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Did a 2 week cruise on the Maine coast (my home turf) last summer. Only real problem was the Fortress anchor dragging despite all I could do. I am thinking of going to a Rocna. Anyone have experience mounting this with a roller, which it seems to need, on a 26X. You can post here or email me at [email protected].

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Morning, I have a 98 26x and I just went through this last year as my old anchor was not holding my X anywhere during challenging winds. I bought a plow style anchor and that has never let me down. Once they dig in you are good and then once you are ready to go just pull over top of them and they pop right out. Yes they don't fit in the anchor compartment so that was a problem so i ordered a anchor roller from Ali Express in China which fit perfect. It was a fraction of the price that I would have to pay here but of course you are waiting a few weeks to get it. Below is the link for what I bought:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Boat-Bow ... 75281.html

After that I measured everything up and I installed the anchor roller as close to straight out the front which creates another couple problems. The first being when you anchor is up the anchor now blocks your running lights and 2 if it gets bumpy there's a chance that the anchor could scrap the front of the boat so the positioning of the roller is key. Anyway after all is done its one of the best mods I have ever done for piece of mind as when i am sleeping and I hear and feel that the wind is coming up I now know i am not going anywhere. I have been anchored with 40 mile per hour winds and have not moved an inch. I hope this helps and let me know if you need anything else

About the only anchor that wont drag, is light and works in most bottom conditions is the Spade. However it is not inexpensive. I have one on the bow of our Ohlson 38. It passes the wife sleeping sound test (really the only test that matters)

It excels the best in swinging conditions (wind/current) when the direction changes 90+ degrees (usually in the middle of the night).

Not the cheapest anchor. But it works better than the other knock offs (Rocna etc) and doesn't need a rollbar (which causes more problems than it solves)

The largest Fortress that fits the locker is, IMO at least, too small for high winds, but a good size for mild conditions and as a lunch hook. Fortress makes a good anchor, but it's basically a sand anchor, and a great mud anchor, especially if you open the angle of the flukes.

The Rocna and similar next-gen roll bar anchors are, by most accounts (but not all - see above ), great primary bow anchors, and should be better in weeds than any Danforth style fluke anchor. Supposedly much better at handling veering, too, like wind or current direction changes. No small anchor is great in weeds (the weeds don't get smaller just because the anchor gets smaller), but the Rocna and similar* are about as good as it gets. Spade anchors, too, and I suppose the new Rocna Vulcan, which is sort of a cross between a Spade and a Rocna, though intended mainly for power and sail boats with bow pulpits since the shank shape and roll bar presence can foul with them.

After them, I'd probably take a Bruce (genuine, if you can find one) or Plow. Last (not at all, really) would be a CQR, which while revolutionary in the 1930's when huge yachtsman anchors were the norm, has long since been eclipsed by newer designs. IMO, of course - anchor choices are super personal, and can erupt into flame wars on other, less civilized forums.

No anchor handles every bottom type well, so a selection is good to have. With good ground tackle, of course.

*At least a couple of members here have the Mantus, and if memory serves, are very happy with them. They also break down for storage, if that's a consideration. Makes it easy to keep a large storm anchor below decks, too.

have no problem with the fortress... I have had it holding well in most bottoms (providing the flukes are set right) its issue (like most) is swinging 90+ degrees and popping out and not resetting. The Spade is one of the only ones (if not the only one)which will not pop out (actually digs deeper). The rocna and others tend to tumble and might reset. The design of the spade is such that most of the weight is in the very tip so it always falls pointy side down and digs in fast and deep.

Again the spade is one of the most expensive anchors, but there is a reason why. its worth it!

To answer the original question, we have a Rochna (22lb) on our 26X. I installed a bow roller on the boat some time ago, and had a Bruce before going to the Rochna. The Bruce fit fine, but the Rochna has a taller neck, and it didn't go through the U shaped containment strap near the front of the roller. I was able to do some bending of the strap, to make it taller, and the anchor now goes into it fine. It would also be possible to fabricate a new strap. One thing I noticed about the Rochna is that it's heavy on the business end, and so it won't stay in the roller by itself when I pull it in. It wants to relaunch itself if I let go of it. I keep a bungee up front for quick securing of it until I can more securely lock it in with my anchor bracket.

Are you power-setting your Fortress? I've had excellent performance from Fortress on both my Mac and my 38'. However, here in Socal the bottoms are always sand, so it's the right anchor for that.

I've anchored off the Coronados islands in Mexico in the open Pacific in 6' rollers, 1 knot of current with just a 3:1 scope because of depth, and slept all night without any of my (4) anchor alarms going off.

They should be power-set however. Drop the anchor and reverse at 4 knots until the anchor holds you still against the motor. At that point, a Fortress is dug-in solid. If you can't get it to stop dragging, pull it up and try another spot a few dozen feet away.

To recover, motor over the top of the anchor and pull it straight up.

I will often anchor off one side of the stern to prevent hunting at anchor. This also allows you to use a patch of RF jib as an anchor sail. Same technique, just motor forward instead of reverse. The only disadvantages to stern anchoring are that the waves strike the flat transom, which is noisy, and big waves can poop the cockpit. Also if you need a windlass to recover the anchor, it's up front.

Never have drug a single time using this technique.

One of the best anchors available is the Kobra by Plastimo. It resembles the spade anchor in shape, but is less expensive. Winner of several tests, outperforming much more expensive anchors. Although I'm not sure about the availability in the US, Plastimo has representatives on the East and West Coast.
http://www.plastimo.com/en/mooring-tend ... -8927.html

I have done various cruises on Penobscott Bay: launch in Rockland followed by island hopping to Acadia and back. I use a 22 lb Lewmar Horizon Claw Anchor http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... 0&id=66359. With a 30 ft chain, this anchor sets perfectly in the mud bottoms of the Maine coast. I have never had any dragging issues.

The anchor also sits nice on the anchor roller from Blue Water Yachts http://www.bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%2 ... roller.htm.

Hope this helps.

Harry

That's interesting. BWY says it's not for anchor storage, but I'd use one if it really was suitable.

I yanked that rocna out of a grass bed one night. Sold it a few days later.
Now use a fisherman anchor and fortress
Ix

Tomfoolery wrote:That's interesting. BWY says it's not for anchor storage, but I'd use one if it really was suitable.

What??? Sounds like a CYA thing.

I store the anchor on the roller all the time. Big 22lb beast. Danforth style might not fit well.



--Russ

Russ

What is holding that anchor in place??
I can't see no ropes, no bolts or anything holding it in place.

Norca wrote:Russ

What is holding that anchor in place??
I can't see no ropes, no bolts or anything holding it in place.

Nothing is holding it besides gravity. I suppose if we were in rough seas a bungee or something might be a good idea. Although it's never moved up there.
The photo is deceiving. The chain goes right down the locker and the shackle sticks out on top of the locker. It's never gone anywhere. If it slides forward the chain pulls it back.
I wouldn't trailer with it unsecured.


--Russ

RussMT wrote:

Tomfoolery wrote:That's interesting. BWY says it's not for anchor storage, but I'd use one if it really was suitable.

What??? Sounds like a CYA thing.

I store the anchor on the roller all the time. Big 22lb beast. Danforth style might not fit well.



--Russ

I switched over to the Bruce style like in the pic. Have had great performance with it!!!!! I do anchor in mud mostly.