Anchors

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Updated 11/17/04

 

It sounds like what you really want is a main anchor.  For a secure anchor for overnighting you need a little bit of overkill.

 

For a T-22, I would suggest a 20 to 25 lb anchor, with 20 or 30 feet of 1/4" HT chain (or 3/8" if it is not a hardened chain) and 150 feet of 3-strand nylon rode.  I'm not sure about the size of the rode, maybe 1/2".

 

This weight of anchor is not too difficult to raise by hand without a bow roller.  I think your best strategy is to carry the heaviest anchor you can safely handle, and 25 lbs (plus chain) without a bow roller is my limit.  I store this size rig in a 5 gallon pail and can carry it up front when needed (I have another main rig on my T28).

 

Inexpensive but good anchors include:

Kingston Plow

Kingston Quickset

Claw from West Marine

 

http://www.kingstonanchors.com/

 

I have a Claw but would go for the Quickset next time.  All of these anchors will work and are good in a wide range of bottom. 

 

A 10 to 15 lb Danforth is also good to have when the bottom is sand or sloppy mud.  But I would not sleep well with just a Danfort down there.

 

If you add a few shackles and a 30 foot section of chain, you can chain two anchors together in a train and have a lot of security in storm conditions. 

 

Mr. Toogood had a nice article in the last Tanzer newsletter about putting a bow roller on a T22 using the forestay bolts.  The roller is mounted vertically up the stem, not horizontally on the deck.   Looks like a good system to get the anchor up.  He uses the chocks to secure the anchor line, he does not use the bow roller to hold the boat while it is at anchor.

 

 

I currently use a "Bruce?" type anchor, but as a newer sailor I keep hearing that I need a bigger more efficient anchor. One of my first purchases was a Danforth just to make me feel better. Do any of you Puget Sound sailors have any suggestions. I have a 29foot Defender and we are chomping at the bit to do a little boat camping.


I've never used a Bruce, but they are popular and are reputed to be good hooks.
For your boat you'd be looking at a 20-something pound Danforth, with at least 150 feet of nylon plus some chain as a good starter package.

I use just less than one boat length of chain, so that I can retreive my hook over the bow roller using the cockpit sheet winches.  When the chain shackle arrives at the winch I know that the hook is seated on the bow and I can fall off and let draw.

Just my two cents...Your mileage may vary.

Chris

 

 

Thanks Chris, I have a 22lb Bruce and a 25lb Danforth both with over 20 feet of chain and 200' of line. I guess she'll stay put with that gear in most reasonble conditions. Appreciate the feedback.

 

 


We have been evaluating anchors for quite awhile now. I started with aDanford off my bow - but was always a pain to get it set. Particuarly indeep water, 50 - 80 ' here in CA.

Pratical Sailor did a piece evaluating Anchors - and one of the best anchorsthat came out of the tests was the bulwagga. I would highly recommend anyoneevaluting or looking for something that will "work" this is it. A number of my friends purchased these anchors - and have been using them consistly over the summer in a number of scearios - They work. I have too purchased one formyself, and one of the nice things about the anchor is once it has set, you are set... and can sleep at night. Anyone interested in these or what this is all about - you can find them on the following WEB site:

www.noteco.com/bulwagga

Ken Roberts
"Sails Call" C26MKII
Redondo Beach, CA

 

 

 

Just after I sent this out, I thought of a few other advantages this anchorprovides -

1. You don't need to carry so much chain - I understand that the normal ruleof thumb is chain about the length of your boat when using Danfords, Brucesetc. With the bulwagga - you don't need as much.
2. Scope - again depending on who you read, the rule of thumb is a min of5:1 or 7:1 - having a lot of scope is always nice, but in many cases, youdon't have the opportunity to put out 150 - 200 ' of rode when in tightanchorages. We have been able to get away with 4:1 or even 3:1 in some caseswith confidence.

As always, you always want to set up with the maximum scope and chain – but in a lot of situations - this isn't always possible. just some thoughts.

Ken

 

 

Ken,
What an odd shape. How do you stow it. Does it fold or breakdown in any way. I have never seen or heard of this before.


All the best,
Robert Gainer

 

The shape is really the key to this. You can mount it pretty much like anyof you anchors using bow rollers - there might be some adjustments, or youcan hang it off your bow pulpit, have holes drilled in each fluke. The lastoption is to store it in your "locker" but it is a bit bulky.

Just another note: The popularity of this anchor is becoming significant.When I placed my order, they were 30 day's backlogged in their shipments.Everyone who has seen this anchor at work in my marina can't believe howgreat it works. I had one friend that has a 45' Powerboat using a danfordtrying to anchor in 25 - 30 ' took 5 - 6 tries to get it set in mud. Weoffered him a spare one of ours - it set Instantly. ... Just my two cents..

Ken

 

 

I carry 50 ft of chain, so that in a creowded anchorage of less than 10 ft depth, I can use the 5 to 1 scope (recommended for chain) and increase the scope when there is room to swing. I havenītr had any problem hoisting the chain by hand  exc4ept in oen occasion when the nachor was really dug in deep in the mud. Going back to the cockpit after having brought the cvhin "up and down" and lighting a cigarette, gave the boat a chance to "worry the anchor out".


john
pampero iv

 

 

The Bilwaga hasnīt done too well in the "Practical Sailor" tests. OTOH, the Spade has done quite well.


john
pampero iv

 

A good plow is great, a danforth is great, a bruce is great, a fisherman isgreat, too bad weight isn't.  Chain helps, sentinels add bite power.Preplanning and forethought are critical and priceless.

 

 

Actually that's not true. Using the Pratical sailor write up in the January15, 2001 report - overall the Bulwagga ranked # 2 in the overall tests withonly the Spade ranked as # 1. In cost - a 17' bulwagga cost is about $250.00 Vs. the eqivilent Spade which costs in the West Marine Catalog $399.00 (20 lb). Overall - the price with performance - it is a good deal.

Ken

 

 

In that 2001 test, the Spade had a better holding power than the Bulwagga. PS did another test (fine sand over hard sand) and the Spade putperformed the Bullwagga again- the "efficiency eRINF Qaa 50 for the Fortress, , 18.5 for the CQR, 22 for trhe Bulwagga and 28.1 for the Spade. Comparing West Marine rpices with the prices of other vendors is lijke comparuing Neiman-Marcus with Walmart....


john
pampero iv

 

 

For what it's worth anchors recommended for my size boat (24') are as follows; Spade is listed at the dist, site for $315; at the dist site for Bulwagga $250; Bruce at dist site, $166; Danforth at Defencder $41.99.