i was there two years ago. i started out with a
simpson lawrence claw (copy of bruce anchor) and it was terrible, which surprised me because it worked so well on the u.s.
east coast. had to switch over to the
cqr after some frightening experience with the
claw in the
bahamas.
used the
cqr plow the remainder of the
cruise and had no further problems. i did notice that most of the cruising boats had delta anchors and all of the bahamian
fishing boats had danforths.
will be going back this year, but i've already replaced the cqr with a manson supreme which is working great here in
florida and i've been told works great in the
bahamas as well. the cqr is now in the lazarette for a third anchor.
my second anchor is a danforth hi tensile. haven't ever had to use it yet but since i don't trust them in reversing currents it will always be the 'second' anchor to be deployed when a second anchor is needed.
as for chain, get at least 25 feet, 50 would be better. you could probably go with 1/4 inch hi tensile (i think that's what they call it) or 5/16 inch bbb. back it up with 150 feet of 5/8 inch nylon line.
anchoring depths in the bahamas are not very deep - nearly always under 20 feet - so you don't need great lengths of rode.
don't forget to wire your shackles closed. while i was changing out from claw to cqr a cruiser stopped by and asked me why i was putting
safety wire through the shackle pin and around the shackle. after i told him he said 'that must be why i
lost that anchor!'.