I could use some advice on the type of anchors to be installed on my dual anchor bow sprit. My boat came with a delta quick set anchor with 15 ft of 5/16" chain and 200 ft of 5/8" nylon line. I have another delta quick set that I was thinking on also installing on the bow with 15 ft of 5/16" chain and 200 ft of 5/8" nylon line. I have a few questions: 1. What types and weights of anchors would you recommend for my boat (41DS)? 2. How much chain and line would you recommend for each? 3. Have you ever needed two anchors? If so what were the conditions that needed two anchors? 4. Where do you normally store the second anchor if not on the bow sprit? Thanks, Ray
Type and weight of anchors for bow anchor rollers
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Where are you planning to cruise
You probably just kicked off the next round of "hwat is the best anchoring system" debate. This is a regular topic here and tons is written in the archive for your researching pleasure. You will get many many opinions and like I said, get many religious beliefs in this system versus that system. what I will offer up is the wisdom that I have received over the years. IMHO having two different types of anchors is the way to go. I carry a 35 lb delta with 50 feet of chain and 200 feet of line and a Fortress 23 with 15 feet and chain and 200 feet of line as a backup. The Delta is in the roller and ready to deply, the Fortress rests peacefully in the stern locker ready at a moments notice. This is my first year with the Delta and so far I have been very happy. The Delta and Fortress would not both fit in the anchor roller, hence the fortress in the locker. Our sailing area is the chesapeake, so soft mud and some sand. some anchorages are loaded with rotting leaves and sticks and the Fortress had more problems with this than the Delta has so far.
You probably just kicked off the next round of "hwat is the best anchoring system" debate. This is a regular topic here and tons is written in the archive for your researching pleasure. You will get many many opinions and like I said, get many religious beliefs in this system versus that system. what I will offer up is the wisdom that I have received over the years. IMHO having two different types of anchors is the way to go. I carry a 35 lb delta with 50 feet of chain and 200 feet of line and a Fortress 23 with 15 feet and chain and 200 feet of line as a backup. The Delta is in the roller and ready to deply, the Fortress rests peacefully in the stern locker ready at a moments notice. This is my first year with the Delta and so far I have been very happy. The Delta and Fortress would not both fit in the anchor roller, hence the fortress in the locker. Our sailing area is the chesapeake, so soft mud and some sand. some anchorages are loaded with rotting leaves and sticks and the Fortress had more problems with this than the Delta has so far.
Anchors
I agree with Shippy on the volumes written on "best" anchor systems. I won't go there either. On my Hunter 386, I use a 33 pound Bruce with 35 ft of 5/16" chain and 200 ft of 5/8" twisted nylon rode. It's never failed me. I sleep very soundly with it deployed. I also carry a 22 pound Bruce as a second anchor off the stern. I acquired this pretty cheap, but it's all I need to keep the boat from swinging at anchor. I wouldn't depend on it for a primary. I'll probably acquire a 35# Delta in the future along with 75 ft of chain. Lots of people rely on the Delta and Bruce in the Cheasapeake Bay. Some carry other brands and swear by them. Go with what fits well on your anchor roller and windlass. Most experienced sailors and many of the article I've read recommend chain at least the length of your boat or more. That's a good starting point for me.
I agree with Shippy on the volumes written on "best" anchor systems. I won't go there either. On my Hunter 386, I use a 33 pound Bruce with 35 ft of 5/16" chain and 200 ft of 5/8" twisted nylon rode. It's never failed me. I sleep very soundly with it deployed. I also carry a 22 pound Bruce as a second anchor off the stern. I acquired this pretty cheap, but it's all I need to keep the boat from swinging at anchor. I wouldn't depend on it for a primary. I'll probably acquire a 35# Delta in the future along with 75 ft of chain. Lots of people rely on the Delta and Bruce in the Cheasapeake Bay. Some carry other brands and swear by them. Go with what fits well on your anchor roller and windlass. Most experienced sailors and many of the article I've read recommend chain at least the length of your boat or more. That's a good starting point for me.
