Anchor Geekdom

[Ishmael]

Well, I sure was happy with my Rocna compared to my CQR. Performs really well, unambiguously better than the CQR.

But now my confidence is eroded a bit.

I guess I can convince myself that in my safe little hidey hole anchorages, i'll typically be drifting slow enough for a good reset in the event of a wind shift.

Set it with enough scope and you should be fine. Remember: Steve uses limited scope in his torture tests. We later tried 5:1 scope and the Rocna reset well. (It used to be the conventional wisdom was 7:1 scope, but with crowded anchorages everyone now shortens up a bit. No one recommends 3.5:1 for serious anchoring, Steve just does it to really challenge the anchor.)

Everything Kim says is correct. However I very often anchor in crowded little nooks, overnight at 3:1 scope with the Idea that if the wind where to build to gale conditions, I would add more scope.

I'll note that out here in the PNW we never get significant Thunderstorms. Our BIG winds result from larger weather systems and are quite steady in direction.

Steve

Not all the time...we were anchored in a nice bight on Rebecca Spit (Quadra Island) and in the morning, with the tide going out and a 35-knot southerly holding us tight on our rode in 10 feet of nice clear water, I decided to move to shelter. We had just re-anchored in said shelter when the wind changed direction to 35 knots northerly. I'd say there was maybe a minute of calm between the two. Our nicely set anchor was actually nicely set in a submerged log, and we hurtled towards the beach with a few chunks of old bark on the anchor. Got the motor going in the nick of time and went back to our old location. We only dragged two or three more times before we found decent holding.

 

[Panope]

That's interesting Ish. Sounds like log was the problem with the re-set, but I wonder: Did the boat have time to 'drift' slowly to the new position during the wind shift or did it do something like my torture test and give the anchor a good 'yank'. I only ask to see if my test has I real life parallel.

Steve

 

[Alex W]

Panope: I saw your test where you reshaped the nose of the Manson Supreme and reduced the shank to increase nose weight. Interesting stuff! The only problem that I've had with my Manson Supreme is getting it to push through kelp and not get tangled up in it. All of my dragging problems have resulted in my pulling up the anchor and finding it completely engulfed in kelp (and at least once injuring my back when trying to pull up a 25lb anchor covered in 50lbs of kelp).

Do you have any advice in which modern anchor might be best at puncturing the kelp and getting through? I need to buy a new anchor soon for a new boat.

 

[Ishmael]

That's interesting Ish. Sounds like log was the problem with the re-set, but I wonder: Did the boat have time to 'drift' slowly to the new position during the wind shift or did it do something like my torture test and give the anchor a good 'yank'. I only ask to see if my test has I real life parallel.

Steve

It was definitely a yank, it must have been the eye of the system passing right over us, went from flat calm to 35 knots in the wrong direction in a matter of seconds. With 120' of rode out, we got 240' of travel before the anchor was involved, so lots of time to accelerate. Your torture test is probably milder than what we experienced.

 

[Panope]

Ok. I'll keep torturing.

 

[Panope]

Panope: I saw your test where you reshaped the nose of the Manson Supreme and reduced the shank to increase nose weight. Interesting stuff! The only problem that I've had with my Manson Supreme is getting it to push through kelp and not get tangled up in it. All of my dragging problems have resulted in my pulling up the anchor and finding it completely engulfed in kelp (and at least once injuring my back when trying to pull up a 25lb anchor covered in 50lbs of kelp).

Do you have any advice in which modern anchor might be best at puncturing the kelp and getting through? I need to buy a new anchor soon for a new boat.

Alex, the short answer is I have no advice.

The long answer: I have not done any filming in kelp or seriously vegetated areas so visual evidence. I used my Manson Supreme for 3 seasons and did have a couple instances where it would not set. Each time I was in very shallow water and the anchor came up with a massive ball of salad (the big leafy stuff the size of a pizza). I'm just now starting to use my Spade in real world anchoring and so far it has been 100%. However, I have not anchored in those same weedy spots.

Steve

 

[IStream]

FWIW, the one and only time my Mantus failed to set it was trying to penetrate brown kelp in Garrison Bay. I pulled it up, cleaned the kelp ball off, and dropped it about 100 feet away where it bit like usual. Goes to show that no anchor has it all.

