Conference unifix::sailing

Anchors and anchoring has been discussed previously in these NOTES. From 
my experience and published reports, it appears that the CQR anchor is 
the only anchor that will reliably reset itself if accidentally tripped. 
In a couple of surveys of serious cruising sailors, all (as I recall) 
use a 35 lb or heavier CQR as the primary anchor. Danforths tend to be 
used as backups, perhaps due to the difficulty of stowing them on bow 
rollers. Danforths also tend to plane in a strong current. 

A recent issue of Practical Sailor reported on the anchors used by PS 
readers, some 25% of whom either never anchor or never anchor overnight. 
Only 9% reported using Bruce anchors. The vast majority use Danforths or 
CQRs. I have heard some negative comments on Bruce anchors (there was a 
comment to this effect in these NOTES). 

Any anchor will have problems on a weedy bottom if it is too light. A 
heavy anchor is needed to get through the weeds to the bottom. Due to 
its substantial fluke area, a Danforth would have, I suspect, more 
trouble with weeds than a CQR. 

Various tests have shown that CQRs set quickly and hold very well. The 
secret with any anchor is lots of scope -- like 7:1 minimum. A long 
length of chain between the anchor and the nylon rode (assuming you 
don't use all chain) helps holding and reduces chafe (we've buried 40' 
of chain in Maine mud). Test results can be misleading, as holding power 
varies substantially with bottom characteristics, scope, etc. The 
overwhelming preference CQRs noted above is a strong recommendation.

If you buy a plow, get a CQR. The CQR is forged, the rest cast or welded 
(ie, much less strong). 

Alan

    

    Alan prefers CQR, I prefer the Danforth (on my boat under the
    conditions I cruise).
    
    My reasons:   I mostly anchor in sand/mud (rarely heavy weeds) and
    the Danforth holds well there. Getting a Danforth to set in weeds
    takes patience (very slow backing down -IE drifting at first) but
    will work.    I have never had a Danforth drag on me once set.
    It is light (I have a boat that would suffer underway with an
    equivilant CQR on the bow) which means I dont mind dropping/retrieving
    and stowing the anchor from the cockpit (I can also use the sheet
    winches to help break it out of the bottom and dont need an anchor
    windlass).
    
    Caveat:
    If I had a larger boat needing an anchor in the 35+ lb range regardless
    of type, assuming she carried her beam well forward to support
    the weight of anchor/chain/windlass gracefully on her nose, I would
    probably opt for the all chain-CQR myself since it handles weeds,
    snags and setting quite well. 

    Walt

See note 146.11 for a comment about Danforth and Bruce anchors. 

One small request to anyone asking for advice: Generally you get some. I 
for one would be interested in knowing what you finally decide to do, 
and why. In this case, what anchor will/did you get, and what influenced 
your decision? 

Alan

    For my regular working anchor I use a 45# fisherman type Hereshoff with
    a bit of chain and 200' of 1" nylon. It sets in almost anything
    with no hassle and will hold even on short scope if needed. I've
    had the rode wrapped around the fluke all night in a strong blow
    in Cuttyhunk (35-40 mph) and never knew it. On the other hand test
    show that # for # the Danforth wins and indeed during winter mooring
    I use a 35# ht, a 20 kilo Northill (I love this but not in weeds),
    the 45# fisherman and a 45# CQR (I don't trust this one..). The
    fisherman will move but not break out under duress and it stows
    nicely up forward. My boat is a traditional ketch, wood, 35lod
    10+' beam and full (well almost) keel. 
    
    Ed

    I've just opted for a 45# CQR for my O'Day 40.    The swaying factor
    for me was the reset capability of the CQR.  The Bruce apparently
    does not reset as well, and often needs to be pulled up and cleaned
    in order to reset properly.  If I read PS correctly, I would have
    had to go to a66# Bruce to get the same holding power.  Thanks,
    but no thanks..
    