Anchors
Most skippers have their favorite anchor. You will see a lot of CQR and Bruce anchors on boats in the marina. I used to use a 44 lb Bruce on 50 feet of chain and 250 of nylon line on my 410. I have switched to a big (I don't remember the size, but at least as big as the Bruce)Delta. If you are going to spend a night or two on the hook I would go with at least 100 feet of chain. I have spent too many night on deck at 2:00PM sitting an anchor watch. In my opinion, bigger is better (up to a point). You have the capacity to carry at least 100 feet of chain and a 50 lb anchor. Before you buy a new anchor check out the Rocna anchor website. They provide a lot of information about anchors, anchoring, and of course, the impressive performance of their Rocna (which actually looks very interesting). John
Most skippers have their favorite anchor. You will see a lot of CQR and Bruce anchors on boats in the marina. I used to use a 44 lb Bruce on 50 feet of chain and 250 of nylon line on my 410. I have switched to a big (I don't remember the size, but at least as big as the Bruce)Delta. If you are going to spend a night or two on the hook I would go with at least 100 feet of chain. I have spent too many night on deck at 2:00PM sitting an anchor watch. In my opinion, bigger is better (up to a point). You have the capacity to carry at least 100 feet of chain and a 50 lb anchor. Before you buy a new anchor check out the Rocna anchor website. They provide a lot of information about anchors, anchoring, and of course, the impressive performance of their Rocna (which actually looks very interesting). John
go big
We have a 03 420 on the Chesapeake Bay with a 66 lb Bruce, 120 ft chain and 130 ft nylon. My feeling is I rather have one big anchor than two smaller ones. On the Chesapeake at least I think this is a good combination since the depths are shallow so I rarely put out all the chain, the ground is mud which the Bruce does well in, and if the wind changes the Bruce still holds. If you have two anchors chances are one of them is on the bow roller doing nothing when the thunderstorm rolls thru the anchorage; with one big anchor its always going to be in the water.
We have a 03 420 on the Chesapeake Bay with a 66 lb Bruce, 120 ft chain and 130 ft nylon. My feeling is I rather have one big anchor than two smaller ones. On the Chesapeake at least I think this is a good combination since the depths are shallow so I rarely put out all the chain, the ground is mud which the Bruce does well in, and if the wind changes the Bruce still holds. If you have two anchors chances are one of them is on the bow roller doing nothing when the thunderstorm rolls thru the anchorage; with one big anchor its always going to be in the water.
Bigger is better, but always carry a spare or two
Please keep in mind that you're not anchoring for lunch or for the night - you're anchoring to keep your boat off the rocky beach when a 40 knot gale blows in suddenly and catches you on a lee shore. And you should size your rode to the worst case for anchoring depth - say 40 feet. Answers: 1. You oughta check out the Manson Kedge anchors in the WM catalogue.... that 4,400 pound baby should keep you snug through anything.... list price: $229,500.... (shipping is extra, of course!!!) Seriously, you ought to have at least a 44lb Delta, or a 45lb CQR if you go the traditional route. Some of the new-fangled anchors - Rocna, Spade, Manson Supreme, etc - bear investigation, as they have shown superior holding power and re-setting ability. 2. A 42 knot gale will push your boat with about 2,500 pounds of peak pressure. Your 5/16" chain - if it's not high-test or stainless - has a safe working load of 1,900 pounds. Consider using both pieces on one anchor. Chain gives you catenary, which helps your anchor dig in BEFORE the full gale arrives. Nylon rode gives you shock absorbtion, which is critical when the wind and waves are pounding your boat. When that gale blows in, you want as much scope as you possibly can have - it takes 10 to 1 to get 100% of the anchor's holding power. 