Annual Anchor Musings

[Silkie]

Every year, at about this time, I decide I must buy a new anchor and after starting several thinly-veiled trolls on sailing forums I carry on with the (t)rusty plough. This year WILL be different and I WILL buy a new anchor.

I see Compass are now offering the Bugel although I am a bit confused about whether this is the Bugel or a bugel, umlauts notwithstanding. Is bugel just a generic name for a generic "rollbar" anchor with a flat fluke and will the Compass offering have been made in China from chocolate steel? It's certainly an excellent price and this must at least partly result from the simple design. The design seems to be popular in the Med.

I actually know someone who has one (and will ask his opinion when next we meet) but wondered what thoughts there were on here.

And remember...

[little boy blue]

interestingly, if you use the " brand " search facility on the compass site the name
" bugel " is conspicuous by its absence. that may be of significance. also there does not appear to be any identifying marks stamped on the example in their photo.
i am considering the purchase of a manson supreme which looks as tho` it will have to be from gaelforce, inverness. a bit dearer - but if you are interested in investigating the possibilty of a discount for buying 2 - let me know. i am looking at ways to get the thing to glasgow for free.

[Silkie]

Is there something you're not telling us or have I not been paying attention?

[little boy blue]

i fear the latter - shame on you. 7 days
moody 31, bought sept 08.

[Ancora Latina]

Hi Silkie,
Bügel means « BSH » (big stupid hoop ) or « Roll bar » in English. This design has been patented by Peter Bruce, more than 60 years ago. and used again by Rolf Katzirek to design the Bügel anchor.

This BSH is used by anchors which don’t have enough weight distribution to dig in the anchor tip, or let’s say, in badly balanced anchors.

As the Bügel design is not patented, this type of anchor, very simple to manufacture is broadly made by local workshops in the Med, (Turkey – Tunisia...) but beware of the quality, you have what you pay for!

The Bügel is one of the good modern anchors, but they are much better products available…

João

[Silkie]

Sorry Stuart - it's an age thing.

What size are you thinking of? I seriously doubt whether it'll be possible to get any discount for two anchors even with associated chain, warp and shackles. I'd considered approaching Dave at Alba (who presumably would get some kind of trade price from them) to see if he might negotiate.

AL - any plans for a distributor over here?

[little boy blue]

looking at 11kgs or 16kgs i think. need to check further. i don`t require chain or shackles.
what size for you - 3kgs - 7 kgs ? what have you got at the moment ?
if the worst comes to the worst i can always go to inverness on the free bus and humph them back in a holdall

[Ancora Latina]

AL - any plans for a distributor over here?

Hi Silkie

Up to now, we are selling direct to UK, for small sizes ( up to R 800 - for boats up to 33 feet) we can send them by post and the shipping cost is reasonable.

We have several contacts with distributors in UK and we are also planning to start a local manufacturing for UK and all Europe... Just a question of time and we will keep you all informed.

João

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Every year, at about this time, I decide I must buy a new anchor and after starting several thinly-veiled trolls on sailing forums I carry on with the (t)rusty plough. This year WILL be different and I WILL buy a new anchor.

I see Compass are now offering the Bugel although I am a bit confused about whether this is the Bugel or a bugel, umlauts notwithstanding. Is bugel just a generic name for a generic "rollbar" anchor with a flat fluke and will the Compass offering have been made in China from chocolate steel? It's certainly an excellent price and this must at least partly result from the simple design. The design seems to be popular in the Med.

I actually know someone who has one (and will ask his opinion when next we meet) but wondered what thoughts there were on here.

And remember...

Dave, not having seen one of them in use, (luckily) but from looking at the design I dont rate them highly
It is my reckoning that if it is burried in sand or mud and the boat is swinging around quite a lot, it would be inclined to pull out as if the flat plate is tilted or pulled sideways and forward at the same instance then it could raise the tip and slide out in an upward angle, something like the blade on a skate while the skater is doing a long sweeping arc on the ice.
Very hard to explain in words.

Incidently, one of my mates is selling 30m of 8mm anchor chain, which I hope I'll not regret having not bought it myself someday.

[Silkie]

Up to now, we are selling direct to UK, for small sizes ( up to R 800 - for boats up to 33 feet) we can send them by post and the shipping cost is reasonable.

I didn't see any prices on your site João. How much for a 600 or an 800 and how about shipping costs? Just idle curiousity - don't go to any trouble.

[Silkie]

what size for you - 3kgs - 7 kgs ? what have you got at the moment ?

I wouldn't anchor my Mirror with a 3kg anchor no matter how good the design! I couldn't quite bring myself to trust the 15 pounder either and have been considering the 25. I've currently got a 20lb plough.

[Ancora Latina]

I didn't see any prices on your site João. How much for a 600 or an 800 and how about shipping costs? Just idle curiosity - don't go to any trouble.

Price list is on:
http://www.ancoralatina.com/acolhimento ... _list.html

Shipping costs: depend on the location where you are and of the size of the anchor.
- Anchors, up to the standard Raya 800 and “Tempest” up to the size 1300 can be send by post and the price is OK, biggest sizes have to be sent by Air parcel and it is more expensive..

I wouldn't anchor my Mirror with a 3kg anchor

It’s not the weight of the anchor which make the holding but its surface area... (and the efficiency of the design) What is the LOA and displacement of your boat??

João

[Silkie]

She's 6.7m LOA and a bit over 2T in cruising trim.

[Ancora Latina]

She's 6.7m LOA and a bit over 2T in cruising trim.

For this size of boat, you would need our model R 600 (4.75 kg) or a concurent anchor of 10 kg (about 600 sq cm of surface area)
http://www.ancoralatina.com/acolhimento ... ction.html

[Silkie]

I'd seen your selection table OK but at >6m and >2T I had put Silkie in the R800 category. The notion of lying to a 10lb anchor with a 2T boat is slightly scary. (Design notwithstanding.)