Anchor Keep / Sell Advice - What Would You Do ?

[Pau Hana Daz]

This is not intended to be a "what's the best anchor?" thread, but is rather a request for advice as to whether or not to keep or sell a particular anchor.

Our new to us cruising boat (41' LOA, 22,000+ displacement) came with some decent ground tackle, but we are changing it a bit. Our intended use is to summer in the Chesapeake and New England, then winter in the Bahamas. We'll do that a couple of years, then probably head south.

Anyway, we currently have a 35# CQR and a 45# Bruce on the bow (one with 200' chain and the other with 50' chain / 150' rode), and a new, never assembled Fortress FX-37. I'm not enamored of the CQR, and am going to replace it with a Rocna 25.

My question: Would you keep the Fortress as an emergency/backup even though I'll still have the Bruce, or try and sell it as well as the CQR to help pay for the Rocna?

Thanks for any input.

[ReMetau]

If you have the room it, I would keep it as a backup or as a stern anchor since they don't weigh much.

[boatman61]

Sell the Fortress... forget the Rocna and keep the CQR as a kedge and the Bruce as main....
Unless your the trendy type who likes the latest for bragging rights....
Bruce and CQR's have a long proven history and are hard to beat.... my Bruce's have never dragged.... CQR has in thick weed... hence its my kedge

[Cotemar]

Rocna 25 for primary
CQR for secondary
Fortress for emergency backup with 40 feet of chain and 150' of rode in a bucket.
Great to use out of a dingy (Storm anchor)

Sell the Bruce

Mark

[svHyLyte]

The FX37 will serve as a good storm anchor. If it is not already, break it down and store it in one of the Ballistic Nylon Bags that Fortress has for the units. You can reassemble it quickly and in conjunction with the Rockna you'll have good storm anchoring system.

The genuine CQR is actually a very good/reliable anchor although a 35 seems a bit small for your yacht (I would have expected a 45). If it is a real CQR and not one of the knock-offs I'd keep it but you should have no difficulty finding a buyer if you decide to sell and it is a lot of Iron to carry around.

With the Rockna, you have no need of the Bruce and I'd dump that.

One anchor I would add is an FX23 at the bow for bottom conditions that don't favor the Rockna. The anchor is quit light and will not adversely load the bow/anchor locker and is a very good alternative anchor to the Rockna.

In any case, good luck. You have bought yourself a fine boat that should serve you well for the purposes you describe.

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Rocna 25 for primary
CQR for secondary
Fortress for emergency backup with 40 feet of chain and 150' of rode in a bucket.
Great to use out of a dingy (Storm anchor)

Sell the Bruce

Mark

Ask five sailors and you'll get five different answers, so you'll have to make up your own mind.

I've used all these anchors and would agree with Cotemar that a Rocna (or Manson or Spade) is very desirable as a primary bower anchor, head and shoulders above the other anchors mentioned.

I also agree that the Fortress is a great kedge, maybe the best possible kedge, because of very high holding power per unit of weight, much better than the Rocna, by the way. Just don't expect it to hold if you swing, a disadvantage which is no big problem for a kedge.

I have had poor luck with both CQR's and Bruces, but my impression is that the Bruce (if it's a genuine Bruce and not a crappy knockoff) is somewhat better than the CQR. One cruise of mine, on a chartered boat in Croatia, was practically ruined because the Bruce anchor -- the only anchor on board -- just could not get a grip in the hard bottom conditions there.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by DWJensen

This is not intended to be a "what's the best anchor?" thread,

Your hopeful

Originally Posted by DWJensen

My question: Would you keep the Fortress as an emergency/backup even though I'll still have the Bruce, or try and sell it as well as the CQR to help pay for the Rocna? Thanks for any input.

Since you have the Fortress and it folds down to a very small space I would keep it perhaps under a bunk out of the way. Ditch the CQR for the Rocna and use the Bruce as a back up.

Had a similar off line discussion with Brian at Fortress on here a fortnight ago and came to a similar conclusion with an FX23 we have. FX being kept for emergencies and our 10 kg Delta for normal mooring.

Couldn't give away our CQR copy so left it on a boat I sold.


Pete

[colemj]

Rocna for primary (the 25 is what we have)
Fortress for backup or kedge or use in some of the more soft silty Chessie mud areas. (the FX37 is what we have)

Sell the Bruce and CQR.

