If you're going on a world
cruise then you want a plow type (CQR, Bruce, Manson,
Delta, etc) primary of about 2lbs per foot of boat length and all chain
rode.
Otherwise buy what the majority of cruisers use in the area that you will be cruising. Your secondary should be a different type, like a Danforth type (Danforth HT, Fortress, etc) these can be used as kedges since they generate so much holding
power. Setting however is critical and they tend not to reset on their own.
I preferred the Bruce primary and the Fortress secondary for our
Ericson 38. We had the 35lb Bruce on the bow roller on 100 ft of 5/16 HT and 200ft of 5/8 nylon. We used that 95% of the time in
Florida and the
Bahamas.
Except once ... we used our FX37 Fortress to anchor the boat in Clearwater Bay during a
hurricane in 2004. The FX 37 had 80 ft of 3/8 chain and 250 ft of 3 strand nylon. We guessed that the strongest winds would be south something SE, S, SW and set the hook in sand off the Coast Guard Station in the bay. We gave it full
scope ... all the chain and line in 10ft of
water (12 at high tide).
The boat
rode out 3 straight days of 50k plus winds from the south and never moved. We watched it from Bellair Bluffs across the bay and the boat was really taking a pounding in short steep waves. But the anchor held and the chafing
gear stood up and we escaped with minor damage. Great anchor.
We never dragged with our Bruce either, I'd use a similar set-up again.
Whatever anchor you use, get the real thing. Get the original Bruce or the original Danforth,
CQR, Fortress or Manson or whatever. Don't get a knock off.