As a first time boat owner and having spend a sleepless night on the hook riding out a thunderstorm I've decided a second anchor is a darn good idea. I've a Catalina 270 with about a 16 lbs. Danforth now. Anchor did in fact not drag but I'd like the peace of mind. Question - any thoughts on "weather" I should just by another Danforth (mostly sand & mud around this area) or get another style (Bruce?) an if so, same weight??? Appreciate any/all input! Thanks.
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probably a different style
Danforth-type anchors are considered just right for sandy and mud bottoms, but do not set well in hard sand and soil bottoms. If there's any grass growing down there, forget the Danforth. So, you should get another kind. For starters, consider a plow-type (Delta, CQR, Spade, others) or a claw-type like the Bruce. People will argue for hours about the various qualities of the anchors I have listed here, but they are pretty similar. Some sailors carry a fisherman's anchor (also the top choice for bicep tattoos) and swear by them as they are very reliable in the widest range of bottom types. They are very heavy and very difficult to store, so most sailors pass. I always thought that the advice for setting two anchors was affected by this practice, since 99% of the boats with two anchors have two different types. That means when you set out both anchors at least one of them is the wrong kind
However, if you sail in an area with very uniform bottom conditions (the Chesapeake comes to mind...) you might just go with two anchors of the same type, if you often set out two anchors for additional peace of mind or to reduce swing.
Danforth-type anchors are considered just right for sandy and mud bottoms, but do not set well in hard sand and soil bottoms. If there's any grass growing down there, forget the Danforth. So, you should get another kind. For starters, consider a plow-type (Delta, CQR, Spade, others) or a claw-type like the Bruce. People will argue for hours about the various qualities of the anchors I have listed here, but they are pretty similar. Some sailors carry a fisherman's anchor (also the top choice for bicep tattoos) and swear by them as they are very reliable in the widest range of bottom types. They are very heavy and very difficult to store, so most sailors pass. I always thought that the advice for setting two anchors was affected by this practice, since 99% of the boats with two anchors have two different types. That means when you set out both anchors at least one of them is the wrong kind
However, if you sail in an area with very uniform bottom conditions (the Chesapeake comes to mind...) you might just go with two anchors of the same type, if you often set out two anchors for additional peace of mind or to reduce swing.Bruce Anchor
Bill, when I was deciding on a second anchor, I wanted a different type than the stock Danforth on my '88 Legend 37. I eventually selected a Bruce. I talked to a lot of people and got a lot of different answers. So simply investigate. You will finally deduce what you want. But let me tell you, I have chartered 5 different boats of various sizes. Each one came equipped with two anchors - a CQR and a Bruce. And every other charter boat had the same arrangement. That told me something. Only once I used both anchors. The Bruce is now my primary because of it's flexibility for bottom types and it's resetting capability. The Danforth made a great stern anchor for the time I had to use it (sand). My Bruce is a 33# for my Legend 37.
Bill, when I was deciding on a second anchor, I wanted a different type than the stock Danforth on my '88 Legend 37. I eventually selected a Bruce. I talked to a lot of people and got a lot of different answers. So simply investigate. You will finally deduce what you want. But let me tell you, I have chartered 5 different boats of various sizes. Each one came equipped with two anchors - a CQR and a Bruce. And every other charter boat had the same arrangement. That told me something. Only once I used both anchors. The Bruce is now my primary because of it's flexibility for bottom types and it's resetting capability. The Danforth made a great stern anchor for the time I had to use it (sand). My Bruce is a 33# for my Legend 37.
Dragging at Night
Always two schools of thought. There is certainly a case for two anchors in certain situations: tight anchorage, really heavy weather coming it, etc. However after battling anchors in the middle of the night, whenever I have enough fudge factor, I'd rather deal with one dragging anchor in the middle of the night rather than two to contend with. Choice: I have a 35# delta on my 340 with an appropriately sized Fortress with adequate chain for the back up (is it the 16 or the 23?) - have to check). . . . which I use when necessary. Survived 60 mph with the delta . . . . and in South Dakota it blows . . . .
Always two schools of thought. There is certainly a case for two anchors in certain situations: tight anchorage, really heavy weather coming it, etc. However after battling anchors in the middle of the night, whenever I have enough fudge factor, I'd rather deal with one dragging anchor in the middle of the night rather than two to contend with. Choice: I have a 35# delta on my 340 with an appropriately sized Fortress with adequate chain for the back up (is it the 16 or the 23?) - have to check). . . . which I use when necessary. Survived 60 mph with the delta . . . . and in South Dakota it blows . . . .