If you happen to lose the Rocna, the Fortress is more than adequate for a working anchor until you get somewhere to pick up another primary. And your cruising plans for the next 2 years put you in an area where you can easily and (relatively) inexpensively pick up a new anchor if needed.

See if you can pick up a used Spade for a good price during the next two years. It disassembles and makes a great primary anchor if you ever lost the Rocna for some reason.

There really isn't any need to carry the additional weight or take up the additional space with the Bruce, and you are correct about not being comfortable cruising with a 35# CQR on your boat.

We have been full time cruising from New England through the Bahamas, Caribbean and to Panama and have never needed a secondary anchor to the Rocna. If we did, the Fortress would be the only anchor on your list that has strengths complementary to the Rocna's weaknesses.

And before the Rocna bashing starts, just substitute the word Spade, Supreme, Delta, Buegel or Ultra instead - just make sure they are still 55lb anchors.

My point is that a 55# Rocna (or anchor of one of the above) is going to be such a sufficient anchor for your size/displacement boat that you will not need the 45# Bruce at all. You will never deploy it, so why carry it?

Mark

[Pau Hana Daz]

All three anchors are genuine (no knockoffs).

The CQR is only a 35#, the Bruce is a 20kg.

[David M]

I have been using an FX-37 for years and find that it works quite well in sand and mud.

[LakeSuperior]

Anchoring is one of the more high risk activities you will engage in while cruising. This activity puts the boat at risk when not done properly. You will also want peace of mind when going ashore. Note the great debates on this subject in all the forums which is because of its primary importance.

Consequently, the need to have good ground tackle cannot be overemphasized. I have used a CQR for 20 years and a Rocna for 2 years. My recomendation for your boat is to buy a Rocna 33 and get rid of the CQR. I believe the Rocna 25 would be marginal for your boat.

Also, get more rode on your secondary anchor as it may become your primary anchor if you lose the Rocna. Our secondary anchor is a large Bruce with 50 feet of chain and 300 feet of 3/4 inch nylon.

Anchoring correctly (with the right hardware) is a critical path item.

[boatman61]

I'd forget nylon rodes for everything but the Kedge anchor... stick to chain for the main anchor... don't make the modern mistake that everything about anchoring is the anchor... its dependant on other factors as well... weight of chain, angle of effort under stress (the more chain below water the greater the wind power needed to put strain on the anchor).... also anchoring techniques...
I'm always amused by these folks that come in, drop the hook then start ploughing the bottom all over the anchorage trying to get it to bite.. if you drop your hook while you still have some way on and after 10 metres stop till the strain strats to come on then let more out this starts the setting... keep going till you get your 3 x boat length + depth out and you'll be fine... don't follow the lead of many and halve it coz your only there for the night and you can't be bothered hauling it all in the next day... its easier than hauling the boat of the beach...
I've always anchored and wheighed by hand... upto 40ft boats... I like to 'feel' whats happening... though your set-ups a bit to heavy maybe....LOL

[Bash]

If you ever have to set a kedge or a stern anchor out of a dink, the Fortress will be your best friend. I use a Rocna/Fortress combination of anchors, and find it ideal. My advice is to sell both the Bruce and the CQR, and keep the Fortress.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Bash

If you ever have to set a kedge or a stern anchor out of a dink, the Fortress will be your best friend. I use a Rocna/Fortress combination of anchors, and find it ideal. My advice is to sell both the Bruce and the CQR, and keep the Fortress.

Why not the Rocna/Bruce/Fortress combo (which we have BTW)? I like a substitute primary in case I lose the primary. The Fortress doesn't seem to be in the same category. Plus, three anchors is a good number because if you lose one you can still put out two if you need to.

[ActiveCaptain]

I have an amazingly similar story. Previously used Bruce and CQR with a Fortress backup (that I started using in the south and Bahamas because it worked better in hard sand). The Rocna changed everything. It works everywhere and is stellar. You obviously got it as a primary. That's really all we use now.

We live in Maine for the Summer and I like the Bruce for there - it works well in that type of mud. I sold the CQR and kept the other. I have a smaller stern Danforth too.

The Fortress is tested and will hold our boat in any condition. It has the supreme advantage of disassembling into a tiny space and fits in corners, etc. They also stand behind their product - I will always have a Fortress on any boat I own.

I love anchors...