What do you think abouit the Lewmar anchor ?

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E

Estelle

We are about to buy a Lewmar 44 lb anchor for our Hunter 380. We found that it is almost the same as Bruce but at about 1/5 of its price. Is it a good choice ? We find that CQR and Bruce are very good but very expensive ... Please give us your comments and recommendations, Thank you Estelle
 
D

Daryl

Buy One

I have a CQR35# and a 33# Claw which is a Bruce knock off. Both have about 40' of 5/16 chain. The Bruce style "claw" out performs the CQR in most situations except weeds and it now my primary anchor. Why not get a budget anchor for a budget boat?
 
T

Tom

Estelle is the Lewmar forged or cast?

Forged anchors are strong and expensive, cast anchors are weak and cheap. Don't go cheap with something that will help you sleep at night
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Is this a Delta?

The Delta is an excellent choice. Do not know if you really need a 44 if this is the case (you never have too much anchor, unless you need to haul it in by hand sometime). Take a look at ebay, there are some okay deals on anchors sometimes.
 
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Bob

It's a 'Bruce Lee', not a Bruce

The Lewmar is, as pointed out by a previous poster, cast, not forged like a genuine Bruce. Even if you think you're getting a real Bruce, beware of the imitations out there. Learn to spot the difference between cast and forged. And get the bigger anchor.... bigger is always better. Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
 
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Jeff

They are all cast steel!

I sell claw anchors under the Manta name. These are exactly the same as the Lewmar Claws that have started showing up everywhere. I have never heard of a failure of a Bruce copy, even though these are cast steel. Not too surprising, considering that real Bruces are cast steel as well (not forged). In my experience, and those of my friends and customers, the only advantage of a real Bruce is the bragging right that comes with spending much more money than necessary in order to have the correct brand image to fit in with the yacht club set. BTW, a 44lb Manta/Lewmar/Bruce is recommended as a storm anchor for up to a 46' boat. With your boat I might be tempted to use a 44 for storms, but a 33lb anchor should be more than enough for overnight anchoring and I would go even smaller for a lunch hook.
 
R

Reudi Ross

I have a Lewmar delta

This anchor is fabricated from steel plate and then galvanized. It is not cast or forged. It works very well in everything except soupy mud bottoms. It is especially well suited for bottoms with cobbles or weeds.I recommend it.
 
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Bob

I stand corrected

Well, that should teach me something, if I'm not too old to learn..... Several people (including a salesman at West Marine) have told me that the real Bruce is forged. A quick check of the Bruce website and the West catalog show that it is indeed cast. So the difference appears to be in manufacturing quality.... I wonder if there are any serious studies on how much that might matter. Apologies to anybody I mis-informed. The learning process continues.... Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
 
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Jeff

It's a common misconception

It's long been a common misconception that Bruces are forged. The patent expired recently on the Bruce design allowing virtual copies (design and construction) to now be made. Notice that real Bruces no longer mention the patent on the shank, now only showing the trademarked name. The Bruce website talks about the difference between theirs and the knockoffs. Their only point is about quality control, but as long as you don't buy a knockoff that is noticeably askew, you should be fine. I suppose that a flaw could exist in the casting, but I doubt that the method of casting varies between manufacturers and I don't think that anyone stress tests each individual anchor.
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
So they musta changed them.

Mine says 'forged' on it. But it's made in Belgium and the new ones are from elsewhere. And it is definitely forged. It has the clear 'bell-ring' when tapped with a metal object. And Daryl, it came as standard equipment with my "budget boat". P.S. Remember those 'anchor tests' from the '80s. The Bruce claim to fame was not it's holding power but it's strength. It couldn't be destroyed with the test equipment available at the time.
 
B

Bob

The debate continues

Fred, if Bruce themselves (see the link below) says their anchors are cast and yours says 'forged', you might want to wonder about it's provenance. I don't doubt my anchor.... it's stamped 'Bruce' 'China' and '13 kg' so it's definitely a knock-off. But it is large for my boat (31'), it holds against 3/4 throttle when I set it, has 30' of 5/16" chain and 5/8" rode, I set plenty of scope, my shackles are safety-wired, I use chafe protection, I set a depth alarm...... All of these seem to be at least equal links in the chain of good anchoring practice. One technique I read about in a recent C/W (or maybe L&A) was the use of 'kellets' to reduce the angle of force exerted on the anchor. I wonder if this would improve the anchor's ability to burrow under forces adequate to lift the chain but not enough to make the rode taut. It would be neat to hear from a mechanical engineer on the subject...... waitaminit.... I just remembered a site called 'Tuning an anchor rode'.. here's the link http://alain.fraysse.free.fr/sail/rode/rode.htm I'll have to actually read that stuff and try not to let my eyes glaze over on the formulas.. Lots to learn, but we have 7 years till 'up-anchor and head west' day...... Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
 
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KennyH

Just say no

Something we learned about anchors during a hurricane in Georgetown Bahamas. Just say no to knockoffs. Several boats lost to CQR and Bruce knockoffs. None lost using real CQR, Bruce or Danforth/Fortress anchors. I know it cost more but don't do it. Max anchor failed completely total loss of cat and no insurance. One CQR knockoff broke at the shank but owner did collect insurance for total loss of boat.
 
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Estelle

It is cast and We will not buy it ...

