Donald Tyson
Veteran Member
What anchor would you trust on a rocky bottom anchorage?
They may well still champion the CQR around there. I think it's an OK anchor in that stuff.I read about people in cruising boats anchoring around North Scotland and areas along the UK coast and they are basically anchoring in solid rock. Well, at least one occasion the kedge anchor was used.
Yes. Yes indeed. This is the anchor I had hoped someone would jiggle my brain for. I could not find it online. For my little 22 foot c-Dory I could use a much smaller Luke. I think Fortress made one for a while. It all folded up into a bag and wait about 10 pounds.As a side note, I have a 3 piece luke anchor just for rocky conditions. I have never used it and the thought of deploying it is daunting (around 80 lbs). It could be an option for you though.
Peter, someone had mentioned this author earlier and I lost his name and location as well. I went to see if he had done any research on the Luke anchor.Steve Goodwin of SV Panope, widely recognized authority on anchor types, routinely tests anchors on a cobble bottom field. Attached is one of his summaries. His YouTube channel is very interesting (in a wonky/nerdy way) and must-view material when selecting an anchor.
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Peter
Peter, someone had mentioned this author earlier and I lost his name and location as well. I went to see if he had done any research on the Luke anchor.
I don’t know much about anchoring in cobble or stone, but I suspect it will happen some afternoon in Maine or in Canada. Might only use this type of anchor once in a lifetime but it’s one I think I should have on board.
Fortress is a completely different anchor than a Luke. I had the small Fortress, that comes in a bag, for my last dinghy. It is great in mud, but I wouldn’t use it for rocky conditions.Yes. Yes indeed. This is the anchor I had hoped someone would jiggle my brain for. I could not find it online. For my little 22 foot c-Dory I could use a much smaller Luke. I think Fortress made one for a while. It all folded up into a bag and wait about 10 pounds.
Thank you so much
I've anchored all over Maine and Canada, and have never had an issue finding mud or sand to anchor in. A good depth sounder gives insight into bottom conditions, and even in hard rock areas there are almost always patches of sediment to be found.I don’t know much about anchoring in cobble or stone, but I suspect it will happen some afternoon in Maine or in Canada. Might only use this type of anchor once in a lifetime but it’s one I think I should have on board.
Peter, someone had mentioned this author earlier and I lost his name and location as well. I went to see if he had done any research on the Luke anchor.
I don’t know much about anchoring in cobble or stone, but I suspect it will happen some afternoon in Maine or in Canada. Might only use this type of anchor once in a lifetime but it’s one I think I should have on board.
I've read stories over the years where folks found themselves in need of other options. I have a nice Bruce on my new to me 22 footer. The previous owner had taken it off a heavier and larger Key West. It works very well as a general use anchor.Any anchor with a point should work until that point either breaks the rock or rotates out from under it.
Anchors with two or more points will do better.
I used to teach scuba in Maine and NH in the 70’s. Most of the shallow fouled anchors I came across were Danforth style. I did find several fom the 1800’s that were fisherman style but back then that’s all they had.
I have a grapnel I used to use for wreck diving. With that you need to unhook it manually from the wreck after you tie in.
I would recommend investing in a good bottom finder and spending time learning how to use it. Finding suitable anchor beds is easier than finding the best anchor.
Great Loop. I'm inexperienced. But I know everything cause I have the internet. I expect to always find a good bottom. This anchor will be for that once in a lifetime emergency.They may well still champion the CQR around there. I think it's an OK anchor in that stuff.
I'd call your kedge anchor a fisherman's anchor, and see them very occasionally. If you're going to carry three or more anchors this could be one of them.
The modern anchors are remarkably good. I trust my Rocna more than I've trusted any other anchor, but on rock all bets are off, especially with wind/current change.
Where are you cruising?
To me, With only 25' boat owning experience, the Danforth is a Jersey Shore anchor. Hard to catch on rocky bottoms such as the Delaware or Hudson. My bruce seems pretty darn adaptable and it came with the boat.For a rocky bottom anchorage, I would trust a Danforth or Fortress the least and a grapnel, Rocna, or Spade the most, depending on the conditions.
If the bottom is truly rocky with large crevices, a grapnel anchor can be a great choice because its prongs can hook onto rocks, but it can be challenging to retrieve if it gets stuck, so will need a trip line.
If the bottom has a mix of rock, mud, or gravel - Rocna, Spade or similar new-generation scoop anchor can perform well. These anchors rely on their ability to penetrate and hold in various bottom types, and they have a broad fluke that can find purchase in gaps between rocks or in patches of softer material.
Bruce/Claw – while not as good as the Rocna a Bruce can sometimes work on rocky bottoms by wedging into crevices. However, it may struggle to reset if it gets dislodged.
Danforth-style anchors including Fortress rely on burying themselves in sand or mud, making them very poor on rocky bottoms. They will likely not set at all.
I personally had a bad experience with Danforth anchors and stop used them completely.
No anchor is perfect for rocks, so a second anchor and a trip line with a retrieval buoy are smart precautions in case the anchor gets stuck.
When I say Rocky Bottom I mean anything that a plow type or Danforth type won't hook well on. A good example would be my beloved Delaware River during Shad season. Its a riprap bottom that is all cemented in with sand and gravel. With the above types they grab a bit....they can't be backed down on or they pull out. I'd be fishing away and all the sudden another boat wake or a shift in stability and the anchor lets loose. The old style Navy anchors don't work either.My only answer for the OP would be... depending on exactly what is meant by rocky bottom.... in ANY bottom with snags that may involve hooking the anchor and normal release is not working.... then a trip line needs to be used prior to deploying the anchor. The better anchors for that situation you be super strong and have a pretty wide gap between fluke and stock. Your problem now would be swing and ensuring the rode doesn't foul an exposed fluke and extract the anchor prematurely on some designs (like a fisherman).
I may have missed it, but what boat and anchor size are we talking about? Do you mean an anchor size small enough to deploy by hand and with rode already attached?…Try that with no engine. Try that when the sails or rigging is compromised. Try that when the winds are contrary and the currents are unexpectedly brisk. It sounds to me that some of you may be on much more stable and larger boats where there a more options during dire straits.
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