Mantus Anchors

[Russ]

Here's a 4-1/2 minute 'commercial' youtube video of the Mantus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCEBOOnDcOU

And another of the similar Rocna.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhjdlKwTdv8

Interesting videos. The first one, the guy is not using any chain and pulling up on the rode causing the anchors to skim. Then he drops the Mantus, let's it sit (in deeper water with waves washing over it) and gently pulls on it. Technique is important for these kinds of videos. Not sure I would conclude anything from a marketing video. I ordered the E-Tec video and watched the tug-o-war. Impressive marketing, but there are many variable that can stack the deck.


http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/ ... 784-1.html


--Russ

[PNKFLOYD]

Would you expect a markting department to make a video that does NOT show their product as performing, at the least, adequately?

There are enough people on forums like this one to point out product defeciencies!

Yes, I am a marketeer.
Mike

[Tomfoolery]

Here's a 4-1/2 minute 'commercial' youtube video of the Mantus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCEBOOnDcOU

And another of the similar Rocna.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhjdlKwTdv8

Interesting videos. The first one, the guy is not using any chain and pulling up on the rode causing the anchors to skim. Then he drops the Mantus, let's it sit (in deeper water with waves washing over it) and gently pulls on it. Technique is important for these kinds of videos. Not sure I would conclude anything from a marketing video. I ordered the E-Tec video and watched the tug-o-war. Impressive marketing, but there are many variable that can stack the deck.


http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/ ... 784-1.html


--Russ

Same here. But I thought it was something interesting to watch when there's nothing else to do (or I could do actual work, but I drove all night, and I'm too tired to do anything useful). You can't see the anchor burying itself in actual use, so if nothing else, it's interesting to see them get buried.

But I noticed that too - the subtle difference in application and handling, which appears to make the difference. I know my Bruce had no trouble at all setting in a sandy bottom. First time, every time, and reset with a change in wind direction. But it would stink on ice in weeds, I'm sure, which is where a pointier style (Rocna, plow, spade, Mantus) would do better, I would think. Probably not dependable in rocks, either.

[Russ]

But I thought it was something interesting to watch when there's nothing else to do (or I could do actual work, but I drove all night, and I'm too tired to do anything useful). You can't see the anchor burying itself in actual use, so if nothing else, it's interesting to see them get buried.

Agreed. It's interesting to see how an anchor digs in and sets.

But I noticed that too - the subtle difference in application and handling, which appears to make the difference. I know my Bruce had no trouble at all setting in a sandy bottom. First time, every time, and reset with a change in wind direction. But it would stink on ice in weeds, I'm sure, which is where a pointier style (Rocna, plow, spade, Mantus) would do better, I would think. Probably not dependable in rocks, either.

Yup, different anchor designs in different bottoms.
The danforth style doesn't like weeds at all. It's great in mud.

Ever try to set an anchor in the beach? Doesn't set very well. Toss it in some deeper water and it does. So the water pressure on the bottom and texture of the ground has some influence on performance also. This is why I believe Practical Sailor (or one of the others) did their tests in real water, with chain not some guy pulling an anchor in the shallows.

--Russ

[Tomfoolery]

Ever try to set an anchor in the beach? Doesn't set very well. Toss it in some deeper water and it does. So the water pressure on the bottom and texture of the ground has some influence on performance also. This is why I believe Practical Sailor (or one of the others) did their tests in real water, with chain not some guy pulling an anchor in the shallows.

I haven't tried it, but just from walking on sand that's below the water line vs above, where it's 'firmed up' when the water drains away, there's a noticeable difference. I guess the sand under the water is more like a slurry, at least at the surface where it's got more freedom to move, allowing easier initial engagement.

It might be instructive to see the same thing under deep water, using a submersible camera. And some chain.

Just thinking out loud.

[yukonbob]

Anyone know how easy any of theses new designs are to remove. They both look like they set easy enough but the guy trying to get that ronca out and being able to work the shank like that was having trouble. Add chain and fifty feet of rhode and that seems like a bit of a nightmare to retrieve without extra removal hardware. Ive had some difficult retrievals with the fortress getting set good in dense mud/clay. Anyone retrieve one of these in real world conditions yet? I am looking at new ground tackle and am interested.

