Which Anchor Do You Use

[Jimmyt]

I'm not Jimmyt...

A fact that everyone on this forum is eternally grateful for. One of me is too many.

[Inquisitor]

Thank you for the analysis. I need a second. I have been spoiled by the Fortress... never had an issue, but I don't know if I've been around mud. The ICW will be in my near future so, I'm sure I'll see it then. But now I got the secret decoder ring!... degrees on the Fortress and stay way from weeds.

[ris]

We use a 15 lb manson supreme, 30 ft chain and the rest is 1/2 3 strand nylon. With about 200 nights on anchor we have only pulled loose once. We actually sailed past the anchor in about 35 knots of wind hitting our enclosure on the beam. Boat even heeled over once we started the engine and the wind died down we pulled the anchor up and it was a ball of clay bigger than the hoop of the anchor. Took a while to clean it off. I think there are one or two better anchors now but we still have confidence in the manson supreme. Our backup is a Fortress FX11. We store it under the removable box which is the table aft seat. We used it once just to check it out and it held no problem. Most of the anchor tests are with heavy boats or at fast backdowns. Most of the boats weigh 15,000 lbs or more not 3500 like a loaded Mac.



Richard

[Starscream]

Here are two options for you. Boat on the right is the Jill Kristy, with a "real" bow-roller added on, and ours on the left a 13-lb Mantus in a PVC pipe. Works very well and I have a little trailer-hitch latch to lock it in place. The boat came with a Danforth knock-off that was amazing in sand, but not good on our weedy lake bottoms. We got rid of it after a dragging incident: anchor alarms work, btw.




And here's what we use as a stern anchor: 8 lb. Mantus also in a PVC pipe.

[Inquisitor]

This topic and its parent topic (viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28049) have been a treasure trove for learning for me. I'm really going to have to look into the dropping the bow anchor from the stern concept! I do a lot of solo sailing. Even with the Admiral aboard... the Admiral points and expects the ship to obey.

The one thing I've noted about anchors, is the variety of answers of which is the best... and I don't mean for a specific condition. That I'd expect... but for every best, there is someone dissing it. And like so many reviews on the Internet, you have to throw out the top/bottom 10% and the truth is some where in between. Now... I trust the advice on this site as I know no one has a vested interest. But even here there is conflict. Its hard to weigh when history is not in the evaluation... me included! For instance...

• One might say xxxx is the best and has never let me down. Like me - Fortress FX11 has been bullet proof. But have I ever been out of its element? Have I really ever pushed its limits in marginal conditions? Don't know... doubt it.
• One might also say that xxxx is for dookie. Did their horrific experience wrongly turn them against it? Was it just a bad set? Were the conditions out of its element?
• It kind of smells like... Mopar or Chevy or Ford is best.

I watch several sailing YouTube channels and the one thing I see that is consistent... these youngsters dive on their anchor and make sure its set properly. But where they are... its warm and the water is clear, cool and inviting.

[Inquisitor]

... We got rid of it after a dragging incident: anchor alarms work, btw...

I've heard this term a lot. I've seen and I've always assumed this is just some software on the chart plotter that detects when you've gone out of some zone.
Then I thought... maybe, I'd better not assume.

Is there some other methods?

[kmclemore]

Note - I have merged all three of the “Which Anchor” threads into one. This will make it easier in future to reply and search.

Cheers,
Your Friendly Admin

[Drifter]

For an anchor alarm I have 2, one in my handheld GPS and one on the Navionics app on my phone.

Both work by letting me know if my position has changed according to GPS.

Dunno what else would work?

[Inquisitor]

For an anchor alarm I have 2, one in my handheld GPS and one on the Navionics app on my phone.

Both work by letting me know if my position has changed according to GPS.

Dunno what else would work?

You never know these days... lots of clever people out there and redundancy is good.

... you know something like a sensor at the roller or attached to the anchor line... might detect a "certain" vibration and alarm.

Send royalties and free sample when you use my idea.

[NiceAft]

... We got rid of it after a dragging incident: anchor alarms work, btw...

I've heard this term a lot. I've seen and I've always assumed this is just some software on the chart plotter that detects when you've gone out of some zone.
Then I thought... maybe, I'd better not assume.

Is there some other methods?

My alarm works by setting on my chart plotter/GPS, a range in feet, straying from where you are.

[Tomfoolery]

The one thing I've noted about anchors, is the variety of answers of which is the best... and I don't mean for a specific condition. That I'd expect... but for every best, there is someone dissing it.

Ohhh, you don't know the half of it. Anchor type is one of those third-rail issues like every enthusiast forum has.

There is no perfect anchor for every situation. That's why most large boats have at least two different types, many at the ready for instant deployment. Heck, even the super old-school 'fisherman' anchor has a place even today - rock. It'll hook into a rocky bottom (not flat ledge, but piles of rocks) where most others won't. But nobody wants to deal with a fisherman's anchor.



The old Northill anchor, while not terribly good at holding compared to many of today's anchors, was specifically designed to be light in weight, and fold up small. It was designed for WWII sea or float planes. So while holding could have been better, there were other considerations that were also important. Like being light (it's for an airplane, after all), and small when folded (it's for an airplane, after all).

Or in the case of my boat, fitting into the anchor locker of a 26X. Hence the Danforth or Fortress anchor, and since I'm not inclined to handle an anchor any heavier than it needs to be, I use the Fortress.



If you want some interesting reading, and I mean a LOT of reading, with photos, check out the cruiser's forum thread on anchors with underwater photos. I've read all of it. Took me a couple of weeks.

188 pages, with photos, and not even locked (yet). Enjoy.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f1 ... 26073.html

[Inquisitor]

I'm not Jimmyt...

A fact that everyone on this forum is eternally grateful for. One of me is too many.

I don't know about everyone, but this place wouldn't be half as fun without you.

[Starscream]

... We got rid of it after a dragging incident: anchor alarms work, btw...

Is there some other methods?

Check the app store on your phone. We use the chartplotter because it's there, and easy, but there are plenty of free apps that do the same thing and can come below with you for the night.

We switched to the mantus because of its resetting ability. Our dragging incident occurred fter a 180 degree wind shift overnight.

[Inquisitor]

... We got rid of it after a dragging incident: anchor alarms work, btw...

Is there some other methods?

Check the app store on your phone. We use the chartplotter because it's there, and easy, but there are plenty of free apps that do the same thing and can come below with you for the night.

We switched to the mantus because of its resetting ability. Our dragging incident occurred fter a 180 degree wind shift overnight.

I'm aware of all the ways that are related to GPS. I should have been more specific... I meant are there any known ways that are not related to GPS, electronics detecting distance moved?

[NiceAft]

are there any known ways that are not related to GPS, electronics detecting distance moved?

Let me get this straight; you are asking if anyone knows of a way to inform when the anchor has moved from point A to point B without using GPS, electronic detecting distance moved, correct?

I know of only two. (A) Paying attention to a fixed object {not reliable below deck}, or (B) witchcraft.



/