OK. Back to my ANCHOR quandary . . . .

[Pascal]

George

There is a patch of soft mud, maybe 200' wide, across from and slightly to the the south of the Nixon helipad. I have never been been able to get Angela's delta 88 to set properly there... Move a couple hundred feet and the mud is thicker resulting in a good set. On the other hand my FX55 or Charmer's claw has never failed to set and hold in that spot

On the other hand, in a place like Eliot where you have a thin layer of sand over hard coral, the delta sharp tip can grab on whereas the FX sometimes won't.

But the key to anchoring isn't really the anchor, it s scope, size and giving It a chance to dig in.

One last thing for the claw is price... While I certainly wouldn't choose an anchor base on price, about $350 for a 110lbs and $450 for a 176lbs is hard to beat

[thoward]

I think the Rocna and Manson anchors tested best in a Sail Mag review using mud sand and grass as three different type bottoms some years back. There was a German designed anchor , the name escapes me now, that also tested well all three of these anchors were of similar design with roll bars.

I have been looking in to that Manson Supreme. That rock slot would be great for the fishing folks.(if it works)

[jim rosenthal]

You might also look at the latest issue of Practical Sailor for some interesting anchor rode tests.

I have had good luck with Fortresses and carry several. I also have a SPADE which I am hoping to test this summer. Consistently in the Chesapeake, Fortresses do well- one of them saved my previous boat from a near-certain grounding. Another advantage of aluminum anchors is that they stay somewhat cleaner- they don't corrode as much.

[ron6785]

I have been looking in to that Manson Supreme. That rock slot would be great for the fishing folks.(if it works)

If your talking about the trip line slot , it does not work in fact in boat swing actually works to release the anchor, which is what you don't want.

[Native4]

Just a thought but the fortress is a lighter weight version of a danforth in most every way. If it's attached to a line it gives the ability for someone with a bad back to lift and handle it. If its attached to chain that becomes impossible. Since you are using a windless the weight is not the issue so get the best fit and dont worry about spending all the extra money for a light weight anchor.

Excellent point. The Fortress I use on a smaller fishing boat is deployed and retrieved by hand. Also, one thing I overlooked about the weight of a fortress is that if you let the anchor drop too quickly the chain falls faster than the light weight anchor causing fouling.

[Native4]

Real world conditions can't be duplicated in tests...

A 60lbs on a 75 footer? Previous owner must have been a marina jumper and rarely anchor!

Personally i m a Bruce / Claw fan... We have a 176lbs on the 70 Johnson I run (19' beam and high windage enclosed FB) and it has never failed me. We anchor out a lot, I recently came back from a month in the exumas where we spent most of the time on the hook and it always set on the first time and always reset in current (current reset is a good reason to stay away from Danfirth/FX)

It also works great in soft mud where a delta will drag. On the trips north to New England, I usually only dock 3 or 4 nights and anchor out the other 20 or so, again it s always set, held and reset in tidal anchorages

Here in So Fl, there is a spot with soft mud by Key Biscayne where a delta just will not hold. The Bruce holds great...
The shape works well on most pulpit, it fits well as a replacement to a cute little 66 SS Danfirth that was on the boat before

And don't follow the minimum size in selection charts. Early on i used a 110lbs Bruce which held fine up to around 40kts, the 176lbs has held up 70kts (south Carolina mud, and Edgartown sand)

Well, thanks ., This is a good response as I plan to sped time in Exumas and I live across the Bay from Key Biscayne and know exactly the spot ( I think) you are referring to . ( Off Nixon's old home? ) SImilar mud conditions of Elliot Key .

I will look into Bruce, thanks again.

[Pascal]

Yep! Off the old Nixon home and helipad. I m anchored there right now, dropped the big Bruce, as usual set instantly.

Eliott is usually a thin layer of sand over coral, never really found mud there... Where "across the bay are you?". My boat is at DKM and 70 I run is at monty's

[thoward]

If your talking about the trip line slot , it does not work in fact in boat swing actually works to release the anchor, which is what you don't want.

That is what we need to happen when we get rocked up. With the danforth(only when bottom fishing), we have to shackle the chain to the mud palms and use large zip ties to tie to the the shank. It is strong enough to hold but will break away and allow you to back it out when it gets stuck.

[Native4]

Yep! Off the old Nixon home and helipad. I m anchored there right now, dropped the big Bruce, as usual set instantly.

Eliott is usually a thin layer of sand over coral, never really found mud there... Where "across the bay are you?". My boat is at DKM and 70 I run is at monty's

Yes, you are right. I was actually thinking of an experience I had with a dragging anchor one night during a nasty blow where I had pulled up at Elliot and re anchored further south on the lee at Pumpkin Key just West of Ocean Reef in the Bay. That Night we plowed mud quite a ways. I had a Delta and am sure I had insufficient scope. But I had all-chain rode.

[boatguy123@aol.com]

i have a 110,000 lb 58 lrc and have never moved with my 110 lb bruce claw. we anchor a lot