Anchoring, Again - Different Setup

[Hampus]

Hey!

This is what we're dealing with:

1. Home waters (Scandinavia) with sand or mud bottoms, in some places broken shell and sometimes covered with weed.
2. Coasts of Germany and Holland, pretty much nothing but soft mud.
3. Caribbean next year. Sand I geuss?

Boat: 41ft 15 ton ketch. Construction of bowsprit makes it impossible to fit a Manson or Rocna without serious modification. Today she's equipped with a 16 kg CQR and 140 ft of chain. I will replace the chain with a brand new one of 250 ft and add another 2x160 ft of 16mm multiplate polyester line.

Question is, what anchors should we go with. I'm thinking
1: Keep the CQR as secondary and add a 30 kg Spade (but oh so expensive).
2: Loose the CQR and get a 25 kg Delta and a 14.4 kg Fortress.
3: Same as above but with a 20 kg Bruce instead of the Fortress.

Other suggestions, ideas or feedback is much apreciated!

/Hampus

[MarkJ]

Get rid off all the extra anchors etc and get 1 (one) Manson Suprime and 100 meters plus chain and no rope rode.



Simplicity and works

[jdoe71]

Since you can't use a Rocna or Manson and find the Spade too expensive I would go with the Delta but one size bigger than what you propose, I always go one size bigger than what is suggested. We find the Delta the best of the rest in mud and sand, sets quickly and very good holding power. Nothing works well in heavy weed except maybe an old Northill/Yachtsman type, and they don't have much holding power due to relatively small fluke.

[Bill_E]

I have a heavy Bruce that works quite well in relatively soft (mud and sand) conditions. Last year I bought a Raya as a back up, which was sent to me from Brasil. Page d'accueil

Recently, we had conditions where the Bruce just wouldn't hold at all. The bottom was hard with occasional rocks. Although the Raya doesn't fit in my bow roller we put it on for the night and it held perfectly on the first try. Now I've got to figure out how to modify my rollers, etc to mount the Raya because I've got more confidence in it. I don't know if one will fit your ketch.

The Raya was shipped (airfreight) to me in Ft. Lauderdale and I was impressed with the ease that they managed to get it to me and the cost wasn't that expensive.

Bill

[Bash]

The delta performs poorly in soft mud.
The bruce performs poorly in vegetation and on hard surfaces.

The tail is wagging the dog if you're letting your rollers dictate the type of anchor you deploy.

[fishwife]

I'm with Bash on this. If you know you'd really be happier with a new generation anchor (rocna etc) then I'd change whatever is needed. On price, I'd rather eat beans for a month than spend even one night worrying about my anchor holding power. When people laugh at me about my over sized (and expensive) Manson I know I'll be snug in bed when they are dragging in thirty knots of wind.

P.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by fishwife

On price, I'd rather eat beans for a month than spend even one night worrying about my anchor holding power.
P.

Agree
Saving would be in buying less alternate anchors and chain

[markpj23]

Not sure why a Spade would fit your configuration yet a Rocna or Manson would not.....?

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Hampus

Hey!

1: Keep the CQR as secondary and add a 30 kg Spade (but oh so expensive).
2: Loose the CQR and get a 25 kg Delta and a 14.4 kg Fortress.
3: Same as above but with a 20 kg Bruce instead of the Fortress.

Hey Hampus,

Can you combine the 30 kg Spade with the 14 Fortress perhaps?

I think the 20 Bruce will not be big enough for your boat - I use 10 Bruce in Allegro 27, she is only 3000 kilo. I believe 15 Bruce is adequate for my smallish boat.

We used our Danforth - very inexpensive - in mud and sand with great success, also in Sweden. The only time we found it a NO was when the boat veers or if there is only some light (not compacted) sand over a shelf (rock or reef) - this includes parts of West Indies.

Last but not least - you may like to opt for 18mm multiplait (polyester, NOT nylon) rather than 16mm. The thicker rope is much easier to handle and less likely to get cut if it catches up on sthg nasty. We have 16 mm
here and I found it to be the minimum size for handling comfort.

b.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by markpj23

Not sure why a Spade would fit your configuration yet a Rocna or Manson would not.....?

Spade does not have that lovely arch frame ...

[Boracay]

I measured very carefully; found the Manson Supreme would fit. And so it did.

Looking at the dimensions on the Manson web site it doesn't look like it'd fit anywhere but in the real world no worries.

Have you considered making a wood and cardboard dummy and trying it out?

I went with the 45lb, but looking at how easily it fits I could probably have brought the 60lb for a little extra peace of mind.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Get rid off all the extra anchors etc and get 1 (one) Manson Suprime and 100 meters plus chain and no rope rode.



Simplicity and works

I'd rather KEEP all the old stuff as kedges and spares AND buy a full monty new set as the bower.

Meaning - one bower is not enough even if it is top specs - for we may lose it or need a second anchor.

b.

[Hampus]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I'd rather KEEP all the old stuff as kedges and spares AND buy a full monty new set as the bower.

Meaning - one bower is not enough even if it is top specs - for we may lose it or need a second anchor.

b.

My thoughts exactly!

Yes, the Fortress and Spade would be a sweet combination.
And yes, it is the arch on the back of the Manson and Rocna that gets in the way.

Thanks for relplies!

/Hampus

[Eleven]

Keep your lightest different anchor at the stern, great for rowing off for towing off.
On sand (usually) and weed there's no need for chain! Use the spare anchor, slide it down the rope to act as a damper, eases swing a bit and takes the snatch out of tugging on the anchor warp, which also improves holding power.

[billyehh]

I the Carribean I find that the Delta works well as a primary anchor with an all chain rode. My secondary is a Fortress with 50 ft of chain and nylon rode.It is stored in a cockpit locker. I used the Fortress only once last year, but was very glad to have it and slept well that night.