[Obelix]

Depending on the bottom and the set-quality, I might be using a trip line. That was also the suggestion of the Mantus designer when I talked to him during the Miami boat show.

Obelix

[yukonbob]

Ya but that's another hundred ft of line to set retrieve and stow aboard. Like the looks of both anchors though.

[Boblee]

Boblee,
There are 4 bolts; each of them has enough breaking strenght to lift the free of the water, with lots of safety margin to spare, if the deck hardware would not be ripped out in the lift.
No worries

Obelix

Sorry wasn't the actual tensile strength that worried me me more the weakness of having nuts and bolts in so many varying conditions especially the jigging, hot, cold, wetting and drying etc and then relying on it but am sure if done up to the right tensions they will be ok and if checked regularly but IMHO something I personally wouldn't be happy with I would have to weld it.
As for lifting the anchors the Sarca has a slide for the attacment to move to the rear and the Sarca has a fixing point for a line to be attached to the rear, I have used the Sarca more inadvertently than on purpose (driving over anchor) but never the Rocna line attachment, both work well in sand weeds and rocks but a slippery hard bottom can cause difficulties as with any anchor.
The most important thing is to set your anchor correctly even the Sarca and Rocna (Mantus) easy set types can get a false set and it is wise to prove it by pulling with the motor if neccesarry for peace of mind on a long stay or leaving the boat unattended.
A change of tide or wind can also cause problems if the anchor won't reset easily.
When I did carry a danforth type did find it was good for setting an aft beach anchor when beaching on sand but the others just do it better anyway.

[DaveB]

Know your anchorge holding ground.
Here in SW Florida the Fortress/Danforth will hold but there are areas a plow or Claw works much better.
Haveing a Fortress 11/Danforth13 and a Claw 22 on board with a 8lb stearn danforth on beach works for me.
The CQR 25 is to heavy for our boats. The 35 lb CQR have used it For my 3 year Cruise thru Caribean.
That test vidio is a Joke as no chain and not same pull strength on a boat in deeper water. (Bowlin Knot to Anchor)
I quit a Member of Pratical Sailor after more than 20 years. Their Anchoring test are not to be relied on only for there locations.
Dave

[cptron]

Anyone know how easy any of theses new designs are to remove. They both look like they set easy enough but the guy trying to get that ronca out and being able to work the shank like that was having trouble. Add chain and fifty feet of rhode and that seems like a bit of a nightmare to retrieve without extra removal hardware. Ive had some difficult retrievals with the fortress getting set good in dense mud/clay. Anyone retrieve one of these in real world conditions yet? I am looking at new ground tackle and am interested.

Yukonbob, I have a rocna and have come across conditions when retrieving it took so much of my strength that I could not possibly pull any more. I found that I could simply pull the boat up and cleat the anchor line when directly over the anchor and then simply go back (or ask the admiral) to motor forward. Once the anchor pulls free then haul her aboard and off you go. I also looked on this forum and found many mods for backplating the bow roller and cleats and the Rocna takes a double roller type bow roller to set properly for stowage. The only problem I have is I trying to figure out a way to keep it in the roller with out tying a line from the anchor to the bow pulpit.

[Ormonddude]

I could not help but notice the Danforth Most likely the least expensive set the second best and like $1 a pound at Walmart and if you watch he does his best to unset it LOL I am sure its a good anchor is it worth the price they charge? I do not know. However I am a cheap sob - I will take second best if the price is right!

[Boblee]

Ormonddude
I will not rely on the danforth type anchors even if I am pretty sure the bottom is sandy mine of several types and size have let go time and time again.
yukonbob
IMHO
The rocnas are harder to pull up if jammed in rocks but usually driving/pulling over and the pulling backwards is all it takes but in that situation it is meant to have a line attached to the rear of it, the sarca is a breeze on the one occasion that I can remember it being stuck in rocks I drove over it and let the chain slip back through slot and it popped out easy?

[yukonbob]

After looking around a bit, I'm leaning heavily towards a lewmar delta. Lot of good things about ronca and similar designs but the delta has the same reviews without the negatives which are few. What are thoughts/ experiences on them other than price?

[Spector]

I'm also thinking about the Delta but I was also looking at the Spade and Kobra. Interested in real world experiences on all of them