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**noelex 77** · 09-12-2018, 00:39

A few new anchors from Lewmar.

The LFX looks like a (hopefully cheaper) aluminium Fortress/Guardian copy. The LFF (not shown) is a Britany style anchor. The Epsilon is more interesting with elements from the Vulcan and Ultra. Some photos show the Epsilon with a small rollbar and some without. Perhaps both models will be available.

The Vulcan was designed with the limitation of no roll bar so the anchor would fit bowrollers where the rollbar would not be practical. Thus the Vulcan and Rocna covered all bases. Lewmar have designed the Epsilon without this marketing restraint. Presumably they have learned from the Vulcan, Ultra and Spade although the latter is really a very different design relying primarily on ballast rather than geometry to adopt the correct setting position.

I have not seen these anchors and there are very few details at the moment, but it great to see some new options.

Lewmar photo:

Adrian Chen · 09-12-2018, 01:53

Thats interesting, will ask Discovery if they can find out a bit more. thanks for posting...

Would be interested in the Fortress type jobby as well, given the price for the original...

**GordMay** · 09-12-2018, 06:20

From ➥ https://www.marineindustrynews.co.uk...ontrol-system/

Lewmar’s new Epsilon super high holding power anchor is planned to be available late 2019.

A concave fluke design and ballast keel tip have been designed for rapid setting and high holding power.

The Epilson uses Lewmar’s Delta shank geometry design and is suitable for self-launching with Lewmar bow rollers.

The anchors will be available in sizes 6-63kg and meet Lloyds type approval.

There is an optional righting rolling bar aimed at the sailboat market.

**noelex 77** · 09-12-2018, 08:05

Thanks Gord. Great detective work, as always from you.

It seems the rollbar may be an optional feature that can be attached providing your bowsprit does not get in the way. Interesting.

Spade Anchor · 14-12-2018, 08:48

Can anyone provide theories, as to how a Roll bar can be optional?

Sailmonkey · 14-12-2018, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spade Anchor

Can anyone provide theories, as to how a Roll bar can be optional?

Percentage game. Drop the anchor 100 times. It lands in the correct orientation 90% + of the time.....roll bar only functions to increase those odds to near 100%.

Spade Anchor · 14-12-2018, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Percentage game. Drop the anchor 100 times. It lands in the correct orientation 90% + of the time.....roll bar only functions to increase those odds to near 100%.

I see what your saying but the design of any anchor either requires a roll bar or no roll bar. If you cut the roll bar from a Rocna it will not perform correctly. If you add a roll bar you have to move the balance point. Not sure how you can achieve a "middle ground" (optional roll bar) with out major sacrifices. Any ideas?

Sailmonkey · 14-12-2018, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spade Anchor

I see what your saying but the design of any anchor either requires a roll bar or no roll bar. If you cut the roll bar from a Rocna it will not perform correctly. If you add a roll bar you have to move the balance point. Not sure how you can achieve a "middle ground" (optional roll bar) with out major sacrifices. Any ideas?

Best guess? Extremely heavy tip weight where the roll bar is a small percentage of the total weight, therefore it’s effect on the overall system is minimal

**noelex 77** · 14-12-2018, 11:51

Rollbars do not fit on a reasonable percentage of boats.

Therefore there is an incentive to design anchors that will fit all boats. If nothing else, the number of returns retailers experience from customers where the anchor did not fit must be annoying, and this ultimately increases costs of selling the anchor.

So an anchor that will work OK without a rollbar is a sensible design objective. If there is no room for the rollbar the anchor will still work, and therefore will not be returned. If the rollbar fits, the customer can take advantage of the improved setting performance.

groundtackle · 15-12-2018, 00:39

Spade,
Its convertible, you bolt on toe weight when roll bar removed. Seriously, I am also confused and my "any ideas?".
Orientating or inverting the anchor upright with that low roll bar might challenge its purpose.
Clean fluke is always a concern and can imagine it choked with weed or seabed.
Wrapping and jamming a chain link / rode around back between the roll bar / fluke appears likely.
The fluke / shank union concept I like, it properly transfers loads whether welded or mechanically fastened.
Perhaps by accident they ended up with a concave / convex fluke, starts to mimic the strong and clean positive attributes of an Excel or Super Sarca.

Chris

**noelex 77** · 15-12-2018, 01:09

The photos show the Epsilon has a concave fluke, nothing like the convex fluke of the Excel and Sarca.

Anchor characteristics are heavily influenced by the fundamental design. The Epsilon belongs to the Ultra, Vulcan and Spade group of anchors. This group of anchors have very good performance and unless Lewmar have made some basic mistakes it is likely the Epsilon will be at least a significant step up from the Delta.

groundtackle · 15-12-2018, 01:25

Noelex, I concur, it appears to to be another Spade, Ultra, Vulcan.
That shank / fluke interface looks to have some convex to me. So not "nothing like"
Maybe it's my vision or the Commodore 64.

Chris

SailRedemption · 15-12-2018, 05:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by groundtackle

Noelex, I concur, it appears to to be another Spade, Ultra, Vulcan.
That shank / fluke interface looks to have some convex to me. So not "nothing like"
Maybe it's my vision or the Commodore 64.

Chris

Looks like a convex shank base but the fluke is still concave. Zoom in and you can see it a bit better, but the shiny stainless definitely doesn't help.