Thank you. It was too good to be true. We are now looking at the following anchor: 1)Stainless Steel Plow CQR Style 35 lb on EBAY. They say that it is constructed of heat treated, high tensile strength ss 316 (they don't specify if it is forged steel). Its price is 369 USD. 2)The Simpson Laurence CQR anchor is 582 USD at West Marine - They specify Forged steel What do you think would be the better choice ? Thank you Estelle
 
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Bob

Stainless Steel plow anchor

I found what probably is the anchor you are looking at on EBay, at Bo'sun Supplies, Co. Here is the link: http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2.cfm?product=S70-PMA It is cast (I have no clue if you CAN forge stainless steel). The cost new is $1,199.90 I find it hard to believe that after insisting on a forged anchor instead of cast, you are going to buy a cast anchor of un-known provenance from a total stranger for about 30% of the new price, with no hope of recourse if it doesn't work as advertised. Any clue why they are selling the anchor? One thing I would be worried about is how much stress this anchor has sustained over its life... correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't steel lose strength when stressed, especially repeatedly? At least with a new anchor, you are getting a warranty, and are pretty sure that it is what it is supposed to be. I also seem to recall from somewhere that stainless steel is not as strong as regular steel. Maybe we need a thread soliciting some expert opinions on stainless vs. regular anchors.... I've never heard of anyone complain of significant corrosion problems with an anchor, at least to warrant paying 2x or 3x the price. I'm not an expert, but all my reading leads me to believe that the most common anchoring failure has to do with an anchor dragging, not breaking. (Go ahead, folks, flame me for daring to present an in-expert opinion!!!) Our trips to the Channel Islands, I always try to dive and inspect my anchor (brrr). Then, while the Commodore enjoys life, I scan the horizon, test the wind, check the weather forecast, let out more rode, contemplate a Bahamian moor, adjust the chafe protection, set a stern anchor, take in some rode, re-set the stern anchor, etc., etc., etc.,..... I have learned NOT to bore the Commodore with my thoughts or concerns regarding anchoring. And she has learned NOT to intefere with my pre-occupation with anchoring. So we're both happy!!! Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
 
Feb 18, 2004
184
Catalina 36mkII Kincardine - Lake Huron
CQR plow

Discussing anchors is like discussing religion. The only thing I kept when I sold my previous boat was my 35lb CQR anchor. I have strong faith in my anchor. It is forged which makes it very strong as a previous poster has mentioned. I doubt that the stainless anchor is forged. There is a huge strength advantage resulting from forging. I do think the galvanizing on the CQR is superior to galvanizing on the galvanized cast steel knock offs. When tested by Practical Sailor the CQR always does well but is rarely the best. There are better anchors for sand and mud but they do not grip all bottoms. The CQR works well in a wide variety of bottoms (including weeds) and sets with reasonable speed. Most anchors are not as versatile as to bottom type. The Bruce usually sets faster in non weedy bottoms but usually does not have as high a holding power as the CQR. Back to religeon. An anchor you believe in gives piece of mind. Sailors have bellieved in the genuine CQR for decades. Now that I am on a roll I will quote directly from my Annapolis Book of Seamanship (1989) which states "Many experienced sailors consider the plow to be the ideal all-purpose anchor for boats larger than 30 feet. Although it may not be the best in any bottom, it still holds well in all of them, whether rock, mud, sand or weed." This will no doubt start a religeous war..... I do know that there are lighter, cheaper more modern designs that are better in particular bottoms, however I have one main anchor that has proved itself over and over when others drag. You should also consider an anchor of different design as a second anchor. A Danforth style (Fortress etc) has huge holding power in mud and sand but is sometimes fussy about setting and can foul with stones.
 
K

KennyH

CQR From West Marine

This is one of three anchor I used during the hurricane in Georgetown Bahamas. It impressed me very much to say the least. It was on the side that got the most wind and it just kept digging itself deeper. It took a day of digging underwater to retrieve it as it was down a couple of feet in the sand. You will not be sorry with this anchor. Even though it is expensive you will get your money back some day. I paid 190 dollars in the early 1980's and sold it recently for 300 dollars on ebay. I have a smaller boat now and have just purchased a smaller CQR the 20lb model which is perfect for my 25 footer.
 
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Jeff

Anchor failures???

Kenny said that during the hurricane, none of the boats lost were using name-brand anchors and implied that knock-off anchors were to blame for several mishaps. Having a vested interest in 'bruce style' claw anchor sales, I have to speculate a bit about his comments. My first thought is that if any particular boat was lost, it was statistically more likely to have been anchored with a copy due to the vast popularity of less expensive knock-offs. His observations may have been due to statistical probabilities, rather than due to anchor quality. I'd also like to know what the actual failures were and question whether a name-brand anchor wouldn't have failed in the same circumstance. Granted, if it was a structural failure then I could blame the individual anchor itself. But most losses were probably due to dragging/improper sets and there is no evidence that a name-brand anchor sets or holds any better than a good copy. Then there are the questions involving anchor sizes, rodes, bottom types, chafe gear, etc... More information is needed before condemning these anchors based on anecdotal evidence. If you want anecdotes, I could name several boats that comfortably rode out several of the storms last year on the anchors that I sell - including my own. But a few stories proves nothing.
 
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