Anchor Question (sorry)

[jnrdafoe]

I see the Sarca Excel now comes in a stowable alloy version. A thru bolt on shank and the weighted tip look interesting. A nice compliment to my steel Excel.

[Jimbo485]

Interesting developments.....

Later this year we were going to add either an Excel or a Manson Boss. Now we might have to see what the alloy Excel is like. First ones available in August according to the Sarcasm website.

[Jimbo485]

Sarca! Not sarcasm!
Spellchecker )/@&$!!

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Tan Anu

Attachment 59682

The Rocna can be seen in place here.

Hey Tan Anu - I got a better photo of it on your boat! Also see photo of Manson Supreme and Sarca Excel on Seawind 1000s.

[twohapence]

Hi

I used to think I was quite good at anchoring and happily spent the night with my 32ft cat riding to a 7.5KG CQR. If it looked like it might get a bit blowy I'd go for the bigger 12KG CQR -both had about 10 Mtrs of chain and the rest of the rode was three strand nylon rope. The anchor always set first time and never dragged. That was in the Solent where the mud offers fabulous holding.

Then I chartered in the Med around Greece and Turkey and found that you could gently plough backwards overnight and finish some distance from where you started. With the anchor nicely dug in. On some charter boats the anchor was so awful and the holding so poor that no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the anchor to set leading to some hilarious (for those observing) escapades as I tried to moor stern to the shore and slowly pulled the anchor hand over hand through the mud.

I decided that when I moved my boat south what I needed would be a fortress because clearly the key to success was surface area. Arriving in southern France having brought my new boat through the canals I went to anchor with my nice shiny and very large Fortress. It wasn't that wonderful an experience as the bottom was stony and it didn't have the mass to bite. So back to the britanny anchor supplied as original equipment.

The moral of my story? I don't think there is one anchor for all conditions - as evidenced by the variance in tests carried out in the yachting press. Therefore you need to carry what's appropriate for the local seabed, or a range of anchors if your cruising area is extensive. If you have a big monohull and can afford the weight of a massive anchor as well as the extra load of the chain and windlass to go with it then maybe you can get a one size fits all solution. It won't work for me though.

I'm currently deciding between a Manson Supreme and a Spade for the south of France. There's a big price difference. Looking round the marinas in my new cruising area the Spade seems to be the most popular choice of next gen anchor - although whether that says more about the anchor being french is open to question. It's also demountable so it will fit inside a locker when not in use. Which, given the price, is an important consideration. I doubt if anyone would walk off with a rusty old CQR but a nice shiny Spade?

So I'll aim to have a a big Fortress for soupy mud and as a kedge. A Spade/Manson as the Bower anchor used in normal conditions and a Brittany anchor to use in emergencies (if I lose the main anchor).

Cheers

Ian

[noelex 77]

This is a very common story. Sailors that have used an anchor like a CQR successfully in their local waters are absolutely shocked and dumbfounded when they get to to an area of more challenging substrate and find the anchor works poorly.

[twohapence]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

This is a very common story. Sailors that have used an anchor like a CQR successfully in their local waters are absolutely shocked and dumbfounded when they get to to an area of more challenging substrate and find the anchor works poorly.

What appalled me was the unsuitability of the anchor for the region. Here's a photo of the anchor on a Dehler 36 with my size 11's alongside for comparison.

[Talbot]

I have a manson supreme 45lb at the moment and it is adequate for the use in the local area.

I am preparin for blue water, and intend to change to the 45lb Bros, retaining the supreme as a spare. I also have a Fortress as a kedge.

The 45lb Bros has more surface area than the 60lb supreme.

[Tan Anu]

Andrews Excel can be seen easily here.

[Kettlewell]

and intend to change to the 45lb Bros

What is a "Bros" anchor?

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

What is a "Bros" anchor?

I think he means the Manson Boss.
It looks promising, but there is little independent data at the moment on this anchor. It has a very large surface area, but this does not necessarily mean it is superior. There is frequently trade offs between surface area and penetration.

One problem with a lot of anchor reports is that they are comparing the new anchor to anchors like a CQR. All modern anchors will produce a huge change from these older designs including very cheap (and arguably second tier) anchors like the Kobra.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

I think he means the Manson Boss............

Yes Sorry - Typo

Next Generation - Manson Boss anchor for motor yachts

[Mantus Anchors]

CFers meet us in Annapolis Spring Show this weekend, May 26-28th.
Booth # 26
Many give a ways, plus sneak preview of our new product!
Tell us you are a member of CF and get a Free Mantus T shirt...

[Kiwikat]

We use a Super Sarca #7 25kg on our FP Bahia 46ft. 10mm chain on a 1200W windlass. Displacement 9.6t new but probably closer to 14t with all the extra gear and full tanks etc. It held fast throughout all of the summer storms that we experienced this year gusting 40+ knots for extended periods - various anchorages. Fit nicely under bridgedeck with no alterations necessary.

Cheers
Lisa

[contrail]

For those wondering about aluminum, Jet Stream has had very good luck with an aluminum Spade. She is a 45 foot Leopard that I operate in the crewed charter market, based primarily in the BVI, for the last eight years. We have been as far south as Grenada and up to the Chesapeake twice, and lots of places in between (Bahamas and the ICW, for example). My general criteria is for the "working" anchor to be sized for 50 plus knots, and the rode should be appropriate for 50 foot depths. I developed these criteria in the deeper anchorages of the West Coast, and after having sat through the eye of Hurricane Marty in my other boat. I chose an Aluminum Spade, the A200, to get a really big anchor (same size as the 55 kilo steel one) with less weight (25 kilos). I have 300 feet of 3/8 HT chain. I also anchor a lot. The anchor has never dragged, and apart from the relentless tradewinds, we have had other winds in excess of 50 knots. Nothing has bent or broken, but, of course, the anchor is pretty huge. Due to its relatively light weight, it is occasionally a bit harder to set than I would like, but once it is in, it is in! Not cheap, however.

Cheers,
Tim