Anchor Size for 40' Trawler

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Mass is the standard of size classification for anchors.

Apples to apples should be steel to steel or aluminum to aluminum.

Too many variables to put all the funny shaped pegs into even funnier shaped holes.

The aluminum Spade has not done well whereas Fortress has always out performed the Dans.
 
One item I see in video beach-side anchor tests is the anchor rode (usually chain) being pulled from shallow water onto wet beach "sand" with the rode almost at parallel with sand and within a couple to a few inches off the beach sand. IMHO - that is optimum setting conditions and not at all representative of real actions while setting an anchor in water depth, off a boat, with scope of any percentage (often it is 5, 6, or 7 to one... re rode to bottom to bow).
 
Very good point, Art. Beach tests should require the anchor to be pulled from an elevated towing point like a tower on a flatbed.
 
I think if I were you I would look at what the working load of my windlass was, estimate the length and size of the chain you wanted on your rode, and then find the largest anchor that would fit on the bow within the working limits of the windlass. Bigger is better as long as the windlass will pull it in and the bow roller will fit it. Too many opinions on anchor type, all based on the experience and opinions of the users.

Danforth types work best in soft bottoms, other types work better in other bottoms. Unless you want to carry more than one type of anchor you need to compromise in your anchor selection for varying bottom types. Pick your own compromise.
 
Marin said:
Very good point, Art. Beach tests should require the anchor to be pulled from an elevated towing point like a tower on a flatbed.
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Marin,
Beach tests are interesting but not even done in the environment the anchor works in. It's almost like seeing how a fish swims along the beach. And of course the angle of the rode as Art points out is not representative of anchoring 95+ % of the time.
 
manyboats said:
Marin,
Beach tests are interesting but not even done in the environment the anchor works in.
Click to expand...

I agree. The only real value I get out of beach tests is that they can demonstrate how the anchor works, how it enters the bottom. This was particularly interesting when we started researching other anchors to find one to replace the Bruce we put on the boat when we bought it. At the time we hadn't even heard of rollbar anchors so the beach demos gave a clear picture of how the design works.

Subsequent research turned up videos that showed that the setting action of the rollbar anchor is the same underwater as on the beach, but the beach video was a good basic demo of the principle behind the design.

Outside of that, I think you're right. The beach tests are not something to base a purchase decision on. Neither are anchor tests, in my opinion, although they at least provide a single data point from under the water as opposed to out of it.
 
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Montenido
I'm late on this thread because I've been up in the Gulf Islands using my 55# Rocna. We bought the 55# (25 kg) because at the time that was the recommended size for our 40' sedan cruiser. if I were to do it again I would go with the 66#. I've had the anchor break out twice -- once in pretty poor bottom and once in what should have been ideal. On the other hand, we just had a night of sustained 25 mph winds with peak gusts of 32 and did fine, the bottom was good thick mud.
I'd probably buy a 44# Rocna or claw and 300' of 5/16, put that on the sailboat, and keep the Manson for the new trawler.
 
Marin said:
I agree. The only real value I get out of beach tests is that they can demonstrate how the anchor works, how it enters the bottom. This was particularly interesting when we started researching other anchors to find one to replace the Bruce we put on the boat when we bought it. At the time we hadn't even heard of rollbar anchors so the beach demos gave a clear picture of how the design works.

Subsequent research turned up videos that showed that the setting action of the rollbar anchor is the same underwater as on the beach, but the beach video was a good basic demo of the principle behind the design.

Outside of that, I think you're right. The beach tests are not something to base a purchase decision on. Neither are anchor tests, in my opinion, although they at least provide a single data point from under the water as opposed to out of it.
Click to expand...

We all "test" our anchor's capabilities each time we anchor-out.

Also "tested" is our skill at how to best set an anchor.

At same time we are inadvertently "testing" the bottom conditions of the exact place our anchor meets ground.

And, if that is not enough "testing" by us; then weather conditions currents, high/low tides ... not to mention waves and wakes... place a variable added group of what-if "tests" into the ongoing anchoring quandary of "How To NOT Drag Anchor" - Which after all is the most important part of anchoring success we seek to accomplish.

Of course, dropping anchor, retrieving anchor, and storing anchor are also importing skills we master as our boating years evolve.

Point I'm making: Videos that show controlled anchor "tests" are fun to sometimes watch and the classic physics encountered during those films is just what it is, i.e. classic. However, in the "real" process of each time setting anchor "To NOT Drag" we as boaters each perform our own truly conclusive "tests". Those "tests" of ours are IMO the only anchoring "tests" that really count... for the long run...

