T&T: Anchors

[Faure, Marin]

>I am curious what others are using in the PNW where there is a variety
of bottoms and conditions.

After nine years of using a Bruce we have switched to a Rocna and
couldn't be happier.  The Rocna sets so fast it's almost scary.  The
first time we set it and backed down against the anchor at idle it set
so positively it swiveled the boat around.  There is a very impressive
video on the Rocna website that shows the behavior of the Rocna versus
the most popular "old generation" anchors like the claw, spade, and
Danforth types.  After watching that video, and based also on our own
experience with our Bruce, it became obvious that anchors like the claw
and plow types have some less-than-desirable habits.

For our 36', 26,000 pound Grand Banks we have a Rocna 20 (44 pounds) and
a 200' all-chain rode of 5/16 BBB chain.  We bought the chain right
after buying the boat to replace the shorter and very old chain that
came with it.  Were we buying new chain today, we'd get 250 feet.

We carry a Fortress on the swimstep as a stern anchor, but it's sized to
be the main anchor of the boat as is its combination nylon/chain rode.
So if necessary we can carry the container that holds the stern anchor
rode forward and shackle the stern rode to the main rode if we find
ourselves in a situation where we need more than the 200' we have up
front now.


______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington