Forums, Everything Else, Anchor

Lesley Ritchie at 06/08/2009 19:45:02
We are currently using a 25lbCQR but have had problems with it dragging.
What anchors are others using? And how easily do they fit into the locker?
And where are you stowing yout kedge?

George Isted at 07/08/2009 12:19:07
Hi Lesley,
See my post regarding this on the other section of this forum…

http://temp.co32.org/SECTION_Members/BB/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44

Rgds. G
Edited: admin on 2009-10-22 21:12:17

Janet Trythall at 10/08/2009 00:16:21
Our boat came with 25lb CQR and 25m chain, 25m rope and we did a lot of dragging, or rather, we had difficulty getting the anchor to set. Once away from the mooring, stopping nearly always means anchoring and often in 10m or more. I suspect we use more revs than other people to check the holding, but touch wood, then sleep better for it.
(Worse was the fight getting anchor in and out of the deck locker.)
This year we have a 16kg Delta in the stem head and 60mx8mm chain. Altogether more successful. We are very grateful to the boatowner on the pontoon at Rathlin I. who lent us his anchor to check it would fit.
Our horizontal windlass is not ideal as the lead is not quite fair onto the windlass as the chain runs out.
We use a chain hook at anchor, and also at sea (with a lashing to the deck fitting for a jib tack, and the combination seems to hold the anchor steady).
It is fairly easy to lift the anchor over the rail to clear the stemhead for the mooring rope.
We have a 20lb Danforth and rope in the stern locker, but haven’t used that.
Janet
Jaywalker

Wisdish at 10/08/2009 21:53:55
We changed our 25lb CQR to a 10kg delta a couple of seasons ago and to date been pleased with it’s performance. When used with up to 35m of heavy chain + additional rope it is yet to drag. We reckon we have used it over 20 times (there aren’t many marinas on the West coast of Scotland)

It fits OK into the chain locker which avoids having to carry it on the stemhead where there isn’t space due to our Furlex.

We are careful to lay it with lots of scope to ensure it is well dug in and the weight of the chain should not be underestimated in incresing its effectiveness.

If we had a heavier anchor I think we would need to fit a windlass or sign up from some gym membership!

Mark & Liz

Mark Hillmann at 12/08/2009 14:39:57
There was a 35lb CQR as well as the 25lb one on board when we bought Milly Brown. We added an aluminium Fortress.

In deep water it is the weight of vertical chain that I cannot lift so I cut down to 25m of chain but added 100m of warp.

The 25lb CQR is not safe by itself in a gale. The Fortress may be good in theory but not in weed. It does make a nice light kedge for rowing out when aground again.

The 35lb CQR was still holding in full catabatic conditions last year when the wind veered 270 degrees putting us too close to the shore. We motored into it for a while until a lull let us lift the anchor and get away up the fjord.

PMaughan at 13/08/2009 21:12:33
Perhaps not the most popular these days but I’m a big fan of the Bruce or a copy as I think Bruce don’t serve the leisure market anymore. I keep a 15kg on board which hasn’t dragged yet and sets very quickly, bit of a beast though….

Waffler 333 at 19/08/2009 10:45:49
Our boat had been altered, doing away with the deck hatch and replacing it with a hawse pipe. We store our Bruce anchor (I think it is 15lb) over the bow. The only times it dragged were when the bottom was all weed and when a 40 ft boat rafted up with us! I must add that we have never really tested it in very bad weather.
We have always regretted not having the original deck locker but at least we don’t have to haul a 25lb anchor out over the deck.