Armageddon anchor

[a64pilot]

OK, assume you had a high windage 30,000 lb boat and the Queen Mother of all storms were coming, and for whatever reason the only option is to ride it out at anchor, most likely a sandy bottom, would you chose
A Fortress FX85 or a Rocna say the 33 kg anchor?
An issue is the Rocna could become the primary anchor where as the Big Fortress would be only the Armageddon go to, but would the Rocna hold?


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[barnakiel]

A Rocna. But a bigger one.

Given only the choice between the two you mentioned, I would go for the Fortress in straight pull (e.g. a bad front storm) and the Rocna in a veering storm (e.g. a hurricane to pass over our location).

Still, I would feel somewhat under-anchored with a 33 kg Rocna .

b.

[Colin A]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A Rocna. But a bigger one.

Given only the choice between the two you mentioned, I would go for the Fortress in straight pull (e.g. a bad front storm) and the Rocna in a veering storm (e.g. a hurricane to pass over our location).

Still, I would feel somewhat under-anchored with a 33 kg Rocna .

b.

Agree if your pretty sure on the direction wind and waves will hit the boat the fortress is hard to beat, other then that it gets iffy.

[Don C L]

Only one? I really would rather have 3 Fortresses set in a mooring lay-out, but given your limitations of ONE anchor, the Rocna, bigger probably. What about 2 Fortreses in a Bahamian mooring?

[thinwater]

Both, but NOT Bahamian.

Tandem Anchoring - Practical Sailor Print Edition Article

Set the Fortress in the direction of the strongest anticipated wind and waves, and the Rocna in the direction or the opening blast. The angle should be 60-90 degrees, and the Fortress rode about 100 feet, joined to the main (Rocna) rode about 50 feet from the anchor. If overloaded by the opening blast, the Rocna will slowly drag until equalized with the Fortress. The Rocna will also tend to protect the Fortress from the shift. The lengths and angles vary, but they should NOT be the same length--the Fortress should be the longer of the 2.


(angles and lengths vary)

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Both, but NOT Bahamian.

Tandem Anchoring - Practical Sailor Print Edition Article

Set the Fortress in the direction of the strongest anticipated wind and waves, and the Rocna in the direction or the opening blast. The angle should be 60-90 degrees, and the Fortress rode about 100 feet, joined to the main (Rocna) rode about 50 feet from the anchor. If overloaded by the opening blast, the Rocna will slowly drag until equalized with the Fortress. The Rocna will also tend to protect the Fortress from the shift. The lengths and angles vary, but they should NOT be the same length--the Fortress should be the longer of the 2.


(angles and lengths vary)

I see you are trying to design a set-up to make use of both anchors, anticipating that the Rocna will drag. Also the Rocna will (as long as it stops dragging) restrict the swing so the Fortress will not be pulled sideways. (starts looking kinda Bahamian there) OK, I see that, as long as the wind direction is confined to that (120-180) wedge. Ordinarily if I think one of the anchors will or may drag, I'll come up with another plan. But given the anchors available and the assumption the Rocna is not up to it, and the wind as you describe it, I can see that. By the way, we are talking about a hurricane here, right? Can we rely on those wind directions in a hurricane? And 100 feet is not the total length of rode is it? Also, if I had to guess which anchor will do better on shorter scope I'd have to say the Fortress.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A Rocna. But a bigger one.

Given only the choice between the two you mentioned, I would go for the Fortress in straight pull (e.g. a bad front storm) and the Rocna in a veering storm (e.g. a hurricane to pass over our location).

Still, I would feel somewhat under-anchored with a 33 kg Rocna .

b.

This is my preference. Fortress for straight line pull, Rocna (or in my case, a Mantus) for a veering wind.

But 33 Kg under-anchored? For what size boat are you thinking 33 Kg is too small?

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by skipmac

But 33 Kg under-anchored? For what size boat are you thinking 33 Kg is too small?

Well, he did say "Armageddon"....

[twohapence]

A 33KG Rocna or a Fortress FX85 on a sandy bottom in a storm? No contest. Give me the fortress every time. These things are huge with a massive surface area and superbly engineered.

I walked past one the other day for sale in Alghero, Sardinia. I'm going back next month and if it's still there I'll buy it.

It's too big for my current boat and probably a size too big for the new one on order but in Armageddon winds I'd set a bridle to the maximum scope I could get away with, rig all the chafe protection I possibly could and then go ashore and sit out the storm in any convenient 500 year old building on the basis that if it has survived this long it's the safest place to be.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Well, he did say "Armageddon"....

Is that like Armageddon tired of all these anchor threads?

Sorry I just couldn't resist.

So, back to under-anchored. A 33 Kg too small for what, maybe a Sunfish? I would think even in Armageddon storms 33 Kg would be good up to mid 30's to 40' boats.

[a64pilot]

A thought is the Fortress could be stored below, but the Rocna can't, so Rocna needs to be sized so it would fit on the bow and just become the regular bower.
Idea is my IP 38 of course as that is what we have. I too believe once set the Fortress would pull the boat in half before it let go, but getting it set, and as has been pointed out, wind shift plays into it too.
Reasoning for the FX-85 is I can get a good price one that monster, originally thinking about the 55, Rocna above 33 is just too big I believe, I have the 25 currently.
An option I guess could be both a Rocna 25 and the 33?


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[laika]

The mantus can be disassembled and stored fairly compactly. I have a spare that's laid flat against the bottom of a lazarette and takes up virtually no room.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Is that like Armageddon tired of all these anchor threads?

Sorry I just couldn't resist.
.

Took me a second!

[hugosalt]

Know its not one of your options, however if not confident with wind shifts
in extreme conditions with largest Rocna you can carry on bow...then you
might consider storing a even larger Mantus below.
Assumption made, such conditions will come with advanced notice.

[boatman61]

Your bored shitless are you not