7 to 1 gives you 85%, which is pretty good. So, 7 to 1 in 40 feet = 280' - 50' of chain = 230' of rode. 3. I've never sailed back east, but out here the first boat decides on anchoring technique and everybody else follows suit. We mostly use bow and stern, to keep the boats facing the swell. A 'bahamian moor' uses two anchors from the bow, which allows the boat to swing, but in a much reduced radius. In extreme conditions (I've never needed to do this) some people advocate a 'tandem' anchor technique, where one anchor is attached to another with a 10' piece of chain. The latest Cruising World has an excellent write-up on this by Evans Starzanger. In addition to using 2 anchors at once, another reason to have two anchors on your bow roller is that no single anchor will function well in ALL bottom conditions all the time. Also, anchors foul, chain breaks, shackles un-shackle, etc... and NEVER at an opportune time. for instance, if your Delta snags a beer can, you can drag it from here to eternity, and it will never set. So, my recommendation: Put both Deltas (with suitable chain and rode) on your bowsprit. As a backup/lunch-hook/stern anchor, get a Fortress FX-23 with 10' of 1/4" high-test chain and 250' of 1/2" nylon rode. Keep it in a cockpit locker - it only weighs FIFTEEN pounds and disassembles into its own storage bag. Then you'll have all your anchoring bases covered - and you'll be able to sleep soundly.
Cheers, Bob s/y X SAIL R 8
Please keep in mind that you're not anchoring for lunch or for the night - you're anchoring to keep your boat off the rocky beach when a 40 knot gale blows in suddenly and catches you on a lee shore. And you should size your rode to the worst case for anchoring depth - say 40 feet. Answers: 1. You oughta check out the Manson Kedge anchors in the WM catalogue.... that 4,400 pound baby should keep you snug through anything.... list price: $229,500.... (shipping is extra, of course!!!) Seriously, you ought to have at least a 44lb Delta, or a 45lb CQR if you go the traditional route. Some of the new-fangled anchors - Rocna, Spade, Manson Supreme, etc - bear investigation, as they have shown superior holding power and re-setting ability. 2. A 42 knot gale will push your boat with about 2,500 pounds of peak pressure. Your 5/16" chain - if it's not high-test or stainless - has a safe working load of 1,900 pounds. Consider using both pieces on one anchor. Chain gives you catenary, which helps your anchor dig in BEFORE the full gale arrives. Nylon rode gives you shock absorbtion, which is critical when the wind and waves are pounding your boat. When that gale blows in, you want as much scope as you possibly can have - it takes 10 to 1 to get 100% of the anchor's holding power. 7 to 1 gives you 85%, which is pretty good. So, 7 to 1 in 40 feet = 280' - 50' of chain = 230' of rode. 3. I've never sailed back east, but out here the first boat decides on anchoring technique and everybody else follows suit. We mostly use bow and stern, to keep the boats facing the swell. A 'bahamian moor' uses two anchors from the bow, which allows the boat to swing, but in a much reduced radius. In extreme conditions (I've never needed to do this) some people advocate a 'tandem' anchor technique, where one anchor is attached to another with a 10' piece of chain. The latest Cruising World has an excellent write-up on this by Evans Starzanger. In addition to using 2 anchors at once, another reason to have two anchors on your bow roller is that no single anchor will function well in ALL bottom conditions all the time. Also, anchors foul, chain breaks, shackles un-shackle, etc... and NEVER at an opportune time. for instance, if your Delta snags a beer can, you can drag it from here to eternity, and it will never set. So, my recommendation: Put both Deltas (with suitable chain and rode) on your bowsprit. As a backup/lunch-hook/stern anchor, get a Fortress FX-23 with 10' of 1/4" high-test chain and 250' of 1/2" nylon rode. Keep it in a cockpit locker - it only weighs FIFTEEN pounds and disassembles into its own storage bag. Then you'll have all your anchoring bases covered - and you'll be able to sleep soundly.
Cheers, Bob s/y X SAIL R 8- Status