Anchor's

roywebster · 19 April 2004, 22:01

My new boat is having electronics fitted this week. The only thing left to sort out now is an anchor. The boat is 6.3 m Can anybody suggest type and size to get?

Roy

gingercoastie · 19 April 2004, 22:35

I have a folding grapnel, about 8kg, I think with leaded core anchor line (both from www.compass.com).

I am sure I will told I should probably have a spade, CQR or danforth, but for my requirements the grapnel has proved capable.

roywebster · 19 April 2004, 22:45

Thank you for this I will buy one this week I will be in Cornwall tommorrow pm for the rest of the week.Do you know somewhere in Falmouth where I can get one?

Roy

roohairy · 20 April 2004, 01:29

Sorry ginger coastie but there's no way I'd go to sea in any boat over 14' with only an 8Kg grapnel. Use it by all means as an everyday anchor but please get something better too. I would probably go for a Danforth as it'll lie flat on the bow. I also like Bruce's, think they're better than CQR's as an all round anchor especially on rocky ground.
But most important is to carry enough chain to get the catenery flat on the seabed when she 'snatches', you can do this with weighted rope but you need a lot. Think about being anchored off a lee shore in breakers in a force 8....

Headhunter · 20 April 2004, 01:40

There are new bruce style anchors on ebay currently, both galvanised and stainless steel.
A 7.5kg Bruce with 5-10 metres of chain and 30metres plus of 12-14mm rode or lead weighted rode should be adequate for your size of setup.

I have a 5kg s/s bruce with 5m of chain and 50 metres of 12mm multiplait rode with a backup 6kg folding grappling type anchor with 30 metres used for short stops without leaving the rib.

Try Jimmy Green at Beer in Devon, they specialise in anchors and warps and may be worth a detour on your way to Cornwall.

John

Richard B · 20 April 2004, 01:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by roywebster

Can anybody suggest type and size to get?

We can all tell you our opinions until the cows come home, but you need to work out which one you can actually fit on the boat! We happen to have a 7.5kg bruce with 10m chain and 60m of octctplait, but that's a completely bomb-proof set of gear and we have the advantage of being able to store in an enormous anchor locker, which has a large hatch. You may be constrained by storage space, so if you can fit something like a 5kg bruce on board, then great. If not, then the folding grapnel is probably a good compromise - but beware of it's limitations. Whatever you get, don't forget to add some chain. At least a couple of metres, the more the better. But wherever you stow it, beware that it will move around under way.

tim griffin · 20 April 2004, 07:58

of the five main anchors as illastrated in the RYA day skipper course notes
they come out as follows
1 Fishermans taditional type good for rocky weedy bottoms awkward to stow
and poor holding in sand and mud
2 Bruce good holding to weight ratio awkward to stow in small anchor locker
3 Delta good holding to weight ratio designed to stay on bow roller for self launching
4 Danforth good holding to weight ratio stows flat can be hard to break out of mud ( no problems for me so far)
5 CQR plough good holding to weight ratio hard to stow and moving parts can capsize
with all the anchors as mentioned before chain and rope work best due to the catanerary effect , look at your cruising ground and see what the bottom is like on the chart this may help in choosing your anchor or better still annchors i also have a 15kg folding grapnel type heavy but the weight is needed and is only used for backup so it will boil down to stowage and best suited for your cruising grounds
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices

gingercoastie · 20 April 2004, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by roohairy

Think about being anchored off a lee shore in breakers in a force 8....

I don't want to get into a mass argument over this, but if I am out in this sort of weather, then I have been an idiot, not to listen to all the warnings available.

I point to note is, that whatever type of anchor you have, make sure you know how to use it. I may be teaching you how to suck eggs (actually I don't know how too

). Many a time we have requested / asked poeple to anchor while that await assistance and the answers more often than not are "haven't got one" or "never tried to do that".

gingercoastie · 20 April 2004, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by roywebster

Thank you for this I will buy one this week I will be in Cornwall tommorrow pm for the rest of the week.Do you know somewhere in Falmouth where I can get one?

Sorry forgot this question, as you enter Falmouth you will pass numerous chandlers who will be able to sell you what you require, and may even advise you on the most suitable for this area.

Daniel · 20 April 2004, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingercoastie

I don't want to get into a mass argument over this, but if I am out in this sort of weather, then I have been an idiot, not to listen to all the warnings available.

As it happens i specifically go out in these conditions. Not to be an arse, not to anoy coastguards and not really to end up having to anchor a few hundred metres form a lee shore but because i've got a boat that is up to it and it's fun and demanding, mentally and physically.

I was out in 30knts of breeze only the other day. Neadless to say i have a large anchor and plenty of chain, all my crew are told where it is and how to deploy it before we leave the harbour as part of my 'breif'.

Rupert Bear · 20 April 2004, 11:23

It really does depend on what you can stow. I found that my achor locker will take my 5kg Bruce anchor several metres of chain and 50m of 12mm rope plus a few odds and sods with a bouy clipped on top of the locker. that should be enouh for my size of boat and is neatly and easily accessed.

ps I got out in pretty rough weather too, if I waited for calm conditions I would never get out

roohairy · 20 April 2004, 12:39

How many people have really tried their gear? I'm afraid that a lot of people may get a nasty shock! I bought a new boat a couple of years ago, it came with a 12Kg CQR type (a copy) 8m 6mm chain and I have miles of 16mm polyprop (it's cheap and I had it). On a 22' seaworker it won't hold the boat in more than a force 4 on a weedy rocky bottom, and is basically useless in anything except soft mud. Not trying to put anyone off CQR's especially as I'm now using a different 15Kg copy which is much better, just trying to point out that what looked like adequate ground tackle is practically useless!

The boat also came with a 0.6m diameter sea anchor, tried that in a force six and it's not big enough to hold the boat head to weather. Try your gear in a safe place in a lot of wind!

Richard B · 20 April 2004, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by roohairy

I'm now using a different 15Kg...

I take it you've got a winch for that! What's the weight of your Seaworker?

gingercoastie · 20 April 2004, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

As it happens i specifically go out in these conditions. Not to be an arse, not to anoy coastguards and not really to end up having to anchor a few hundred metres form a lee shore but because i've got a boat that is up to it and it's fun and demanding, mentally and physically.

At my station at least, we do not have a problem with people going out in these conditions, as long as they are prepared for it.

As it happens my usual crew (wife and kids) would not thank me, nor would my casual crew that I pick up every now and then (coastguards). Can you imagine the embaresment of being out when the weather is not very nice, having a problem on the boat and needing rescue or assistance from the coastguard or RNLI.

roohairy · 20 April 2004, 20:19

Seaworker weighs about 2 tonnes, but has high windage forward, and no winch! Don't anchor very often! Should have said that I carry a 15Kg anchor, not that I use it.....