anchor choice

[Bev & Billy on Sta-sea-dawn]

Geez....thanks for the obvious tidbit

[INCOMMUNICADO]

I think Dale has a valid point matching windless to chain.If you are going to the Caribbean I think you can do well with 5/16 G-4 chain 160 to 200 feet with a 45 lb. CQR or another good plow anchor as your number one hook and 50 feet of 3/8 inch chain on 200 feet of 3/4 nylon with a #22 Danforth.carry another hook with you just for insurance.I wish my CQR was a 45 ponder but it's a 35# I would sleep better with the 45.Now the Pacific,I have never cruised there I my boat.I think the big difference is depth in anchor areas.I would think the anchors from the Caribbean will work well but,double the length of chain and nylon and carry an extra 300 feet of nylon.Now 5/16 chain is about 1.2lb per foot (480 lb.for 400 feet)I don't know about you but hauling 200 feet of 5/16 is more than want.G-4 160 feet about 600 boat bucks and don't forget the windless a good electric one new 2500.and up.A good new manual 1500 and up.So study well,you can make some costly mistakes is you don't make the right choices.I hope this gets you thinking.Allen

[Bev & Billy on Sta-sea-dawn]

yes...valid info....thank you

[Leo]

Sol came with 45 and 35 plow and a large and small danforth type anchors. I keep thinking about replacing the 35 with a 45 Manson Supreme or a Bruce once we move to the San Juan's. From what I'm reading I should be ok with what I have if I go with more chain. But then again having a different type of primary anchor may be a good idea. There I go again...
As usual I over think/worry about what needs done on Sol. That has lead to just about everything being rebuilt or replaced. Winter gets expensive around here not enough sailing and too much time thinking of sailing.

Leo

[Dale Tanski]

While you are deciding... do you really want to invest in galvanized chain?  That is a lot of money to end up in a rusted mass in your chain locker.  With stainless chain you have half a chance to retain your investment, it is like money in the bank.  Spend once or several times?  Fresh water wash down won't help unless you wash your chain all the time. 

This adds yet another wrinkle to the equation.  Not all types of chain are available in stainless. If you decide that stainless is the way to go, that might be the gatekeeper when it comes to windlass selection.

Dale

[Randy]

I use a 35 lb Delta with 50' of chain here in the Chesapeake Bay. Works great in the Bay's soft mud and sand bottoms. I also carry a Fortress 23 as a backup. Boat came with a 35 lb CQR, which is, in my humble opinion, an outdated peice of crap. I gave it away.

[INCOMMUNICADO]

Randy,would you happen to have a 45 lb. CQR that you would like to give away.Allen

[SVJourney]

I'll take that 45' CQR!!/

Journey came with 35# CQR on 80' of (rusty!) 5/16HT + 9/16 rode
Back up is 35 bruce on 50ft 3/8 BB

We've been cruising the Caribbean for 3 months now.  In all that time we have NEVER anchored in over 20 ft of water.  95% of the time in sand.  Been in some horrendous blows and haven't dragged it yet.  Always put out at least 5 to 1 scope.

We will be changing to a 45lb anchor on 200ft of 5/16HT for the Pacific next year.  Will carry a couple hundred feet of rope for the deepest anchorages.

[Randy]

That's the only way to use a CQR. Oversize it ! If you put enough weight down there, it will hold for a while.

[Dale Tanski]

All anchors are not created the same... thank goodness.  Each is designed for a different application, bottom condition, storage situation and price point.  CQR's are not that effective in hard mud or flat shale stone.  I have dragged a Danforth in weeds for boat length after boat length.  How about a Danforth or a Fortress in baseball sized stones... not good.  I have never owned a Bruce but I am sure it has it limitations and strengths as well. 

I suppose this is why a good sailors carry an assortment of tackle, assess the bottom conditions, space available around the vessel and select and appropriately set the best choice or selection of the best choices. One man's pond is not the same as anothers.

It is the prudent sailor that learns and then applies what they know about each piece of ground tackle good, bad or indifferent. This is what separates the boat from the beach on any given night. 

Dale Tanski

[Randy]

Very diplomatic Dale. Thanks for the good words.