Not just the anchor...
Sizes. Manufactures recommend anchor sizes for boat based on boat size and windage. Most anchors that are recommended are suitable to a 30 knot wind (Bruce is designd for 40 knot). If you are sitting in 40+ knots with that recommended anchor, you should worry! You need to make sure that you are using the recommended length of chain that an anchor requires. The more chain, the better the flukes will stay buried. Scope is another matter. We once anchored ( with two anchors ) in 7 feet of water. We had out about 80' of anchor rode. We dragged anchor about 10' and the two anchors fell off of the shelf and into 30' of water. We stopped about 10' from shore when the anchors dug in again. This was in a protected lagoon with land on three sides and a 7' deep shelf that surrounded the three sides but was 30' deep in the middle. I would rather have one good anchor with more than the recommended amount of chain and set with good scope than two anchors that were insufficient. r.w.landau
Sizes. Manufactures recommend anchor sizes for boat based on boat size and windage. Most anchors that are recommended are suitable to a 30 knot wind (Bruce is designd for 40 knot). If you are sitting in 40+ knots with that recommended anchor, you should worry! You need to make sure that you are using the recommended length of chain that an anchor requires. The more chain, the better the flukes will stay buried. Scope is another matter. We once anchored ( with two anchors ) in 7 feet of water. We had out about 80' of anchor rode. We dragged anchor about 10' and the two anchors fell off of the shelf and into 30' of water. We stopped about 10' from shore when the anchors dug in again. This was in a protected lagoon with land on three sides and a 7' deep shelf that surrounded the three sides but was 30' deep in the middle. I would rather have one good anchor with more than the recommended amount of chain and set with good scope than two anchors that were insufficient. r.w.landau
Bill..We have 3 anchors on our boat..
Primary are a Bruce and a CQR. We have a Danforth for a stern anchor. In my opinion the amout of chain you use is just as important as the anchor type. For peace of mind in a blow, consider 1 size anchor larger than recommended and a minimum of 50' of the correct size of chain. Dick McKee S/V Constellation
Primary are a Bruce and a CQR. We have a Danforth for a stern anchor. In my opinion the amout of chain you use is just as important as the anchor type. For peace of mind in a blow, consider 1 size anchor larger than recommended and a minimum of 50' of the correct size of chain. Dick McKee S/V Constellation
Used 3 anchors in Boot Key Harbor
We were anchored for a month and the winds would clock around so on our 33.5 I put out a 33# burce, a 35# delta, and a FX-23... This is after dragging 3 times in one day with the 100' Chain on the delta and 30' chain/70'rode on the FX-23.. Water was 10' but winds were 30+.. the real fix was putting up the anchor sail!
We were anchored for a month and the winds would clock around so on our 33.5 I put out a 33# burce, a 35# delta, and a FX-23... This is after dragging 3 times in one day with the 100' Chain on the delta and 30' chain/70'rode on the FX-23.. Water was 10' but winds were 30+.. the real fix was putting up the anchor sail!
Good response Jon
Thanks for that feedback. We've never had to use more than 2 anchors. Most of our anchorages are sufficiently protected that we don't have the fetch you'd experience in larger harbors. Winds get high - 40-60, but the waves remain relatively tame. Biggest problem is getting caught broadside with a sudden and high wind change. Again, appreciate your response.
Thanks for that feedback. We've never had to use more than 2 anchors. Most of our anchorages are sufficiently protected that we don't have the fetch you'd experience in larger harbors. Winds get high - 40-60, but the waves remain relatively tame. Biggest problem is getting caught broadside with a sudden and high wind change. Again, appreciate your response.
Jim...No we have not...We use the CQR or
Bruce depending on the bottom. The CQR has 250'of 3/8 chain and the Bruce has 50' and 250' of rode. We are in San Diego and use the Danforth on the stern most of the time in the Channel Islands where its crowded in the summer. It has 25' of chain and 200' of rode. We rode out a 30k blow last summer with the CQR with 200' of chain out. It sure was noisy but we didn't move an inch..
Bruce depending on the bottom. The CQR has 250'of 3/8 chain and the Bruce has 50' and 250' of rode. We are in San Diego and use the Danforth on the stern most of the time in the Channel Islands where its crowded in the summer. It has 25' of chain and 200' of rode. We rode out a 30k blow last summer with the CQR with 200' of chain out. It sure was noisy but we didn't move an inch..
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