Anchors

[Craig Smith]

Hi all.

I have to confess to having only one anchor, a 20lb plough (not CQR) and so intend to add another different anchor for next season. The new anchor would become no.1 bower with the plough relegated to the no.2 spot. I'm tempted by a 10kg Sword (Alain says that the 5kg one will do the trick but it sounds awfy light - it's all about shape and area you know!)

but keep coming back to a tried and tested 10kg Delta.

NIck swears by his 10kg Spade and DaveS has every confidence in his 16kg Delta.

Shard has a CQR I think but wouldn't be without a BFO fisherman's as well.

The Sword / Oceane will perform much better than the Delta, in soft mud. In hard sand it seems to have setting problems, as seen in the Yachting Monthly testing. The Delta's other benefit is better strength.

The Spade is better than both, but expensive as you say.

I am tempted to recommend the ideal solution, but will restrain myself.

The blurb on the Delta promised self launching which sounded useful. So I bought a Delta. At that time the newer anchors had not really made their presence noticed.

The Delta certainly does not like holding in kelp, and is sometimes spectacularly unsuccesful! With a decent bottom it holds fine, but I have modified my laying technique quite a bit.

The Delta is a superb anchor. Credit where it is due. Earlier models by Simpson Lawrence were better than Lewmar's cost-cutting versions, but it still performs exceptionally well. Even in the Yachting Monthly testing, which has all the CQR and Bruce fans raving about how it couldn't possibly be realistic, the Delta comes in third behind only the Spade and Rocna (in terms of averaged holding power) out of fourteen.

It does have its flaws - you pointed out one wrt. kelp yourself, but it's still a good bet as a general purpose pick.

I cant comment on newer anchors, but two things jump to mind. One is, as others have mentioned, is not the anchor - but the chain.

Chain is more and more important the worse the anchor is.

Bruce Anchor

...is no longer produced. The only options are copies.

[Silkie]

Hopefully Alain and Craig won't find us here.

Tee hee. Well it did take 3 weeks anyway. Nothing personal Craig but when you and Alain get started the OP does tend to get lost in the crossfire.

Glad to see you've now got a distributor in this part of the world and the pricing seems competitive against the Spade so I guess I'll have to think seriously about the Rocna too.

I'm planning on going to the boat show on the last Saturday. Are you going to have any sooper-dooper introductory boat show offers?

[Craig Smith]

You'll have to talk to the distributor Silkie. Frankly they have quite limited stock at the moment, and I know they've pre-sold a lot already, so they may not feel the need for introductory discounts. Why sell a product you need to discount to move?

Anyway you could try your luck.

[Silkie]

Well it's a point of view I suppose.

Some distributors look on a show as a means to promote themselves and their new product in as many ways as possible. A cash sale from an exhibition stand at a small discount is surely no less profitable than a full-price sale (which incurs the costs of dealing with remote payment, physical despatch, carriers etc.) while generating considerably more goodwill as well as being sales they might otherwise not have had?

Anyway it sounds as though only a small quantity of Rocnas have been imported on a toe-in-the-water basis. Are you sure that these people are whole-heartedly behind your excellent anchor? Now if I might recommend a small, newly-formed, specialist company Anchors'r'Us who are passionate about their area of expertise.. Check out our website at http://www.Anchorsrus.com.

[Silkie]

Welcome to the forum Michael and thanks for your contribution to my anchor dilemma. I still haven't decided. Current runners are 10kg Delta, Rocna & Spade.

Price is important to me but I'd prefer one of the two newer designs which puts the focus on the Rocna. The two main differences between it and the Spade seem to be the roll-bar and weighted tip.

I can imagine a situation after landing on it's side where the Rocna's roll-bar catches on something before the blade digs in and gives the illusion of a set anchor. And while there is an irresistable logic to having a weight at the pointy end of an anchor I would think that the Rocna's slimmer cross-section at the tip must make it dig in more easily.

You didn't say what size of Spade you chose. Look forward to hearing the results of your long-term testing but I'll have to make up my mind before then.

Dave

[Craig Smith]

Thought I'd add this. Our table, containing the summary comments from West Marine as published in their 2007 catalog. Relates to the Yachting Monthly testing, but direct from the source so-to-speak.



No comments, take it or leave it.

[Silkie]

I see Gael Force have taken on the Manson Supreme here.

"The anchor has been closely reviewed by Lloyds Register of Shipping and it received a SHHP status, (Super High Holding Power). The first and only production boat anchor in the world to do so. Certificate Number SPA-ANCH0062"

[claymore]

Silkie
I bought a bigger Bruce about 4 years ago.
- its just sitting in my workshop, piercing my shins each time I walk into it.
Would you be interested in crossing my palm with a few of the folding ones?
I'll go and check the weight of it if so.

[Silkie]

Probably wouldn't have it even if you paid me since everyone knows that the Bruce is a crap anchor but just out of interest how big is it?

[Nick]

Should be an Australian anchor really shouldn't it?

Now modified to create a new generation HHP version called the 'Sheila', featuring a roll bar to make sure she stays off her back . . .