    Besides Marine Exchange had one cheap. :-)
    
    My second anchor is a Danforth 22S.  It was my primary on t 33 I
    had before this boat.  I also carry a Danforth 12S for chuckles
    (It was a good stern anchor on the 33).
    
    Rick

   Just when I thought it was safe to buy a 25 lb. CQR as my new primary
   anchor, Rule Industries (Danforth) had to bring out their new Deep-Set
   plow clone to confuse me.  Rule claims to have twice the holding power
   with half the weight of an equivalent CQR.  For my C & C 26 then, Rule
   suggests their P700 (14 lbs.) anchor. 
   
   Granted, more weight (according to Alan's formula in 373.0) should
   be better in an anchor, however the thought of lugging a 25 lb. anchor
   and 20' of 3/8" chain around does little to make me feel happy.  Does
   anyone have substantiated information about the new Danforth plow
   anchors?

   Presently, I am using a Danforth 20H, which I know to be substantially
   more than I _should_ need.  The motivation to add a CQR/Plow is to
   provide the usual 2nd good anchor, and especially an anchor which
   will re-set itself reliably.  My boat tends to sail quite a bit on
   the anchor and although I have yet to accidentally break the 20H out,
   I would surely sleep better at night with a plow down on the bottom.

   Does Practical Sailor have any guidance on judging the holding power of
   similar anchors?  Any words on trusting a new anchor versus the tried
   and true CQR?  My new CQR is ready and waiting at Boat / US, the
   question is ... should I bother getting it? 
   
   Carl

    Carl,
    
    My opinion is that if you've got a 20lb. high tensile Dansforth
    on a 26 foot boat, you're at overkill already for your cruising
    area.  My old O'Day 25 rode out Gloria on a 13lb. Danforth standard,
    10:1 scope and weighted.
    
    Tsk, tsk, next thing you know you'll be looking at power windlasses,
    then more battery power to operate it, then a generator to keep
    the battery charged, then a . . .

    re: 343.8
    
    I would heartily disagree that having oversize ground tackle is
    overkill. If you want to sleep well at night, there is nothing better
    than knowing you have enough scope and enough weight on the hook that
    it will reset easily. 
    
    We have a 25' and carry a Danforth 13, and a CQR 25 both with 300' of
    1/2" rode with thimbles on the end so that in a pinch I can shackle
    them together for more scope (or for use as trailing warp). 
    
    We I looked into getting the CQR for the boat, supposedly a CQR 20
    would be sufficient for the boat, but upon asking around, I found that
    many people had problems setting a CQR 20into certain types of bottoms
    and suggested that we go with the heavier CQR 25. 
    
    /jim

RE: .9

>> Yes indeedy, Danforth (Rule) does publish some impressive numbers. But,
>> if the holding power of an anchor is a function of the area of its
>> flukes, I don't see why a Deepset would hold so much better than any
>> other anchor with similar fluke area. Advertising hype? 

Deepset anchors have shanks with greater flexibility, and I understand the 
theory is that this design helps both to reduce shock loads on the anchor 
and to absord greater side forces before transferring them to the
fluke/bottom interface, thereby reducing the likelihood of breaking out
over time. 

Whether this holds true in practice remains to be seen.  I second Alan's 
vote for some independent tests.

John.

    Since the last few replies in this note referred to the "new" Deepset
    Plow by Danforth, and I am considering bying a used one I wondering if
    there were any comments concerning this anchor now that it has been 
    around for some time. PS recently did 2 articles on anchors and the
    bottom line on the Danforth was that it was similar to the CQR in
    design and holding power but they felt the quality and workmanship were
    below the CQR standards. BUT I have the chance to pick up a 35lb
    Danforth plow at "a good price" and was curious about peoples
    experiences if any. I do know thaty Danforth asks top $$$ for there
    plow (lb for lb much more money than the CQR). After reading and
    talking to folks I think the Delta 35 would be my choice is I were
    willing to buy a new anchor but.....