T&T: Anchor Size Recommendations

[A H FOSTER]

From: "Richard Tomkinson" <capnrich at wavecable.com>
To: "Trawlers & Trawlering
List"
    <trawlers-and-trawlering at lists.samurai.com>
Subject: Re: T&T: Anchor
Size Recommendations



What I have found most interesting is the many
(majority) of posters with 
Rocna anchors have suggested that a good bit of
the bottom comes up with the 
anchor, to the point that a wash down system is
needed. This characteristic 
seems so general that it should be factored into
the cost of an anchor 
system. It is not necessary with a Fortress in my
experience, partly because 
so little chain is required.

Also, it seems that
the Rocna recommendations are for substantially heavier 
(X2+?) anchors than
the Fortress. For any one with a back problem or risk of 
lifting awkward
objects on deck.
Consider the difference in lift recovering an anchor from  50
feet and 7:1 
scope.
A Rocna would have a 50 lb anchor plus 50 feet of chain
(say 50 lbs) plus a 
load of mud vs 25lb plus 20 lbs of chain with a Fortress.
Reasonable to 
manually lift in the case of a winch failure.
IMHO the rush to
Rocna needs careful thought of factors beyond set, reset, 
and size.
Richard
 
Fortresses are, as you've noted, light weight. There for they tend to fly. And
IMHO need more not less chain to set and stay set reliably. Not to mention
trouble resetting after a break out.   
 
Any body worried about windlass
failure should look into carring a ball float anchor retrieval set up. With
that set up you can just move the boat toward and passed the anchor and float
the anchor to the surface for easier retrieval.
 
                                                                             
                                      Capt. Bill