Is a 125 Pound Anchor Too Big for a 50' Cat ?

[cat man do]

Like the heading says is it to big to go on a 50 ft 8700kg (19200lb) powercat,

The experts say 60lb is good
80 lb is plenty
But, can you have to much anchor if you get the anchor for the right price?

My main concern is getting it back aboard as I have a Maxwell 1500 rated for a 680kg lift

So Anchor = 125lb (57kg)
84m of 10mm chain =201kg
Total = 258kg
X 3 for safe lift = 774kg

BUT, as I would mostly anchor in 15 ft of water and rarely over 30 ft, its never really going to be lifting any more than 9 metres of chain + the anchor which is more like 80kg at any one time.

Comments?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Like the heading says is it to big to go on a 50 ft 8700kg (19200lb) powercat,

The experts say 60lb is good
80 lb is plenty
But, can you have to much anchor if you get the anchor for the right price?

My main concern is getting it back aboard as I have a Maxwell 1500 rated for a 680kg lift

So Anchor = 125lb (57kg)
84m of 10mm chain =201kg
Total = 258kg
X 3 for safe lift = 774kg

BUT, as I would mostly anchor in 15 ft of water and rarely over 30 ft, its never really going to be lifting any more than 9 metres of chain + the anchor which is more like 80kg at any one time.

Comments?

"Your a better and bigger man than me 'Gunga Din'....??"

[jzk]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Like the heading says is it to big to go on a 50 ft 8700kg (19200lb) powercat,

The experts say 60lb is good
80 lb is plenty
But, can you have to much anchor if you get the anchor for the right price?

My main concern is getting it back aboard as I have a Maxwell 1500 rated for a 680kg lift

So Anchor = 125lb (57kg)
84m of 10mm chain =201kg
Total = 258kg
X 3 for safe lift = 774kg

BUT, as I would mostly anchor in 15 ft of water and rarely over 30 ft, its never really going to be lifting any more than 9 metres of chain + the anchor which is more like 80kg at any one time.

Comments?

And don't forget that it all weighs about 13% less under water.

[cchesley]

Steve Dashew is a strong proponent of large anchors. He routinely anchors on 2:1 scope with his (ahem) r o c n a anchor. I think his is 240# on an 83'er. SetSail » Blog Archive » How Big Should Your Anchor Be?

[capt.bobfm]

It's your back if the windlass fails.

[Anzo]

Or you could get one of these if you can afford it
Fortress Marine Anchors

[AllezCat]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Like the heading says is it to big to go on a 50 ft 8700kg (19200lb) powercat,

The experts say 60lb is good
80 lb is plenty
But, can you have to much anchor if you get the anchor for the right price?

My main concern is getting it back aboard as I have a Maxwell 1500 rated for a 680kg lift

So Anchor = 125lb (57kg)
84m of 10mm chain =201kg
Total = 258kg
X 3 for safe lift = 774kg

BUT, as I would mostly anchor in 15 ft of water and rarely over 30 ft, its never really going to be lifting any more than 9 metres of chain + the anchor which is more like 80kg at any one time.

Comments?

I don't think you can go too big - but you can go too few.
The windless seems in range - Maxwell suggests 3 times - lewmar 4 times for smaller windlasses but 2 times for larger.
If you can get it cheap - seems well and good for strong conditions - perhaps another smaller working anchor in the 60 - 80 lb range...
I have 110lb anchor on my 58' cat - and is great - but I am refitting with another 243lb anchor for storms/very deep high latitude stuff/ and short scope low swing spots. And the fortress in the stern with 600' of 1" mega braid for drogue and sea anchor too...all instantly deployable and most import easily retrievable...
Also anchors need to be sized for the boat conditions -
When you need it - you need it.
if you can't lift it if the windless fails -its Hasta La vista to the anchor...

[jzk]

Originally Posted by AllezCat

if you can't lift it if the windless fails -its Hasta La vista to the anchor...

There is always a way to lift it. Winch on the mast to a hook into the chain, etc.

[djmarchand]

Cats are wide and so have lots of windage. I used a 55 lb Rocna on a 35' sailing cat and it sure wasn't too big for me. Your windage is at least twice mine, so 125 lb doesn't sound too big.

David

[krafthaus]

How much sea weed / kelp might you hook onto from time to time = added weight.

But agree with others, if the windlass fails, there will be a Plan B or C to hoist it back up using a halyard other scheme.

[alan_za]

You can't have too big an anchor.

[cat man do]

It's your back if the windlass fails.

Hardly matters if its 125lb and chain or 60lb and chain, it aint coming back up by hand regardless.

No mast (powercat) so no back up winch from there.
But there is a manual backup with the Maxwell 1500 anyway.

I don't think you can go too big - but you can go too few.

My thoughts exactly.
I also currently have a new 55lb Lewmar Delta (picked up very cheap)
and a near new 48lb Super SARCA Anchor No 6 (picked up very cheap as a stern anchor)

Steve Dashew is a strong proponent of large anchors. He routinely anchors on 2:1 scope with his (ahem) Manson Supreme knockoff

Exactly what I was thinking.
There are many places I have been before and will go back to where 5:1 scope is just not going to happen.

[Orrjames]

I have two FX-55 fortress's for sale BTW brand new .....

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Orrjames

I have two FX-55 fortress's for sale BTW brand new .....

He won't need them with what he has on board if he gets the 125lb..

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Like the heading says is it to big to go on a 50 ft 8700kg (19200lb) powercat,

The experts say 60lb is good
80 lb is plenty
But, can you have to much anchor if you get the anchor for the right price?

My main concern is getting it back aboard as I have a Maxwell 1500 rated for a 680kg lift

So Anchor = 125lb (57kg)
84m of 10mm chain =201kg
Total = 258kg
X 3 for safe lift = 774kg

BUT, as I would mostly anchor in 15 ft of water and rarely over 30 ft, its never really going to be lifting any more than 9 metres of chain + the anchor which is more like 80kg at any one time.

Comments?

30 feet of water at 5:1 scope is 45 meters (not 9), not including freeboard.

If you're concerned about weight you could cut your chain in half and use rope for the remainder, especially considering you'll rarely if ever have more than 150 feet out, and if you do use the rope in deeper water or storms -- the rope will likely be suspended up off the bottom anyway.

Considering all that weight in useless chain is doing nothing but slowing your boat, you'll get more holding out of more weight in the anchor than more weight in the chain.

BTW there is no such thing as "too much anchor" at 0-dark-hundred when a squall comes up in the anchorage.