Anchor Recommenations

[Chasemmc]

Thinking about replacing original plow style with a Rocna or Mantus. How big - 125lbs for a 56 Hatt my? Can the original galley made windless handle? Existing 300' - 3/8 BBB chain. Planned cruising grounds: Intercoastal Southeast gulf, east coast, and bahamas. Don't like marinas so planning on a lot of hook time.

 

[Sadey]

We put a Rocna Vulcan 55 (122lbs) with a Mantus swivel on 300' of 3/8 chain. Had to put a slight notch in the forward part of the stainless anchor roller to accommodate the shank. We have a Galleymaid HW30 windlass and it works perfectly. I finally sleep well on the hook. Of course I set two anchor alarms.

Best price was Amazon with free shipping.

 

[Chasemmc]

Looks like $2k. Any mantas lovers out there?

 

[Scarlett]

Maybe it is just me, but I would have a hard time completely trusting an anchor that was bolted together no matter how much locktite I put on the bolts. That is why I like the Rocna better than the Mantus.

 

[Pascal]

I ve used Bruces AKA Claws for about 15 years on a 70 and an 84 mostly in soFL and the Bahamas as well as a 3 or 4 trips north to new England. They ve held us in some nasty blows and never let us down. And that’s anchoring at least 100 times a year, mostly overnight. In fact on the trips along the east coast with the 70 I would only dock a couple of nights, on the hook the rest of the time.

How I wish I could fit a big Bruce on the 110 I run these days instead of the Poole I m stuck with.

On my own 53, I have a 60 lbs Davis which is ok since we don’t anchor that much. Eventually it will be replaced by a Bruce as well

 

[Freestyle]

Two years of 112 Lbs Rocna, Mantas Swivel and 3/8ths chain. I sleep great. No worries about the windlass which is original but I had Galley Maid rebuild as a precaution.

Rocna and Mantas have cutouts to see how they fit in the pulpit. Rocna fit mine (54 MY original) perfectly. The Mantas would have required a notch in the stainless. Thus the decision to buy Rocna.

I like swivels and The Mantas swivel is a superior piece of engineering and manufacturing.

I would also recommend the Mantas bridle rig if you want to take equipment failure out of your ground tackle game. The chain clip with strap never loses the chain and the mooring clip makes life fast and easy.

Getting space in marinas is now a longshot gamble and expensive. Four nights in Key West in a marina cost the same a s a full Rocna or Mantas rig and chain.

Bruce

Freestyle
1985 52 CPMY (54MY with ext)
Tampa

 

[Chasemmc]

My windless is original and I can't find any records indicating a rebuild. Should it fail retrieving 120 pound anchor, are there alternate ways an old man could retrieve? I anticipate a R/R would take some time. I don't want to drop 4-5k replacing something that currently works. I live in a Biden world where resources never exceed demand.

 

[Sadey]

Funny thought, bringing that anchor up manually. Our clutch has a slot for the bar we use to tighten and loosen it for drop or retrieval. That would also be the way to bring the 122lb anchor on a 3/8 chain up by hand. So…if the Galleymaid fails, I’ll drop at least two gps position pins and maybe a buoy to mark the spot for the diver.

 

[Chasemmc]

Good thought, regards diver. Never considered.
Thx
Mark

 

[Sadey]

I just know it’ll be damn near impossible to bring the weight up with a thin metal bar, 2 or 3 inches at a time.

 

[Chasemmc]

I guess I could also raise it with a 'come-a-long' or ratchet strap. Whereas the davit is rated at 800lbs, maybe take off the side using the davit winch.

 

[Sadey]

I had thought about using the Davit to pull it up. That would be completely dependent on the conditions, of course.

 

[Pascal]

If conditions are calm enough the davit will work although it would have to be done 20/25’ at a time tying the chain and resetting the davit hook. A few years ago I used the davit to recover a 40” prop from the bottom. We had stern winches so I was able to bring it to the water line before using the davit.

 

[rwaldrop13]

If conditions are calm enough the davit will work although it would have to be done 20/25’ at a time tying the chain and resetting the davit hook. A few years ago I used the davit to recover a 40” prop from the bottom. We had stern winches so I was able to bring it to the water line before using the davit.

I'm having flashbacks to my Coast Guard days on a 180' buoy tender working aids to navigation and retrieving/replacing moorings for the buoys. We essentially had to do the "davit" retrieval, but of course we had a procedure for it and a ship designed for it. These were the "Cactus" class buoy tenders, all of which were built before or during WW2, but all replaced by 1998.

 

[firbanks]

125 pound Mantus with 300’ of chain and biggest galley maid windlass with new clutches. Also have a Mantus swivel and also a Mantus chain hook. Will probably round it out with a Mantus bridle. Mantus had a template at FLIBS that I used to check fit - was perfect with no mods required. Ground tackle been excellent in se Florida environment - always with plenty of scope. I will say it likes soft muddy bottoms the least. Mantus has good discounts online and at the boat shows. Good luck!

 

[Freestyle]

Maybe this is just fantasy, but I always reasoned that if my windlass failed I would try to use my tender crane to get the anchor to up and down position and then let nature break it free and then pull it in.

I have never done this but have thought about it as a last ditch move.

Has anyone retrieved an anchor using their tender crane?

Bruce

Freestyle
1985 62 CPMY (54MY with ext)
Tampa

 

[Pascal]

You re not going to break it free using the davit because of the amount of pull needed and the difficulty of keeping the davit lined up. Remember that a davit only pulls in one direction

Breaking it free is easy. Pull the chain onboard while someone moves the boat forward. Once the roller is above the anchor it will break free lifting the chain isn’t too hard. I did it a few times while my windlass being rebuild and the 60 lbs anchor was no big deal either. any anchor over 80/90 lbs is going to be tough…. Once it s free I would tie a line around the chain or use a chain hook and move it aft to the davit