Regarding anchor design, weight, types, models, manufacturers, materials and the rode style utilized = "different strokes for different folks"! A boaters choice regarding those several items are wholly additional set of "tests" we all encounter about anchoring.

Happy Anchor-Setting-Test Daze! - Art :speed boat:
 
I think if I were you I would look at what the working load of my windlass was, estimate the length and size of the chain you wanted on your rode, and then find the largest anchor that would fit on the bow within the working limits of the windlass. Bigger is better as long as the windlass will pull it in and the bow roller will fit it.
Click to expand...

I like "bigger is better" too, when it comes to anchors, but before getting too carried away, evaluate your ability to weigh anchor for when the windlass doesn't function for whatever reason. I'll tell you, I tested this in the slip on a nice calm day after letting the 88lb Delta soak deep into the ooze for a few hours. Only about 20-25 feet of chain out. Doable, but not fun. Makes you wish you could wave a wand and transform it into a Fortress on a whim.
 
Especially with another 50 pounds or so of mud...fortunately that can be knocked washed off for the last little bit.
 
Art said:
We all "test" our anchor's capabilities each time we anchor-out.

Also "tested" is our skill at how to best set an anchor.

At same time we are inadvertently "testing" the bottom conditions of the exact place our anchor meets ground.

And, if that is not enough "testing" by us; then weather conditions currents, high/low tides ... not to mention waves and wakes... place a variable added group of what-if "tests" into the ongoing anchoring quandary of "How To NOT Drag Anchor" - Which after all is the most important part of anchoring success we seek to accomplish.

Of course, dropping anchor, retrieving anchor, and storing anchor are also importing skills we master as our boating years evolve.u

Point I'm making: Videos that show controlled anchor "tests" are fun to sometimes watch and the classic physics encountered during those films is just what it is, i.e. classic. However, in the "real" process of each time setting anchor "To NOT Drag" we as boaters each perform our own truly conclusive "tests". Those "tests" of ours are IMO the only anchoring "tests" that really count... for the long run...

Regarding anchor design, weight, types, models, manufacturers, materials and the rode style utilized = "different strokes for different folks"! A boaters choice regarding those several items are wholly additional set of "tests" we all encounter about anchoring.

Happy Anchor-Setting-Test Daze! - Art :speed boat:
Click to expand...


The one thing most here think is most important is holding power. We do not test holding power. Some anchor tests put 5000lbs of tension on the rode. You can't test building materials either w/o testing to destruction. Testing to destruction in anchor testing is setting the anchor and increasing the tension on the rode untill the anchor drags or breaks out. We don't do that. It takes heavy equipment we don't have.

Re setting though we do a lot of testing and w good observations we learn a lot about anchoring. But interestingly the very act of setting indicates we lack faith in our anchors and/or the bottom. Mostly the latter if we have a clear view of the matter.
 
av8r said:
Montenido
I'm late on this thread because I've been up in the Gulf Islands using my 55# Rocna. We bought the 55# (25 kg) because at the time that was the recommended size for our 40' sedan cruiser. if I were to do it again I would go with the 66#. I've had the anchor break out twice -- once in pretty poor bottom and once in what should have been ideal. On the other hand, we just had a night of sustained 25 mph winds with peak gusts of 32 and did fine, the bottom was good thick mud.
I'd probably buy a 44# Rocna or claw and 300' of 5/16, put that on the sailboat, and keep the Manson for the new trawler.
Click to expand...

The Rocna gets most of the attention because it's a good anchor and Smith knows how to "hawk his wares" and does a lot of advertising and other promotion. It's good to hear reports like yours because I think the Supreme is a better anchor. Does more things really well. But the Rocna holds better by 5 to 10% at long scope. I have an experimental anchor that's better than both IMO.
 
caltexflanc said:
I like "bigger is better" too, when it comes to anchors, but before getting too carried away, evaluate your ability to weigh anchor for when the windlass doesn't function for whatever reason. I'll tell you, I tested this in the slip on a nice calm day after letting the 88lb Delta soak deep into the ooze for a few hours. Only about 20-25 feet of chain out. Doable, but not fun. Makes you wish you could wave a wand and transform it into a Fortress on a whim.
Click to expand...

