I Will Pay The $$. Which Anchor Is Best?

HiDHo said:

My choice. All chain ( 5/16" HT) on the Vucan and 100' chain and 150' rope on the Fortress.

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I have the same choices installed on my vessel. Except the FX55 is stowed, lonely and thus far unused.

manyboats said:

But there is only scoop and plow. Concave and convex. SARCA is convex and convex anchors are called plows.
And Bruce, Peter .. concavity or convexity are perceived by looking down on the surface ... not up underneath.

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Ok Eric, have it your own way. I don't really care, but I guess that the only reason Rex maintains that the Sarcas are not plows, is because the name not only identifies the type, albeit by a misnomer in common usage, but because the name implies the way it actually works as well, which is not the case.

To take you comment (highlighted) above. Wrong. The function of an anchor requires you envisage how it enters the substrate, which is point first, then moving horizontally, not top or bottom first, and looking at it from the pointy end it is just not a plow, no matter how much you might like to call it that. It is a shape designed to dive...

The video demonstrates clearly, if you want to use plow-speak, that it is your 'scoop' type anchor that digs a huge furrow in the bottom. Does the word furrow bring to mind anything...like a plow for instance..?

Just make sure to have big enough chain. I was pretty impressed with this setup on a boat I toured recently.

OK Peter,
I'll not call the SARCA a plow.
But what should it be called? Better put what type of anchor is it?
And I don't "like" to call it a plow. And definitely not putting the SARCA down.

Have you forgotten or not noticed that I choose the SARCA as the "best" anchor on this thread? Quite a few have higher holding power but none seem to be as flexible and dependable. The best anchor must rise above the others in dependability. SARCA delivers.

Just Bob Looks like you have best anchor system going. No need for an anchor just drop a few links on the bottom and your good to go. Really makes anchor fouling a thing of the past.

Apart from all other considerations, this is one case where size really does matter!!

You guys with your 50 lb anchors. What a joke!

Each of these links weighs 350 lbs! Now that's an anchor chain!

USN 74 - John C. Stennis.

Bob,
That chain is for a ship to be sure.
Size matters and everybody knows it.
But that monstrous studded chain has nothing to do w trawlers.

Apologies. I'm a newbie. Humor not preferred here?

JustBob said:

Apologies. I'm a newbie. Humor not preferred here?

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Humor is good.
Eric said: "Size matters and everybody knows it." He got it.

manyboats said:

OK Peter,
I'll not call the SARCA a plow.
But what should it be called? Better put what type of anchor is it?
And I don't "like" to call it a plow. And definitely not putting the SARCA down.

Have you forgotten or not noticed that I choose the SARCA as the "best" anchor on this thread? Quite a few have higher holding power but none seem to be as flexible and dependable. The best anchor must rise above the others in dependability. SARCA delivers.

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Yep, I've noticed you are now a fan, and no offence meant, I was just being a bit pedantic, that's all...and I for one, would just love to think one day you'll have one, and it will be all 'Willy' ever needs

How about we just call it a Super High Holding, Single Fluke, Roll Bar Anchor..?
Nah...way too wordy. How about just Sarca..?

"How about we just call it a Super High Holding, Single Fluke, Roll Bar Anchor..?"

That sometimes works well.

I find this fun to read. Early in this thread someone (lost track who) said something to the effect that everyone is so committed to their own anchor that even trying to label it is a challenge. This is why I do not get involved with "my anchor is better that your anchor" conversations. There are many great anchors out there for the consumer and each appeals to different people. One should be highly supportive of the anchor they use because it is important to have that confidence in your gear. I just promote the qualities of the Super MAX anchor and will not discredit another company's anchor or another consumer's anchor. It is not about which anchor is better than another. A friend on another forum has always said that it is important for the anchor and ground tackle to beat Mother Nature and not another anchor. Even some of the tests that have been done appear to distinguish one anchor from another. But the consumer has to select and anchor and setting technique that they feel comfortable in. If the test is not how you prefer to anchor nor the seabeds you prefer to anchor in then perhaps that test is not as relevant to you. It has been my experience that many anchors fail (drag, break free, or do not set easily) because of operator error more than anchor design. Each anchor has a recommended technique for setting and scope deployment. There are variations to that recommended technique but varying widely is risky. Some anchors set easier than others, if one follows the recommended technique. Some anchors hold better in some seabeds than others, if set properly. Some anchors hold better than others at varying scopes, if set properly.

