T&T: Anchor Size Recommendations

[Faure, Marin]

>IMHO the rush to Rocna needs careful thought of factors beyond set,
reset, and size.


However..... the Rocna and other spade-type anchors are TOTALLY
different kinds of anchors than the Fortress, which is basically just a
light-weight Danforth.  We carry a Fortress on our swim step to use as a
stern anchor, but we sized it and its rode to act as the main anchor for
the boat in the even we find we need it.  The Danforth configuration is
terrific in sand and some kinds of mud.  Over a hard-packed bottom, or
weedy bottom, or rocky bottom, it is very unreliable and can be
difficult to set, and its moveable flukes can easily be jammed with a
rock or length of logging chain or some other piece of debris on the
bottom..  In fact, based on what I see on the boats here in the PNW, I
would say the Danforth-type anchor, which includes the Fortress, is the
least popular type of anchor out here because it is the least suited for
the majority of the bottoms we end up anchoring in. A lot of boats carry
a Danforth-type anchor, but it is not their primary anchor.  For us the
Fortress is an ideal stern anchor because its light weight makes it easy
to deploy, which means we are more encouraged to use it where before
even when we could have benefitted from a stern anchor we usually didn't
bother to deploy the very heavy Danforth knock-off that came with the
boat as a stern anchor because it was simply too much of a hassle.

In other areas--- the Chesapeake maybe?--- a Danforth-style anchor may
be ideal for the primary anchor.

So I think it's a mistake to make an anchor choice based on weight (lack
of) and ease of deployment.  An anchor choice should be made based on
what kind of anchor will work best in the area you boat in.  Up here,
using a Fortress or any Danforth-type configuration would be quite
limiting, where using a heavier, fast setting, high-penetration anchor
like a Rocna, CQR, or even a Bruce, would be the smarter choice.


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