Mantus Versus Fortress...... The Ultimate Lawnmower Test :)

[danielamartindm]

I will be docking to one side only, and for the purposes of holding Her off the dock fenders when a tropical storm might push her against them, I will be using a large breast anchor, possibly two. In researching holding powers of different anchors, I found the bottom substrate to be a deciding factor. I'll be anchoring in mud, and the Fortress anchor demonstrates the best holding power for that in the tests I've read. It also can be easily disassembled for flat storage, and has two fluke angle settings, one at 45 degrees for maximal hold in mud. The Mantus is a good all-around anchor. That's an awfully small one he's got there; and btw, who WAS that masked man?

[NevisDog]

Originally Posted by Fortress

...I might find this video to be humorous as well, except for the fact that there are those who might believe it's legitimate.

Certainly no better, but possibly not much worse than some of the advertising hype from some manufacturers??? Fortress, some of your own videos were so bad they might have been made by the opposition too; great anchor, sales hype not so much.

[Group9]

Fortress/Danforth style anchors are easily the most popular where I live, but that's because that's a great anchor for our mud/sand bottom. Where you anchor makes all the difference in the world. I carry one, and a Mantus.

[Viking Sailor]

Very disappointed with this thread. I have read all the posts looking for that side-splitting LOL comment. I didn't even get a little chuckle. Fudge!!!

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

Very disappointed with this thread. I have read all the posts looking for that side-splitting LOL comment. I didn't even get a little chuckle. Fudge!!!

That is because you were chained to a mooring in the road in stead. Actually, despite the lack of humor we all knew Mantus did not have a prayer until it hit a snag. The Fortress held its ground quite well, after all it is not a plough. Did you not read the one by the guy who said the real dirt was on the Fortress? I could go on, but my audience voted and absolute no, and threatened to chain me to the machine if I did. Anyway, I covered the full scope of the topic. BTW, that was not fudge or sand, it was dehydrated mud, a substance infrequently seen at sea.

[SV Siren]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

Very disappointed with this thread. I have read all the posts looking for that side-splitting LOL comment. I didn't even get a little chuckle. Fudge!!!

Does this help..??

The one time when having your anchor drag might be a good thing...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Anchor threads and anchor tests can be a little boring at times for those who are not interested. They can also become a little silly. I think this YouTube poster is serious, but who knows. He is at least very amusing.

I skipped to the pulling part and didn't have the audio on, but I liked it. If the only thing you get on of it was just how fast the Mantus set it was worth it. Far as the Fortress not being set right or having the mud tabs on it, the ones I see hanging on bows mostly seem to be just like the one in the video (I have no doubt that it is a great holding anchor once set).

[Fortress]

Maybe a bit more practical video, from Distant Shores TV and with almost 175k viewers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnQs6zoUE9o

[Group9]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

Very disappointed with this thread. I have read all the posts looking for that side-splitting LOL comment. I didn't even get a little chuckle. Fudge!!!

Yep. Fertile ground wasted!

[jzk]

Originally Posted by Fortress

As Thinwater mentioned, the Fortress was erroneously set at the 45 degree angle for soft mud. We put two warning labels over the holes in the Crown, where the shank fluke angle adjustment is made, which state "soft mud only," and he ignored them.

He also didn't install the Mud Palms, which lift the back end of the anchor up so that the Flukes take a more aggressive angle into the sea bottom. He ignored our advice in the assembly instructions to permanently install them as well.

I might find this video to be humorous as well, except for the fact that there are those who might believe it's legitimate.

The Fortress is clearly the superior anchor in sand and mud. As noted above, the angle was set wrong.

However, the Fortress may not be the best choice for a primary anchor if you are in an area with weed and hard bottoms. The Mantus is superior as a primary anchor. The Fortress shines in sand and mud in a blow. If you know a big blow is coming, get out the Fortress.

[MicHughV]

I thought this dog had died in 2017????