T&T: anchors

[John Marshall]

While there is a wealth of experience out there on many anchor types,  
most commonly regarding CQR, Bruce and Delta, and many opinions, its  
all obsolete information. Based on various studies and experience from  
many long-distance cruisers who have tried them, the new generation  
anchors (Spade, Manson Supreme, Rocna) are so much better than  
anything that came before, on a weight for weight basis, that the  
discussion of older styles is meaningless.

Based on that, I swapped by 170 pound CQR for a 155 pound Rocna this  
spring, and after a few weeks on the hook, with a different and  
challenging anchorage every night as I traveled from Seattle area to  
Juneau, I'm convinced. The improvement in getting a solid set is so  
obvious between my old CQR and my new Rocna. The CQR would always drag  
if I added enough power in reverse, but the Rocna holds me motionless,  
even with significant power on. Also, I have to work to break the  
Rocna out each morning, which is reassuring. There is no way my  
Maxwell 3500 is going to break it out, yet 80% of time, it could pull  
my older and heavier CQR loose without overloading the 3500 pound pull  
of the winch. Now I absolutely have to lock the chain down and drive  
over the Rocna every time to get it out, and then it comes up with a  
hundred pounds of sea bottom on it.

But that's a small price to pay for having such a secure anchor.

Bottom line... this is one of those times when the technology change  
is significant enough to outweigh decades of experience on older  
design anchors. Whether you feel the need to buy a new generation  
anchor depends on how you use it. But in the PNW and up to Alaska, we  
are usually anchored in coves with limited swing room and thus  
restricted scope (rarely much better than 3:1 with 1/2" all chain  
rode), with rock ledges all around, and we have to be able to handle  
40 knot winds without dragging. My Rocna has astounded me with how  
well it holds on short scope in high winds and high currents.

If you can always lay out 7:1 of all-chain rode, maybe it doesn't  
matter quite as much. But it sure matters up here.

John Marshall
Nordhavn 55 - Serendipity
Sequim Bay, WA
(Currently lying Auke Bay, Juneau, AK)


>
> Message: 26
> Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:02:03 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Chuck and Susan <sea_trek_2000 at yahoo.com>
> To: Trawler and Trawlering <trawlers-and-trawlering at lists.samurai.com>
> Subject: Re: T&T: anchors
> Message-ID: <535066.12091.qm at web33602.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Our 45Lb. CQR held our 40 foot 14 ton sailboat through hurricanes  
> Georgs at
> 140 knots, in a protected basin, hurricane Floyd at 85 knots,  
> Hurricane Irene
> at 75 knots, Hurricane Dennis at 80 knots, and more gale force and  
> near
> hurricane winds than we can remember. I would consider it a pretty  
> good
> anchor, even for storms. I must disclose though that for our MT34 we  
> have
> decided on the Manson Supreme. Can't say we are adverse to trying  
> something
> new. Chuck
>
> To follow our adventures, go to
>
> http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/
>
> http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/
>
> --- On Fri, 5/29/09, Ron Rogers <rcrogers6 at kennett.net> wrote:
>
>
> First, I had a 45 pound CQR on my 37 foot, 8 ton sailboat which  
> probably had
> much less windage than the Griffith's 54 foot vessel. I purchased  
> that size
> because the world girdling Hiscocks said that any CQR weighing less  
> than 35
> pounds could not be relied upon. It worked well in mud and sand as  
> long as I
> was careful deploying it. I did not consider the CQR my storm  
> anchor; that
> was a Northill 55 pound anchor (made by Pekney from SS) whose flukes  
> could
> be replaced with bigger ones making it a 75 pound anchor.
>
> I also wonder if the Spade and the Rocna were available when they  
> gained
> their experience. There is also a new, light SS anchor which is  
> getting good
> reviews. My 55 pound Rocna is my working anchor on a Willard 40, 20  
> ton
> trawler with plenty of windage.
>
> Ron Rogers