Best anchor style for Great Lakes?

[nuru05]

We recently bought a Moody 425 and we are going to spend the remainder of the season cruising lake michigan and then make our way out the st lawrence next summer. Right now we've got a decently sized cqr/plow anchor. Is this the best choice for the lakes? I figured we'd eventually upgrade to a mantus when we reach the ocean but I'm wondering if it would be just worth doing it now

[Orion Jim]

Another “best anchor” thread…..let the arguments begin…

[sesmith]

We've used a Mantus on the Great Lakes the last several years. We'll suited for here. We're currently hanging off of it on the North Channel. Why wait?

[rslifkin]

The lakes are no less demanding for anchoring than many other places. So if you're looking at upgrading, might as well do it and have the better gear now.

[Mike OReilly]

CQR is definitely not the best choice these days. Not that it can't work. It's just not the best choice these days. Any appropriately-sized* 'new-gen' anchor would be better.


*By this I mean the largest your crew and boat systems can reasonably manage.

[Orion Jim]

Having progressed (over sixty years) from a pail full of concrete to a navy anchor, a Danforth, a C.Q.R., a Bruce, and finally to a Mantus and a Spade, I have found the Spade to be perfect and the Mantus a great back-up as it is easily assembled/disassembled for use and stored belowdecks.
What is ideal for the areas I frequent will not be ideal for all as it is the seabed which dictates what is best. A Luke Storm Anchor is still very popular in areas of heavy weed, stones, and coral. “Horses for courses” as the Brits are fond of saying.

[nuru05]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

CQR is definitely not the best choice these days. Not that it can't work. It's just not the best choice these days. Any appropriately-sized* 'new-gen' anchor would be better.


*By this I mean the largest your crew and boat systems can reasonably manage.

My wife has a pretty strong back so the 100# it is

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by nuru05

My wife has a pretty strong back so the 100# it is

There ya go .

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

What is ideal for the areas I frequent will not be ideal for all as it is the seabed which dictates what is best.

Yep, I wonder if anyone still "arms the lead" with tallow to take a sample of the seabed?

[Ranidan]

Nuru 05
I’m interested in your travels thru to St Lawrence plus experience in the Great Lakes in your post. My wife and I are discussing shipping our HR40 to the Great Lakes and exploring the lakes then heading up the St Lawrence and establish a jump off point to Europe or South to the Caribbean. This depends on future events and any chance we can a talk.

By the way I use a Rocna 40 with no issues in the Caribbean, Pacific NW, Mexico and in Sweden. The design is somewhat cumbersome but holds in all conditions
Jim Noval
Novlski2@yahoo.com

[bgallinger]

I have used a 45 lb. Mantus anchor in the Bahamas, US east coast and the great lakes for over 10 years. The best thing I did was to ditch the plow anchor and install a new generation anchor.

[JBP]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

The lakes are no less demanding for anchoring than many other places. So if you're looking at upgrading, might as well do it and have the better gear now.

I don't think that is entirely accurate, the Great Lakes (at least the bottom four) have a few key differences from ocean anchoring.

1) The charts are much better than the charts of more exotic shores and there is a lot of knowledge available. You can more easily choose a mud or sand bottom and avoid weeds or rocks. Danforths are very popular on the Great Lakes because you can choose your bottom.

2) You are almost never more than 20 miles from a safe harbor, there is no need to ride out major storms.

3) Rescue is widely available from Tow Boat, the Coast Guard, or the thousands of other boats packed into a small area. I'm not saying you should rely on rescue, but if a disaster did happen, you are not alone on the Great Lakes

4) There are no coral heads. Rope rode is quite popular and perfectly fine.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by JBP

I don't think that is entirely accurate, the Great Lakes (at least the bottom four) have a few key differences from ocean anchoring.

Glad you excluded Superior .

[JBP]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Glad you excluded Superior .

I've only been on Superior a few times, but it struck me as much more wild and isolated than the lower four.

[Tetepare]

Assuming you have a powered windlass, get a big Mantus.

A light Fortress (not Danforth, those are junk) FORTRESS is great for sand and an easy lunch hook.