50% of owners of owners carry more than one anchor 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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Dave
cruising anchors
I sail a Capri26 in Northern Lk Michigan, various bottoms, stoney, sand, rock, clay, and weedy. My primary anchor is a 22lb Bruce with 20 of 5/16 chain and 250 ft of 1/2 inch nylon. Primary is on a bow roller. Second anchor is 13lb Danforth 15ft 5/16 chain and 200ft of 1/2in nylon. I use the Bruce 90% of the time and it has never failed to stay set all night. We do a fair amount of overnights, and sleep sound with that setup. I would never cruise without a backup. Sooner or later you will lose one and I consider a suitable anchor as essential safty equipment.
I sail a Capri26 in Northern Lk Michigan, various bottoms, stoney, sand, rock, clay, and weedy. My primary anchor is a 22lb Bruce with 20 of 5/16 chain and 250 ft of 1/2 inch nylon. Primary is on a bow roller. Second anchor is 13lb Danforth 15ft 5/16 chain and 200ft of 1/2in nylon. I use the Bruce 90% of the time and it has never failed to stay set all night. We do a fair amount of overnights, and sleep sound with that setup. I would never cruise without a backup. Sooner or later you will lose one and I consider a suitable anchor as essential safty equipment.
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Stan Rogacevicz srogacev@holycross.edu
Cruising Anchors
I second the vote for "Big Bruce" for a primary and I have a couple Danforths for backups or stern anchor. I used Danforths for years but after dragging because of a 180 degree wind shift in the wee hours I switched to a 33lb Bruce on my c320 because of its reputation for resetting itself. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656 Greenwich/Narragansett Bay RI
I second the vote for "Big Bruce" for a primary and I have a couple Danforths for backups or stern anchor. I used Danforths for years but after dragging because of a 180 degree wind shift in the wee hours I switched to a 33lb Bruce on my c320 because of its reputation for resetting itself. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656 Greenwich/Narragansett Bay RI
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Ernie A
I found DELTA works better than...
...Bruce, CQR and Fortress. We sail the northeast coast on WindCatcher (C-42 #618) out of Stamford (CT) and encounter a variety of bottoms. I've bought and used all of the above anchors - always slightly oversized for the boat. All are among the "top rated" in published tests. BRUCE: I found that the Bruce sets on the first drop most of the time. This was comforting, but a false sense of security since several times it plowed through the bottom when the wind came up. Looking at the anchor, there is almost no structural resistance in the vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of pull. CQR: The CQR with more vertical resistance holds superbly, but doesn't always set easily. I also found it a bit combersome to launch around the jib furller. The CQR-45 now anchors a tractor in my garage, but I'd bring it back aboard for an extended cruise. DELTA: I now have a DELTA-44 on the primary bow roller. It launches easily, sets at once, has vertical plane equivalent to the CQR, and completely resists dragging - except in soft silt. Looking at the anchor lying on a flat surface, the point is always positioned to dig in acutely. My rode is 250' of 5/16" HT. What a combination! FORTRESS: A FORTRESS-23 is my backup bow anchor and another FORTRESS-37 is in the lazarette for whatever whenever. The bow Fortress can be set for "mud" which covers the silt situation. The rode for each Fortress is 24' of 5/16" HT to 250' 5/8 nylon. Expensive experiment, perhaps, but I'm satisfied with the results, ease of use, and the peace of mind. Ernie April
...Bruce, CQR and Fortress. We sail the northeast coast on WindCatcher (C-42 #618) out of Stamford (CT) and encounter a variety of bottoms. I've bought and used all of the above anchors - always slightly oversized for the boat. All are among the "top rated" in published tests. BRUCE: I found that the Bruce sets on the first drop most of the time. This was comforting, but a false sense of security since several times it plowed through the bottom when the wind came up. Looking at the anchor, there is almost no structural resistance in the vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of pull. CQR: The CQR with more vertical resistance holds superbly, but doesn't always set easily. I also found it a bit combersome to launch around the jib furller. The CQR-45 now anchors a tractor in my garage, but I'd bring it back aboard for an extended cruise. DELTA: I now have a DELTA-44 on the primary bow roller. It launches easily, sets at once, has vertical plane equivalent to the CQR, and completely resists dragging - except in soft silt. Looking at the anchor lying on a flat surface, the point is always positioned to dig in acutely. My rode is 250' of 5/16" HT. What a combination! FORTRESS: A FORTRESS-23 is my backup bow anchor and another FORTRESS-37 is in the lazarette for whatever whenever. The bow Fortress can be set for "mud" which covers the silt situation. The rode for each Fortress is 24' of 5/16" HT to 250' 5/8 nylon. Expensive experiment, perhaps, but I'm satisfied with the results, ease of use, and the peace of mind. Ernie April