Some say our anchor is a shovel, concave, front-end loader, big, and some say "ugly." Heck that is okay with me as long as it does what is supposed to and keeps boaters safe and secure. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Steve, you are so right. However, one member on here often used to quote the following..."a persons anchor never fails...until it does". The flip side being that then, and only then, do they question the integrity or performance of their particular anchor.

This saying came to me the other day as leaving my marina, I took note of the most common anchor on the various fingers nearby, including mine, and the vast majority are still using CQRs, the very anchor I dispensed with because of so many setting failures. I suspect mine was a knock off, and a worn one at that, (the shank hinge being their Achilles heel), so a you beaut new one would have set better, but I'm sure the other reason so many are still using this rather old design, recognised as tricky to set, is that out in our bay, most of the anchorages are so protected it would be seldom that boaters would be exposed to the kind of conditions which might cause their anchor to fail them. So if that's the one that came with the boat...that's what they stick with...until something happens, like happened to me...

Peter B said:

This saying came to me the other day as leaving my marina, I took note of the most common anchor on the various fingers nearby, including mine, and the vast majority are still using CQRs, the very anchor I dispensed with because of so many setting failures. I suspect mine was a knock off, and a worn one at that,

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I have had my real CQR on my sailboat since I bought it. It was the anchor that came with the boat when the original owner purchased the boat. That was over a decade ago. I have never changed the anchor because it has never dragged on me. It was sized appropriately and had a 100' of chain before the nylon rode. It was difficult at times to get to set, and that annoyed me but never enough to go to the trouble of looking at new anchors.

My point is this, I think there is a lot of inertia when it comes to anchor use, at least here in the PNW where so many boats do very little anchoring or have the advantage of well protected anchorages. When I walk my own dock, I see a lot of Bruce and CQR on boats a lot older than mine. I think they simply haven't thought about the anchor enough to go out looking just as you didn't until you experienced a problem.

With my new-to-me boat, the CQR anchor is undersized so I want to get a new anchor. If it had been sized correctly, I likely wouldn't be looking at making a change, until the setting frustration reached the level equivalent to a boat buck.

Steve Bedford,
You're the anchor philosopher!
Very well stated and well chosen words.
Don't think anyone's summed it up quite that well.
Especially the "beat mother nature not another anchor".

PeterB,
SARCA
That's the type of anchor it is.
A type name I thought of was a "rooftop scoop".

JustBob,
It was the "what a joke" that set me off. I'm for smaller (or lighter) is better if it works ..... but if it dosn't then bigger is better applies. I could use a 350lb studded link as a Kellet but I don't think bigger is better should go that far. And a 350lb anchor would be far better.
Oh yes .. one need not read much here to see there's plenty of humor. More is better has it's limits too.
I'll be going past you on my way to the south sound soon. Plan to anchor in Quartermaster Hbr on Vashon. Went to the summer camp there as a teenager. Camp Burton.

Use the search function re QBBL.

Greetings,
Welcome aboard, if I've missed you Mr. JB. Humor? Here????

Peter B said:

..............
This saying came to me the other day as leaving my marina, I took note of the most common anchor on the various fingers nearby, including mine, and the vast majority are still using CQRs, the very anchor I dispensed with because of so many setting failures. I suspect mine was a knock off, and a worn one at that, (the shank hinge being their Achilles heel).....

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I'm in the same category, Peter. I have an undersized CQR knock-off that has given me a few problems getting it set. This discussion has been fun & informative, and has given me the impetus to drive over to Fisheries in Seattle to take a look at the Fortress.

Cheers

"You're the anchor philosopher."

That is even more amusing. Been called many things in my life but a descriptor ending with "philosopher", never! I will take that as a compliment and maybe change my business card. (Not really).
Steve Bedford
Super MAX Anchors

It was a compliment but mostly for content.
Hope you're not disapointed but I didn't consider it poetry.

manyboats said:

Size matters and everybody knows it.

