Anchor?

[Rushin]

Hi Folks; I upgraded from a Lund Rebel 16',total weigh 800 lbs, to a Lund Mr. Pike 18',total weight 1800 lbs. Which anchors do thoughs of you who have the large,heavier boat use or recommend?<br />Also, how many use two anchors?<br /><br />Thanks!!

 

[moderator1]

Re: Anchor?

Hi Rushin.<br /><br />I'm moving your post to the Boats section. You will get a better response rate there.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Anchor?

Hi Rushin, <br />I just used the "search" function and typed "anchors", 350 posts came up. Found the one I wanted though, search for "Anchor doesn't hold?". That post had lots of good info. I have a 20' Lund and spent the summer hoisting a 22 lb danforth (from an old boat). Watched my buds drift by many a time dragging their 8 lb'ers along the bottom. After reading that post though, I went out and picked up an 8lb'er. Now I have "old faithful" and the "quick stop don't care if I drift" anchors. But if I was to guess, 15 lbs would be right between the too big and the too small one

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Anchor?

I like a Danforth too. They hold well in sand or mud and will probably stay put for many more pounds of boat per pound of anchor weight than any other. They are no good on any type of bottom that the flukes can't dig into, though.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchor?

Rushin<br />Your want the very best buy a Fortress FX-7 anchor. Weight 4 Lb for boats 16 to 27 foot. Working liad 700 LB. Aluminum.<br />That is the best but not cheap $89.00 west arine and they sell them here also.<br /> http://www.iboats.com/products/7/4943_fortress_anchor.html <br />Anchor is light weight even my wife can pull it with no problem. First time I pull it almost fell out of boat when came off the bottom as so light almost fell over backwards. Can set it for mud or sand or hard bottom. It anodized aluminum with sharp tips. When it digs in hold great. If it has any problem it would be too light. I love it but you must go above where you want to anchore stop your boat then very slow reverse and drop it in too much power and it will float up like a lure unless you have lots of chain. Mine has 4 feet of 1/4 inch chain and I anchor in currents up to 6 mile per hour 100 foot deep with a four foot swell and lots of boat traffic and it never breaks loose. This is a shark fishing area near the Golden Gate.<br />My old anchor is a 8Lb Danforth hi-tensile with 5 feet of 3/8 chain and it does not hold as well the wife can not pull it and It has not been used since got the Fortress FX-7. Now just my backup.

 

[magster65]

Re: Anchor?

I've had a Danforths on every boat I've had and they've been trouble-free. They hook into sand really well.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Anchor?

Boatist, because of my anchor weight, I was thinking of going to a windlass, but because of the problems listed on this and other forums, I hesitate to do so. Also, my anchor locker is set up really too awkwardly to do so.<br />So, I'm looking for another, lighter anchor. Danforths have failed me in our Columbia River currents (4 to 10 mph. I've looked at the Fortress (and others); you're encouraging me. I forget; what size boat have you?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchor?

Capn Mike<br />My boat is a 21 foot Crestliner runabout. 2800 lb dry with a 92 inch beam. We really love this anchor, made the chore of setting and pulling the anchor so much eaiser and it has never slipped or broke loose. My old 8 LB Danforth worked ok once it got dug in but many places it would slip along the bottom for a while before it dug in. This many times meant it pulled under a tree root or rock and made it hard to get out. The Fortress the flutes are sharp and when it hits the bottom it digs in right away and holds solid. Even when have a tide change it never breaks loose. Like any Danforth type still have to have out enough line so it can dig in. When I first set mine up I figured I would need a lot more chain but it worked so well I just got a new Stainless Steel chain of the same length.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Anchor?

Two very important safety features on my boat<br />are "go.. and.. stop".I like to spend the spring <br />and summer on a mountain lake fishing for large<br />lake trout. the wind that comes through the valley<br />between the two mountain ridges makes the lake very dangerous without warning.winds in excess of 80 miles phr can come out of nowhere and the rocky<br />shore leaves no shelter from the swells. my boat<br />is a 17 ft 2000 lb relic from the early 80s and i<br />have no problem anchoring with my 8 lb danforth<br />anchor (hook). the bottom of the lake is mostly gravel.attached to my hook is 12ft of 35lb chain<br />and it has saved my bacon many times and kept me of the rocks, with engine failures, and water coming in the vent to the gas tank. I dont want<br />to see my boat smashed to pieces on the shore. I<br />dont leave home without them.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anchor?

AS Implied by Nosleep, the Chain, ahead of the anchor, Is the Secret....<br /> <br />A Big Chain,+ a little anchor, will hold Much More than Any anchor with Little or No Chain....

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchor?

In terms of an anchor in a storm the scope is more important than the chain. If you are useing a 3 to 1 in a storm boat can lift the shank an cause anchor to drag or break loose. With a 7 to 1 scope very unlikely to pull flutes out even with out chain. On my boat I only have 4 or five feet of chain on my anchors and you are right with a short scope more chain could make a big difference. One thing about the Fortress anchor is shank is long and tapered and under a heavy load shank will actually follow the flutes down into the mud or sand. To really increase the holding power must upgrade everything. Need bigger anchor, heavier and longer line, stronger and longer chain. For us if it gets that bad we just head home and try another day. Our current anchor has never broke loose. Navy, Coast Guard, and several maginez have tested the Fortress Anchor and every report I have read rated it the very best but it is not a cheap anchor.<br />www.dbanet.com/html/fortress_anchor_0.html - 7k <br />http://www.pyacht.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/h- fortress_selection_guide.htm?E+scstore<br />http://www.metstrade.com/marketplace/mypage/products_detail.asp?mypageid=255&produc tid=2090

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Anchor?

I have a 2300 Striper WA, with fuel, gear, etc., probably weighs 4000+. The Fortress chart says I should use a FX-7, but because of the river currents and winds, I'd probably use the next size up, FX-11, right? Even at that, it sure beats the river anchor I'm using now: 40 lbs.... <br />If the Fortress works. The West Marine catalog shows some copies of the Fortress, but made in steel. Anyone had experience with those?