drag; and we sailed off the anchor in the morning. I love my MAX.
The former NEVERMORE (H31) and the soon to be NEVERMORE carries three. We had 2 danforths, each with 25' of chain and 200' of 1/2 inch three strand nylon rode. The 36# MAX (from Creative Marine) was carried on the roller chock with 6' of chain and 250' of 1/2 inch three-strand nylon rode. We are more than happy with MAX! In June 98, we rode out hurricane force winds - microburst energy - while anchored behind Martin Point on La Trappe Creek. The boat was knocked on beam ends several times during the storm. It was impossible to discern the creek from the air - it was all liquid. The storm lasted about 40 minutes. One other boat in the anchorage had two anchors down. The next morning we recovered their half full outboard fuel tank on the beach. It had apparantly been blown out of their dinghy during the storm. Anyway, MAX held; we didn't drag; and we sailed off the anchor in the morning. I love my MAX.
Always carry an extra for groundings.
We seem to run aground regularly on the west coast of Florida, and we have pulled ourselves off so many times it's almost as standard as raising the main. A second anchor is required in the stern compartment - one of us walks this anchor as far as possible from the stern of the boat, then we use the winch to pull ourselves off.
We seem to run aground regularly on the west coast of Florida, and we have pulled ourselves off so many times it's almost as standard as raising the main. A second anchor is required in the stern compartment - one of us walks this anchor as far as possible from the stern of the boat, then we use the winch to pull ourselves off.
Keep one near the cockpit
We carry three anchors on our H410, a SuperMax as our main anchor, a Fortress as our back-up, and a small Danforth knock-off as a lunch hook. We also sometimes deploy the Danforth as a stern anchor if we don't want to swing. I keep the small Danforth handy with rode available in the cokckpit locker in case of emergency stops (i.e., engine failure while entering a rocky inlet, etc.). You never know when you'll need to stop quickly, and it takes time to deploy most primary anchors from the bow. Chris Webb s/v Grand Cru II
We carry three anchors on our H410, a SuperMax as our main anchor, a Fortress as our back-up, and a small Danforth knock-off as a lunch hook. We also sometimes deploy the Danforth as a stern anchor if we don't want to swing. I keep the small Danforth handy with rode available in the cokckpit locker in case of emergency stops (i.e., engine failure while entering a rocky inlet, etc.). You never know when you'll need to stop quickly, and it takes time to deploy most primary anchors from the bow. Chris Webb s/v Grand Cru II
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