 

[socalrider]

Great thread - thanks. I just upgraded my 35lb Lewmar claw to a 60lb Manson Boss scored for $160 on Craigslist. Should be able to take anything I throw at it and more here in tame SoCal. I'm an anchoring novice, will be working through the rest of my ground tackle and doing some overnights soon. Very helpful to be able to see the anchors in action to better visualize what's going on.

 

[Ajax]

^^ You're a lucky dude to score a 60lb. next-generation anchor for $160. That's a real score.

 

[Alex W]

I was curious to see how the new Manson Vulcan is doing and found someone testing them using similar methods (but a very different boat) to Panope:



Not quite as detailed in what he is doing, but it was still nice to see another anchor in action.

Imitiation, flattery, all of that...

 

[Panope]

We just ate 3 of those crabs that were featured in many of my anchor videos. Traps were set in the "sandy mud" test area. The first crab of the season always tastes best. Easy to get sick of eating them.

Recipe: Boil in water, dip in butter. Perhaps it is time for me to find a new one.

Steve

 

[Rantifarian]

Look for a Singaporean chilli recipe. Bloody amazing with mud crab, and I assume with whatever crabs those are too

 

[HFC Hunter]

+1 Rant. With deep fried mini-breadrolls to soak up the sauce. Mmmmmmm

 

[sow1ld]

Sarca Excel all the way for me here on the windiest city in the world. Works flawlessly. My back up anchor is a genuine Bruce and ive had no trouble with that at all

 

[socalrider]

^^ You're a lucky dude to score a 60lb. next-generation anchor for $160. That's a real score.

Thanks! Now I need to figure out how to fit it to my boat - it's massive!

 

[Panope]

Nota, I have 20 foot lengths of chain at the bitter ends of my (mixed) rodes, anchored to a STRONG point in the locker. Chain should survive, however it might grind a bit of the (aluminum) boat away. Unfortunately, we do not get hurricanes in my neck of the woods so I'll likely never get to see how it works in extreme conditions.

Steve

 

[kimbottles]

Nota, I have 20 foot lengths of chain at the bitter ends of my (mixed) rodes, anchored to a STRONG point in the locker. Chain should survive, however it might grind a bit of the (aluminum) boat away. Unfortunately, we do not get hurricanes in my neck of the woods so I'll likely never get to see how it works in extreme conditions.

Steve

I am perfectly happy to NOT have hurricanes here in the PNW!!

 

[Panope]

Nota, I have 20 foot lengths of chain at the bitter ends of my (mixed) rodes, anchored to a STRONG point in the locker. Chain should survive, however it might grind a bit of the (aluminum) boat away. Unfortunately, we do not get hurricanes in my neck of the woods so I'll likely never get to see how it works in extreme conditions.

Steve

I am perfectly happy to NOT have hurricanes here in the PNW!!

Sissy.

 

[kimbottles]

Nota, I have 20 foot lengths of chain at the bitter ends of my (mixed) rodes, anchored to a STRONG point in the locker. Chain should survive, however it might grind a bit of the (aluminum) boat away. Unfortunately, we do not get hurricanes in my neck of the woods so I'll likely never get to see how it works in extreme conditions.

Steve

I am perfectly happy to NOT have hurricanes here in the PNW!!

Sissy.

Either that or maybe at the age of 68 I have had enough of that kind of excitement in boating for this lifetime.

 

[Panope]

Nota, I have 20 foot lengths of chain at the bitter ends of my (mixed) rodes, anchored to a STRONG point in the locker. Chain should survive, however it might grind a bit of the (aluminum) boat away. Unfortunately, we do not get hurricanes in my neck of the woods so I'll likely never get to see how it works in extreme conditions.

Steve

I am perfectly happy to NOT have hurricanes here in the PNW!!

Sissy.

Either that or maybe at the age of 68 I have had enough of that kind of excitement in boating for this lifetime.

Whippersnapper... Back in my day, if I hurricane was blowin, we would swim down and hang on to the bottom with the rode in our teeth!