What Anchor to Use

[edbulmer]

It's my first time up the ICW and I have a 44 foot boat. What size and type of anchor should I go for, I'm told mine is too small for the trip. I will be doing the inside all the way.

[svHannabel]

What's your current anchor and what are you using for rode/chain? Conventional wisdom says you should be carrying at least two anchors, and probably 3 aboard a 44' cruiser.

[boasun]

Another detail: Is your boat a light 44 ft'r or a heavy 44 ft'r? Displacement bears a lot on the size anchor you use also.
Plus there are anchor usage tables that may help also... These tables are put out be the various Anchor manufacturers and tend to favor the anchor that they make.

[edbulmer]

Remember I'm not going to anchor out anywhere other than the ICW. My boat is heavy
44 thousand lbs.

[Waterway Guide]

I like to anchor in nice marsh creeks, but some have big tidal ranges and are skinny and deep, so 2 anchors in Bahamian Moor style (one fore, one aft, both to bow) is a good option to have available. Most of the anchorages along the whole route is silt/mud, so most anchor styles do well, but get 2 different kinds so that you have options. As for size, bigger is better, as long as you and your windlass can handle it. Here's a link to a size guide: Anchor weight guide

Hope this helps!

[Bash]

Your anchor sprit mitigates against the roll-bar type anchors I prefer, such as the Rocna or Manson Supreme. On your boat, for the ICW, I'd recommend a Fortress FX-55.

[djmarchand]

Ed:

You will get a lot of opinions on this question, so here is mine: Go with a 60 lb or greater Rocna or Manson Supreme. Why the Rocna or Manson Supreme? They have been proven to set very easily and hold very well for their weight in most bottom conditions

You will need at least 150' of 3/8" HT chain backed by another 100' of 3/4" nylon. Use one size larger shackles to compensate for the lesser working load of standard shackles versus high test. These sizes roughly match the holding power of the anchor witht the working load of the rode.

You will be anchoring in 6-20' of water and 150' gives a 6:1 scope in the deeper water. The extra nylon rode is for when the wind is really blowing and you want more scope for optimum holding.

That boat has a lot of weight and windage and will need heavy ground tackle even in the ICW. Oh and don't forget a heavy duty windlass to haul up all of that weight.

As a spare anchor, the Fortress is one of the lightest and best holding anchors. It's only downside is difficulty in setting sometimes and it doesn't handle a veering situation (reversing tide) well. Get a big one and set it up with 50' of HT chain (you can probably get by with 5/16" HT) and 200' of 9/16" nylon rode. You may have to haul this anchor up by hand depending on your windlass.

David

[teejayevans]

I would go with 55lb plow (Delta) and for those soft mud areas, a danforth style (Fortress FX-37).
Tom

[Amapola]

We've made the ICW trip from MD to FL numerous times in our 48' trawler. We have a 66 lb Bruce on an all chain rode which has never failed us on the ICW. We carry a Fortress as a backup and to use in case we need to use two anchors in tight places.

[webejammin]

Originally Posted by Waterway Guide

I like to anchor in nice marsh creeks, but some have big tidal ranges and are skinny and deep, so 2 anchors in Bahamian Moor style (one fore, one aft, both to bow) is a good option to have available. Most of the anchorages along the whole route is silt/mud, so most anchor styles do well, but get 2 different kinds so that you have options. As for size, bigger is better, as long as you and your windlass can handle it. Here's a link to a size guide: Anchor weight guide

Hope this helps!

Nice chart Waterway Guide what anchor is on your Gemini's bow now ?