Purchase a big Fortress... wish can be fulfilled! :dance:
 
We just bought a 37 Nordic Tug that has a Rocna 20. Folks that owned the tug before us swear by it. The Bruce is in the aft locker, soon to be sold. Our backup is a Fortress 23. ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1439855263.615282.jpg
 
Pgitug said:
We just bought a 37 Nordic Tug that has a Rocna 20. Folks that owned the tug before us swear by it. The Bruce is in the aft locker, soon to be sold. Our backup is a Fortress 23.
Click to expand...

That's the same setup we have on our 36' 30,000 pound, twin engine cabin cruiser. So roughly the same size as your boat. We bought our Rocna in 2006 or 7 and it's given us flawless performance since including having a second boat rafted to us on windy days. We also have a Fortress FX23 on the swimstep for a stern anchor but it and its rode are sized to be the main anchor for our boat if we should want to use that style of anchor.
 
Anyone know how the rocna stacks up to a claw? They seem to have somewhat similar shapes. My boat came with a 30kgs claw and it looks like it could hold pretty good.
 
what_barnacles said:
Anyone know how the rocna stacks up to a claw? They seem to have somewhat similar shapes. My boat came with a 30kgs claw and it looks like it could hold pretty good.
Click to expand...
:banghead:
 
what_barnacles said:
Anyone know how the rocna stacks up to a claw? They seem to have somewhat similar shapes. My boat came with a 30kgs claw and it looks like it could hold pretty good.
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it will be similar to the difference in driving a hugo and driving a Maserati. Any body that says different has not used a new generation anchor
 
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The claw has a tendency to cut a furrow through some bottom types, rather than to set. Works well in some hard bottoms, poorly in a soft bottom.
 
I have owned two Bruce and Two Delta anchors and the Boss I currently own is better. Locally we have many different bottoms to pick and the Boss is the one we have found best for the local environments.
 
Old deckhand said:
I have owned two Bruce and Two Delta anchors and the Boss I currently own is better. Locally we have many different bottoms to pick and the Boss is the one we have found best for the local environments.
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Interesting. I presume you are referring to the Manson Boss, their new spade-like anchor. So far one has not heard much about it from actual users. Do you find it sets quickly and well in most bottoms encountered so far..? Do you have to do a power set, or does a drift set suffice? How does it perform on the varying scopes from 3:1 up to 7:1, etc..? That sort of thing is always of interest.
 
what_barnacles said:
32 year old boat, just once I'd like to find something on it that didn't need replacing. LOL
Click to expand...
It might not be the anchor, there have been great strides in developing better holding anchors over the last 32 years.
 
what_barnacles said:
Anyone know how the rocna stacks up to a claw? .
Click to expand...

We had a claw (Bruce). It's why we now have a Rocna. After we got the Rocna the Bruce proved to be outstanding for propping open a door in our garage. After several years of providing stellar service as a doorstop we didn't need it for that anymore so I cut it in half and we sent to a landfill in Oregon.
 
BruceK said:
It might not be the anchor, there have been great strides in developing better holding anchors over the last 32 years.
Click to expand...

The anchor has never left it's perch for as long as I have had the boat (since june). It sits up on the pulpit wrestling for space with the defender. My comment about it needing replacing was more to do with the overall age of things on the boat itself.

PO claims the claw (and the defender) held fast thru 2 hurricanes in the Caribbean. So I figure the rocna ought to hold thru a cat 5 based on the comparisons. Not that I will be on the boat like the PO was. :socool:
 
There has been support for the Claw and similar types all along in the anchor threads.


My recollection is that Claws over 35 pounds or so rapidly rise in trust by their owners and once over 50 pounds...many owners swear by them.


So...unless you really want to replace it....I would wait until I had a lot more experience with it if that is possible. The experiences anchoring with it would be graduated to solidify that trust.


Part of anchoring is technique, so a lot depends on you as much as the anchor.
 
psneeld said:
There has been support for the Claw and similar types all along in the anchor threads.


My recollection is that Claws over 35 pounds or so rapidly rise in trust by their owners and once over 50 pounds...many owners swear by them.


So...unless you really want to replace it....I would wait until I had a lot more experience with it if that is possible. The experiences anchoring with it would be graduated to solidify that trust.


Part of anchoring is technique, so a lot depends on you as much as the anchor.
Click to expand...

True x 10!
 
And the biggest variable is the bottom .. not the anchor.
 
In my mind...the biggest variable is the experience of the skipper.
 
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