Only One Anchor

[craigsmith]

1. Sure - although I would put that down to a cost thing. The ones who thought they needed a decent anchor went for the CQR, and it is this sector which I mean to talk about. Before the Danforth, the options were, apart from grapnels or the proverbial rock on a rope, miniaturized versions of big ships' anchors, Admiralty types, Fishermans', etc. Cheap to make, but they don't work in the small scale environment.

[craigsmith]

Originally Posted by Pblais

The sad truth is you can lose an anchor or break a rode and have nothing when you carry only one. There is not a best anchor so you only need one because it can get caught in deep water and not be able to retrieve. With all the various anchors the knowing how they set and when they really are set is the bigger issue. You can use any anchor and get it to set so long as you know some times you have to move on to different holding ground.

I'm going to take issue with that because I think it's a misunderstanding, like a few other posts in this thread have displayed, of Keegan's question in his poll. He is not asking you which single anchor you would have - he is asking which one type, as the main anchor. Nobody is suggesting you should carry only one pick period.

As the Rocna and a few others are superb general purpose anchors, equally as good as any “specialist” anchor in any seabed and superior in most, they also make the ideal secondary, stern, or spare anchor(s). It is not necessary to carry two or three specialist types, each only good for one type of bottom, maybe to never be used.

Here's another hangover from the bad old days of the CQR and company: this myth that different types must be carried. It stems from the requirement to have multiple types, each present only to address the flaws of the other(s). Advice of this nature is naive of the capabilities of modern types and is usually supported by something along the lines of "I have a CQR, Bruce, and Danforth" - no offence Paul.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by craigsmith

... Nobody is suggesting you should carry only one pick period ...

It should be beyond obvious that, except for harbour racing, NO PRUDENT SAILOR WOULD CRUISE WITH A SINGLE ANCHOR, and most would carry three or more.
I usually* had four.
* Having abandoned one (once), I was temporarily reduced to three.

[mikereed100]

I voted Rocna but I would seriously consider a Hydrobubble. They have done extremely well in several controlled tests (not the real world but no controlled test is). They are also relatively inexpensive and lightweight. This means that I could put a larger anchor on the bow of my weight sensitive cat, and chicks dig big anchors.

Mike

[SimonV]

I Find the results of the pole unusual , 22.14% of the people poled would prefer to use the Rocna and 13.2% would rather the CQR. Given that CQR would have the majority of the market coverd well into the 100s to 1 (guestamate) against the Rocna that would mean there is a lot of unhappy cruisers out here too scared to leave the boat.

[dcstrng]

But I never have just one... have got three on my little Bristol...

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Craig,
If you were closer I'd talk with you face to face and convince you to donate an anchor to our non-profit sailing association. Na Hoa Holomoku of Hawaii Yacht Club We have several boats and do anchor drills each week. We use small CQR and Fortress with a smattering of Deltas. It would be good to compare the performance. Our largest club boat is International Folkboat 26.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by SimonV

I Find the results of the pole unusual , 22.14% of the people poled would prefer to use the Rocna and 13.2% would rather the CQR. Given that CQR would have the majority of the market coverd well into the 100s to 1 (guestamate) against the Rocna that would mean there is a lot of unhappy cruisers out here too scared to leave the boat.

I HAPPILY carried a pair of Delta's, a Fortress, a Bruce, and sometimes a Danforth.
I was NEVER under-anchored, and NEVER dragged - even when, during a "blow" I rafted a 40 footer to my 28.5 footer in Nassau's notoriously thin bottom.

Notwithstanding, this was in the 1990's, and things, like anchors, (may) have improved since then. I'd certainly be prepared to forgo the Bruce, in favour of a Rocna (or other "new fangled" anchor).

[craigsmith]

Originally Posted by SimonV

I Find the results of the pole unusual , 22.14% of the people poled would prefer to use the Rocna and 13.2% would rather the CQR. Given that CQR would have the majority of the market coverd well into the 100s to 1 (guestamate) against the Rocna that would mean there is a lot of unhappy cruisers out here too scared to leave the boat.

Nope, it's just that the folk on this board know better

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Aloha Craig,
If you were closer I'd talk with you face to face and convince you to donate an anchor to our non-profit sailing association. Na Hoa Holomoku of Hawaii Yacht Club We have several boats and do anchor drills each week. We use small CQR and Fortress with a smattering of Deltas. It would be good to compare the performance. Our largest club boat is International Folkboat 26.

So you'd probably want a 10...? I'll put you in touch with our guys in Vancouver and see what can be arranged.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Craig,
Thanks for the kind response. I think a 10 should be ok.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
JohnL

[TAREUA]

Someone on another thread correctly, I think, pointed out that he'd rather be on a crappy boat with a good skipper than a good boat with a crappy skipper. I think it is the same with anchors. The people who anchored properly made their anchors work, and thus have loyalty based on experience. Changing from an anchor that works, to a new anchor that you have no experience with based only on advertised claims (hair growth products anyone?) goes against the grain of many experienced sailors. It's not that we're stupid. How many of us became familiar with their primary anchor because it came with the boat? Ok, me at least.

[TAREUA]

I should add that the reports of the new generation of anchors given by sailors here and elsewhere, definitely have my interest, and I will look at them as I shop to move up from a 65# cqr.

[dcstrng]

<How many of us became familiar with their primary anchor because it came with the boat?>

Yep – traditionally sailors were some of the world’s greatest pragmatists… but somewhere in the past twenty-something years the mold got broken (coincident with the advent of the wing-keel I think…) , and are now the haunt of all sorts of trendy consumerisms… Danforth I know and like, CQR I know and like… am not attracted to funny looking, newfangled paraphernalia, anchors or otherwise… still, I suspect at one point, a Danforth looked pretty peculiar next to the traditional anchor, so what do I know…

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by dcstrng

<How many of us became familiar with their primary anchor because it came with the boat?>
… still, I suspect at one point, a Danforth looked pretty peculiar next to the traditional anchor, so what do I know…

It appears, that you, like most of us, know what you like.
I don’t know anything about “art”; but I know what I like

[SkiprJohn]

I used to crew on a 55' Schooner. The Captain had a 100lb traditional Herreshoff Yachtsman anchor with all chain. His son and I were the deck hands so it was our job to set the anchor and retrieve it. What I wouldn't have given for a Fortress when the windlass was not working.
JohnL