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...says the guy with the 'lil Willy.

DAMN, your quick FlyWright...!

For the NW and surrounding waters like the San Juan Is., a Danforth is about as good as it gets for an anchor assuming proper scope and chain etc. This 34 CHB I just bought has all chain with a Danforth of about 35 # weight, which should be about perfect for around here. Last summer my boy and I were up to Saddlebag Is across from Anacortes in my 26 MWB conversion anchored up in the little north cove. North wind came up about 3am and I woke up to a lot of horn honking! Thinking someone was trying to get my attention I ran up on deck and the guy next to me, from the sailing school, on both an anchor and a beach line was blasting away on the hand held horn because two, not one but two sailboats were dragging right into the cove and about to collide with everyone else! One nearly ended up on the rocks, the other was far enough out, but still had to pick up and move and eventually leave as neither could get their anchors to set and hold. Both had some type of plow. I had my 13# Danforth and it held like iron. All of which proves nothing I suppose. I wont say I have never dragged a Danforth, it does happen but for my money its still a great anchor and at this point I see no reason to change to another type.

78puget-trawler said:

For the NW and surrounding waters like the San Juan Is., a Danforth is about as good as it gets for an anchor assuming proper scope and chain etc. This 34 CHB I just bought has all chain with a Danforth of about 35 # weight, which should be about perfect for around here.

I wont say I have never dragged a Danforth, it does happen but for my money its still a great anchor and at this point I see no reason to change to another type.

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I don't think anyone who has used them would dispute that the Danforth is still an excellent anchor. It is my back-up anchor, even now. I think its still down there in the lazarette somewhere - we've never had to use it, actually.

They just have two drawbacks, neither insuperable. They are not a great shape for using on modern bowsprits and rollers, but they will work there, and they are vulnerable to the fluke tips becoming fouled with shells, discarded cans, plastic bags, etc. I used one exclusively back in my yachting days, but then I manually launched and retrieved, so the shape was not such an issue, but several times we dragged because of a discarded food can neatly enveloping a fluke tip. However, you usually notice that has happened before bedding down for the night, and re-set, so usually no biggie...

manyboats said:

It was a compliment but mostly for content.
Hope you're not disapointed but I didn't consider it poetry.

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"Mary had a little anchor
It's flukes weren't hardened steel
Everywhere that Mary went, yachters seem to go
One day Mary's anchor dragged and she ended up on rocks.
So Mary got a new an-chor and she likes the hook a lot."

I think I will keep my day job.

Steve B
YOU're Da MAN!

Don't let this be the last of you're anchor contributions.

The law of averages was playing hard ball with you if several times, food cans found their way to the tips of your flukes!

I agree w 78 but Alaska isn't so covered in garbage having nothing to do w the green and tidy habits of Alaskans.
Also my Dan flukes have never found anything to impale nor have my Claws picked up a rock.

78puget-trawler said:

The law of averages was playing hard ball with you if several times, food cans found their way to the tips of your flukes!

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The occasions occurred in very tight and sheltered anchorages, in islands with really no current or significant tidal flows, and very highly populated in the summer, in the Bay Of Islands, Northern NZ, Puget. So the accumulated debris carelessly, (accidentally I'm sure), that found its way to the bottom is an accumulation of over a century at least. Certainly very unlikely elsewhere, but plenty have mentioned picking up shells, or large bunch of weed, or old plastic bags stuck on a fluke. It only takes it to happen to one of the flukes, and they skid across the bottom forever.

The last time a can fouled us does remain very vivid, because it was a time when the fouling was not immediately evident, and we had taken the dink and gone snorkelling some distance away when a boat going past called out our yacht appears to be dragging. I shot back, hauled the rode in, and there was a Heinz Baked Bean can on the damn fluke. As you can see in the pic, these anchorages are well-protected but tight, so stuff does tend to gather...we were in the wineglass shaped bay on the South Western part of Urupukapuka...lovely place though...

https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Urupukapuka+Island/@-35.2155901,174.2127091,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x6d0ba8566352f0f9:0xf00ef62249bf6e0

Yup Dans tend to be garbage rakes.

But we love them anyway. I have four.