Which type of anchor?

[Five O'Clock]

Which type of anchor should I be using?

The boat came with one of those "claw" anchors, shown here:

http://www.iboats.com/Claw_Anchors/...ategory--**********.605021237--view_id.238309

but I feel like it doesn't hold as well as it should. Should I switch over to one of the "fluke" anchors, they seem more common.

 

[geoloco5150]

Re: Which type of anchor?

How big is your boat? "Box" anchors are becoming increasingly popular...you may want to look into them. Also, don't tie your anchor line (rope) directly to the anchor....always use several feet of chain to connect to the anchor.

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Which type of anchor?

boat is 25 feet. and yes I have about 15 feet or so of chain from the anchor to the rope.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Which type of anchor?

Where are you using it? On Winnipesaukee and the north shore, Fortress/Danforth seem to be the most popular and they do work well. They do not align automatically on a roller, however, so if you have a windlass, you may not like them. If you do not have a windlass, the Fortress would be the best choice for a 25 foot boat since they are quite a bit lighter than other styles and have great holding power.

I have a windlass on my 25 footer and use an over-sized 22 lb Delta plow anchor as my main. It holds remarkably well. I have read that Rocna anchors are the best around, but have never tried one.

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Which type of anchor?

I'll be using the anchor in the ocean. I'll be doing a lot of fishing so I may be over various ocean floors, i.e. rocky bottoms, dropoffs, anything

No windlass on the boat....yet... But I'm just looking for a better set. the fluke/danforth's seem to be the most popular, so I didn't know if I was missing out.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Which type of anchor?

I don't know anyone around here that regretted buying a Fortress.

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Which type of anchor?

Danfort

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Which type of anchor?

"The ocean" is a pretty wide range of bottoms to anchor to. Find out what the locals where you want to anchor are using with success. If you cruise widely you will need a couple of styles of anchor to cover your bets.

Make sure you have enough scope. The lack thereof is the number one reason for dragging anchors. Seven to one should be the minimum if you want to stay put in other than the best conditions.

I have always had good staying power with a Danforth type and a mushroom anchor where I am, yet I know there will be times that a fluke anchor or a grapnel will be in my near future as I will be traveling to where those bottom conditions prevail.

Always be willing to leave an anchor on the bottom if you can not get it free. A trip line may seem a bit of overkill at times, yet you will never regret it if the anchor snags.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Which type of anchor?

I have 8 anchors. Some I bought, some were given to me and I found 2 in the mud when the water was low.

I have 2 Navy types, several sliding ring flute type, I have two Danforth that I used until I bought the Fortress FX-7.

The Danforths are 8 pounds and work well. I used them for years. One has 4 feet of chain and the other 6 feet of chain. They both have two problems. On hard bottoms they sometimes drag for quite a distantance before digging in.
Because they drag more likely to drag until they catch a rock or log and get the flutes chaught under the rock or log making it very hard to retreive.
Also they are both too heavy for the wife to pull. She does not like to drive the boat up on anchor when it foggy and she can not see shore.

Since We bought the Fortress FX-7 4 lb anchor with 2 feet of chain we have used no other anchor. The Fortress anchor set much faster and holds better than any other anchor I have ever used. The one lake with hard bottom that we had trouble setting and anchor in, the Fortress works great in.

The Fortress anchor does have one problem. The anchor is very light so you need to be careful how you set it. Many places you can not pull up to where you want to anchor and pull up into the wind or current put the engine in reverse and lower the anchor. Since the anchor is light it will not get to the bottom. Instead it will be pulled along like a fishing lure up off the bottom.

So to set the Frotress You pull up to your spot and turn up into the wind or current put engine in reverse to gain a little sternway then take the engine out of gear and lower the anchor until it hits bottom. Then put back in reverse and pay out line until reach the scope you want. Tie the anchor off and it will dig in fast and deep. Wife can pull this anchor very easy. First time I pulled it when it came off the bottom I though the line broke. I allmost fell over backwards. Then I reallized the anchor was still there.

Fortress is a Great Anchor for us.