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PJ Walchenbach
New Kid on the Block
I highly suggest that anyone interested in anchors review the December 1999 issue of Practical Sailor. They can be reached at PSBelvoir@aol.com. PS has done extensive anchor testing on a large variety of anchors in different conditions (sand and mud). Much to my surprise, the number one performing anchor was not one of the big names sold by West Marine. Number one is an anchor called "Spade" made in Monastir, Tunisia. The Spade has a shank like the Delta but rather than the plow on the end it has what looks like a bicycle seat. If you believe the PS tests, and I have no reason not to, the Spade consistently outperformed all the major brands. Of the familiar brand names, the CQR set reasonably well and held the best. Some very popular brands such as Bruce, The Claw, and Danforth set well but did not hold as well as the Spade or CQR. In fact, the Fortress was one of the worst at both setting and holding. Paul Walchenbach s/v Mata Hari Seattle, WA, USA pjwalch@sprynet.com
I highly suggest that anyone interested in anchors review the December 1999 issue of Practical Sailor. They can be reached at PSBelvoir@aol.com. PS has done extensive anchor testing on a large variety of anchors in different conditions (sand and mud). Much to my surprise, the number one performing anchor was not one of the big names sold by West Marine. Number one is an anchor called "Spade" made in Monastir, Tunisia. The Spade has a shank like the Delta but rather than the plow on the end it has what looks like a bicycle seat. If you believe the PS tests, and I have no reason not to, the Spade consistently outperformed all the major brands. Of the familiar brand names, the CQR set reasonably well and held the best. Some very popular brands such as Bruce, The Claw, and Danforth set well but did not hold as well as the Spade or CQR. In fact, the Fortress was one of the worst at both setting and holding. Paul Walchenbach s/v Mata Hari Seattle, WA, USA pjwalch@sprynet.com
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Thom Reeves/Doug Smith
Cruising Anchors
When we bought our C 400 we were looking for 1) an anchor that would let us sleep at night (big enough and good reputation) and 2) would be easy to deploy from our dual anchor roller. We chose the 45lb. CQR as our primary anchor because of its reputation to set and reset easily under most conditions. We had a 40 lb. Danforth (West Marine) that we brought over from our previous C 36 as a backup. It also hangs nicely on the bow roller and is easy to deploy in an emergency. The CQR has helf five boats (1 C 400 and 4 C 36s) in 20 knots of breeze). We were nervous and put out other anchors before nightfall, but our CQR held beautifully and built our confidence in it. So far we have never dragged with it (knock on wood.)
When we bought our C 400 we were looking for 1) an anchor that would let us sleep at night (big enough and good reputation) and 2) would be easy to deploy from our dual anchor roller. We chose the 45lb. CQR as our primary anchor because of its reputation to set and reset easily under most conditions. We had a 40 lb. Danforth (West Marine) that we brought over from our previous C 36 as a backup. It also hangs nicely on the bow roller and is easy to deploy in an emergency. The CQR has helf five boats (1 C 400 and 4 C 36s) in 20 knots of breeze). We were nervous and put out other anchors before nightfall, but our CQR held beautifully and built our confidence in it. So far we have never dragged with it (knock on wood.)
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Tony Crimi
cruising anchors
We carry two Fortress anchors- one FX22, and one FX11 on our Cat. 34. I can't imagine going any distance with one. The odds are that sooner or later most people will foul, and leave behind an anchor. There are even bigger odds that most people will find themselves in a situation that will require anchoring either bow and stern or two off the bow to restrict swinging area.
We carry two Fortress anchors- one FX22, and one FX11 on our Cat. 34. I can't imagine going any distance with one. The odds are that sooner or later most people will foul, and leave behind an anchor. There are even bigger odds that most people will find themselves in a situation that will require anchoring either bow and stern or two off the bow to restrict swinging area.
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