How big is your Anchor???

Hello All,

Not looking to stir the pot or get opinions on "best" anchor just looking to compile some data for my own decision making process. It would be much appreciated if you could please supply the following data. Mine is as follows:

Boat Make/model: 1995 Ocean Alexander 456+3
Boat Length: 48'
Est. Gross cruising weight: 50,000+
Anchor make/type: Original Bruce
Anchor weight: 44 lbs
Amount of chain rode: All chain (250'??)

Thanks,
Lynn

O know. There are many previous threads regarding your question on this site.

IMO, 44 lb Bruce is too light for a 50,000 lb boat. I just replaced my 44 lb Bruce with a 44 lb Vulcan, and while I maybe should have gone to a 55 lb Vulcan (according to Rocna's recommendations for a boat > 10 tons) I think I am OK. My suggestion, find an anchor you like, then go with the manufacturer recommendation on sizing for the weight of your boat. For example, Rocna recommends a 40 kg (88 lbs) Vulcan for your size boats (if I am interpreting their guidelines correctly).

I’m using

MTW said:

Hello All,

Not looking to stir the pot or get opinions on "best" anchor just looking to compile some data for my own decision making process. It would be much appreciated if you could please supply the following data. Mine is as follows:

Boat Make/model: 1995 Ocean Alexander 456+3
Boat Length: 48'
Est. Gross cruising weight: 50,000+
Anchor make/type: Original Bruce
Anchor weight: 44 lbs
Amount of chain rode: All chain (250'??)

Thanks,
Lynn

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A sixty pound Manson Supreme and a sixty pound Bruce with about 175 foot of chain. One of the things to consider is your windlass’s ability to lift the anchor and chain from depth. I have a Maxwell 1200 that seems to like the weight.

Having said this, the Manson came out of our sailboat which we cruised extensively in the Caribbean and Bahamas. The sailboat was about half the weight of our OA. Still, with 3/8ths bbb and 60 pounds I sleep well at night.

Did you get the stabilizers installed?

We are currently in the Abacos and were pleased we had them For the crossing last November.

Interesting,
My boat usually has about 800lbs of boat to hold whereas yours has at least 1100lbs of boat to hold. Anchor weight to boat weight.
By that comparison it looks like you’re anchor is loaded more heavily than mine. But anchor load is usually a product of windage. And by that measure your anchor/boat combination is likely 8 times as anchor loaded as mine. But your boat is bigger than average and mine is considerably smaller.

But I think your inclination to evaluate anchor size may be revealing.

Edit to answer the post question.
I have numerous anchors but they usually fall into a range of 13 to 18lbs. So one could say my anchor is 15+lbs. That would put my anchor loading at 1100lbs to each pound of boat weight. Same as MTW. But this is just to boat weight and windage is far more relavant but I don’t know if Ive ever seen a believable windage scale. Too hard to measure.

Lynn,

I went overboard, pun intended, with my new boat. I dragged with a smallish MS anchor on my last boat, almost ending up on the shore. My current boat is about 57' overall, and weighs about 60,000. I have a Mantus 105# anchor on all chain. Overkill? Perhaps, but my windlass doesn't mind, and I always put out 5-7 to 1. I sleep very well.

Cheers, Bill

Welcome Lynn! This is one subject that has been discussed here many many times. Do a search and have fun!!

ASD is 48ft long
48Klbs
550 ft of all chain rode.
Anchor: 77lb Rocna (best anchor in my opinion)

As stated a 44lb anchor seems a little on the light side.

60 pound Manson Supreme, 200 ft 5/16 BBB chain.

40 foot Albin but light with only a 34 foot WLL.

Been having a air leak, fuel starvation problem and have dropped it 10 times in emergency situations this month with high winds and current in ICW.

Never failed me yet either in emergency or regular anchoring, pretty much drop and forget.

Also been superb in reversing tidal steams with reasonably strong currents up to 1.5 kts or so.

Having been caught at Anchor in 50 mph storms I always buy either one size or two larger than the manufacturers recommended weight, most manufacturers are optimistic in my opinion.

Scott, you haven’t found your air leak yet?

I don’t like to brag but............. oh, we are talking about anchors.

28000 lb with a Rockna 25. 44#

What’s all this bragg’in about one’s anchor brand?

The question is only how big.

Nomad Willy said:

What’s all this bragg’in about one’s anchor brand?

The question is only how big.

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Then why not just use a rock?

modified rocks too...

42 feet, 42,000 pounds

85 pound Mantus

250 feet 5/16 HT chain G4 ISO

I'd rather have 3/8s chain but, there are other, higher, priorities
.

A 44 lb anchor on a 50,000 lb boat is too small IMHO.

We carry a 55 lb Rocna with 200' of 5/16" HT chain on our 20,000 lb boat.

David

Mule said:

I don’t like to brag but............. oh, we are talking about anchors.

28000 lb with a Rockna 25. 44#

Click to expand...

Now you really have something to brag about, cuz your Rocna 25 is actually 55#.

psneeld said:

modified rocks too...

Click to expand...

At least I wouldn’t need to hire a welder.

Bigsfish said:

Having been caught at Anchor in 50 mph storms I always buy either one size or two larger than the manufacturers recommended weight, most manufacturers are optimistic in my opinion.

Click to expand...

100%

psneeld said:

modified rocks too...

Click to expand...

Well I don't know. Them there Canadian rocks are just a bit heavier than USA rocks...

You are getting close to the correct anchor size when other folks in nearby slips begin to tease you about it.
You are there when you no longer "anchor" but rather "moor".

I am NOT touching this thread with a 10ft pole...lol

Rochepoint weights 25,000lbs and has an #5 Sarca Excel which weighs 48lbs. with 350' of 5/8" G40 chain.

My rule is, if you anchor your boat and it's still in the same place the next morning and if you do this on a regular basis with the same results, your anchor (and rode) are big enough. Skill plays a part as well so if you're in the habit of just dropping the anchor and forgetting about it, you'll need a bigger anchor than if you set it and back down on it.

My anchor is 33 lb. My boat is 28'

24,000 Lb boat (weighed in the slings), 34', 33# Lewmar claw, 120 ft of 5/16 G40 chain, 240 ft of 5/8 Brait rode. This anchor has never let me down in 100+ anchorings per year, 8 years running. (All mud bottom of SF Bay and CA Delta)

It's not so much the size of the prize, it's the angle of the dangle.

in emergency situations, dropping and depending on it can save your boat.

Overnight anchoring is extraordinarily simple if the place and conditions are good...which one csn pick and choose.

If you have to finesse your anchor or use a fancy technique to secure you snugly.... good luck with bad conditions and a main propulsion or steering failure.

Boat Make/model: American Tug 435
Boat Length: 43'
Est. Gross cruising weight: 35,000+
Anchor make/type: Lewmar claw
Anchor weight: 66 lbs
Amount of chain rode: All chain 275

Maerin is 43 ft. waterline
is 52,000 lbs in the slings with half fuel and water.
About another 4,0000 lb. full tanks
Anchor is 40kg Rocna, 400 ft 1/2" BBB chain
The Rocna was the best money ever spent on the boat.

Boat is around 55,000#.

I use a Sarca Excel #8, which is 40 kg. Then 360' of 3/8 chain.

40’ Ocean Alexander sedan
Est. 26,000 lbs.
65 lb Sarca Excel
480’ 5/16” chain
Wonderful anchor and we sleep well.

Anchoring here usually means 180-degree current changes at several times a day. Always worries me on overnight anchorings (with 2.5-knot currents typical). Nevertheless, the cheap, not oversized, Bruce copy has always held.