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Old 07-30-2016, 10:35 AM   #1
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Rocna Vulcan

Has anyone tried the new Rocna Vulcan anchor and if so, what do you think?
There doesn't seem to be a lot of talk about it out there.
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Old 07-30-2016, 12:56 PM   #2
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I was a big fan of the original roll bar Rocna and used it for a hundred or so effortless sets one spring and summer on a previous boat.


So I purchased a Manson Boss which is very similar to the Rocna Vulcan for my Mainship Pilot 34 where the roll bar won't fit on the bow sprit.


I have only anchored a few times, but so far it is working as well as the original Rocna: sets easily and holds well. The shape with deeply upward curved flukes makes the roll bar unnecessary. The roll bar did two things I believe: It helped right the anchor if it hit the sea bed upside down. And it added weight to the front of the plow to help it dig in. The tip on the Boss is weighted and the curved flukes help it right itself.


David
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Old 07-30-2016, 01:12 PM   #3
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I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I bought one to replace my Delta. I've sold a few of them but I haven't heard back from my customers yet. If they didn't work, I'd have heard about it!
If you decide to try one, I'd love the opportunity to quote you on it.
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Old 07-30-2016, 03:05 PM   #4
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My 40 kg Vulcan is working quite well. It was my wife's recent Christmas present but she did'nt see it until March.

In a mud bottom it holds tight at 4:1 scope all chain rode in 30 knots. I especially like the variable radius curved shank which eases the anchor onto the bow roller with no fuss, unlike the Bruce (and others) it replaced. It is connected to chain with a rugged great looking Suncor swivel I got from Hopcar.

Cost effective anchor and swivel combination too! As usual with anchors, buy the biggest that will fit your overall system.
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Old 07-30-2016, 07:55 PM   #5
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In pictures, it looks an awful lot like a Spade.

SPADE Anchor - Free Shipping on Select Models

Rocna Vulcan Anchor - Galvanized Steel

Any comparisons in real life?
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Old 07-30-2016, 09:51 PM   #6
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It looks good to me.

Yup it's much like the Spade and like the Spade it pays the penalty of needing ballast. That of course limits the size of the shank and fluke/s. And that usually limits performance. For most here the holy grail is holding power ... but holding power can't be achieved w/o a good set. But if there's anchors out there that set dependably w/o ballast ... the obvious question is why pay the weight penalty of ballast? Dependability probably. The Spade is very dependable and it shares the ballast feature.
I think the fluke is optimized for holding power. Given enough holding power perhaps some can be sacrificed for setting dependability .. and some ballast. Old deck hand in Sitka has a Boss anchor w no ballast and all his feedback is positive w/o any setting issues. Considerably more fluke area than either the Vulcan or the Spade. But still a big shank. The Vulcan, Boss, Spade and the discontinued Oceane (SP?) all have the same long arcing shank shape ... to self launch off the bow and to roll over w/o the troublesome roll bar. The Spade dos'nt pay quite as dearly for shank weight because of it's knife edge hollow shank. And the Vulcan's "I" beam shank is a bit lighter or stronger?? But a bit more draggy limiting penetration. Every pound saved can be invested into a bigger fluke.

So many variables. I like what I see in the Vulcan but think it will be more like the Spade and other dependable anchors like the Super Sarca than the super high holding power anchors like the Rocna and Supreme. And perhaps the Boss. Haven't seen much of the Boss in anchor tests and nothing at all on the Vulcan. So Vulcan feedback would be nice.
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Old 07-30-2016, 11:06 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djmarchand View Post
I was a big fan of the original roll bar Rocna and used it for a hundred or so effortless sets one spring and summer on a previous boat.


So I purchased a Manson Boss which is very similar to the Rocna Vulcan for my Mainship Pilot 34 where the roll bar won't fit on the bow sprit.


I have only anchored a few times, but so far it is working as well as the original Rocna: sets easily and holds well. The shape with deeply upward curved flukes makes the roll bar unnecessary. The roll bar did two things I believe: It helped right the anchor if it hit the sea bed upside down. And it added weight to the front of the plow to help it dig in. The tip on the Boss is weighted and the curved flukes help it right itself.


David
Same experience here- we went from the Supreme to the Boss because of the rollbar issue. We're just coming off 2 weeks out with a majority of time on the hook- the Boss set quickly and held firmly at all times.
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Old 07-31-2016, 07:46 AM   #8
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I just changed out my Lewmar Claw for a Manson Boss yesterday. On a sandy bottom in Old Black Point in Niantic CT the Boss set quickly and I had to patiently power over it to retrieve. We will see how it performs next week on Block Island and Cuttyhunk next week.
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Old 07-31-2016, 07:49 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sunchaser View Post
My 40 kg Vulcan is working quite well. It was my wife's recent Christmas present but she did'nt see it until March.

In a mud bottom it holds tight at 4:1 scope all chain rode in 30 knots. I especially like the variable radius curved shank which eases the anchor onto the bow roller with no fuss, unlike the Bruce (and others) it replaced. It is connected to chain with a rugged great looking Suncor swivel I got from Hopcar.

Cost effective anchor and swivel combination too! As usual with anchors, buy the biggest that will fit your overall system.

You bought your wife an anchor for her Christmas present?😳
You romantic devil. 😈
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Old 07-31-2016, 08:40 AM   #10
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I'm sitting here at anchor in Staniel Cay, Exumas on my Rocna Vulcan 55 (110lb). I absolutely *love* my Vulcan.

I went with the Vulcan because my roller/pulpit wouldn't allow a roll bar. The video propaganda and testing on Rocna's website was very effective. After using the Vulcan quite a bit now I can honestly say the curved shank of the Vulcan makes it perform as well as the Rocna with a roll bar.

We anchor our a lot. Mud/grass/sand in the Keys and South Florida, and sand in the Bahamas. I bought the Vulcan about 6 months ago to replace my old Lewmar 176lb Claw. To be fair, we've seen 50+ knot blows with the old claw, and so far only 30 knot with the Rocna. I'm confident my 110lb Vulcan will severely outperform and hold better than the old 176lb claw.

1.) The Vulcan sets FAST... like immediately. I had an old CQR 75lb before the Claw (still keep it aboard) and that thing would plow the seafloor for what seemed like a mile until finding something to hold onto. The Vulcan sets in one anchor length every time and even sea grass is no problem.

2.) The Vulcan sets DEEP and holds strong. My old 176lb claw would never fully set the entire fluke. It would end up laying on it's side with only a side fluke digging in. Right now, my Vulcan is set so well I can barely see any of the shank. I ain't goin' nowhere!

So yeah, anchors are like religion and I don't want to get into arguments about what "the best anchor" is. Is the Vulcan the best anchor? There is no such thing as the best anchor. But I'm impressed and very, very, very happy with my Vulcan.
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Old 08-31-2016, 08:43 PM   #11
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Fred. I just wrote my impression of the Boss which I think is about the same in design. I would feel fine using either.
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Old 08-31-2016, 09:09 PM   #12
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Bigsfish,
So you wrote your impression of the Boss .. where is it?
The Boss and Vulcan are quite different. One has a weighted fluke tip (Vulcan) and the Boss essentially doesn't. For a given weight the Boss will have more fluke area so if the Boss sets dependably it's probably the higher performing anchor. The shanks are indeed very similar. And the Vulcan appears stronger.
Our member Old Deckhand in Sitka AK has had a Boss for some time. Don't remember exactly what he said but I do remember it was all positive.
I thought the Boss was rather flimsy looking at one at a boat show but in several years have not heard anything to confirm that. Manson Supreme has been praised for it's high quality steel and the Boss is almost certainly made of good strong stuff too. Either anchor is probably a good choice. Neither one has been in a significant anchor test that I know of. So information on both is rather speculative and subjective.
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Old 08-31-2016, 09:36 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nomad Willy View Post
Manson Supreme has been praised for it's high quality steel and the Boss is almost certainly made of good strong stuff too. Either anchor is probably a good choice. Neither one has been in a significant anchor test that I know of. So information on both is rather speculative and subjective.
Ok, well...we need a Boss and a Vulcan got to Steve on Panope somehow, now don't we..?
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Old 08-31-2016, 09:38 PM   #14
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Hi Eric

I love the Boss and would but it again if I list it by some means. Been boating for many years and the newer anchors are by far better than the older ones. I'm not scientific enough to compare the differences of the anchors but my impressive was that they appear to look similar. Unfortunately the Boss and the Ultra are on the bow of my boat and people love the look of the Ultra and make fun of the Boss which looks like a giant smashed and dished tin can. LOL. But it works.

Please see the post (just tonight) in the anchor section.

Thanks.
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Old 09-06-2016, 12:27 PM   #15
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I put a Rocna Vulcan 40 kg on a 52' boat the end of April 2016.
300' of chain.

Since then, heading north to Alaska and now in Ketchikan on the way back it has performed flawlessly. Sets quickly and stays set. Occasionally as little as 3:1 rode (maybe even less) and no problems.

We have probably split the time 50-50% at anchor or tied to a float/dock. The conditions have NOT been challenging but sets quickly every time and my position has not changed while using it.

I like it.
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Old 09-06-2016, 01:17 PM   #16
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ktdtx,
50-50 anchoring in towns in SE is my favorite way of travling in this area. Spending time in towns like Wrangell, Craig, Petersburg and smaller places like Point Baker, Pelican and Kake. Anchorages are beautiful and fun but the real flavor of SE is in the small towns or villages.

I'm hoping to see more Boss experiences.
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Old 12-28-2016, 06:59 PM   #17
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If anybody considering a spade type anchor and wants bigger holing area but is against the idea of more weight you can use the larger aluminum spade. I have been using this type anchor since I sent to Tunisia to buy it almost 20 years ago works like a charm. Now that I have a new pretty boat I replaced the original aluminum Spade with a heavier but not bigger SS knock off made in Turkey called a Ultra which also works well but its shinny bling fits the overall aura of the boat. The Spade is now my secondary anchor and its light weight and fast set and good holding is great for a second set from the dinghy.
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Old 12-28-2016, 09:11 PM   #18
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I have a SS Ultra (60lbs) for a secondary too, I used it once to make sure it worked and it did but I like my Boss better (60 lbs). Have complete confidence in the Ulta but it's too pretty to use. LOL
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Old 12-29-2016, 06:40 AM   #19
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Eric wrote: "For most here the holy grail is holding power ... but holding power can't be achieved w/o a good set."

Well said Eric and a fact lost in many discussions of anchoring. The "best holding anchor in the world" will not work work as expected if not properly set.
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Old 12-29-2016, 07:47 AM   #20
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I think all anchor comparisons are "subjective", not "objective. Unless you take several brands of anchors and subject them to identical conditions, your results are not scientific. Some anchor manufacturers have done side by side tests but since their anchors always win, these tests may be skewed.


My current anchor has never failed me (yet) so I'll just wait until it does and then consider a newer design.
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