Looking for New Anchor

[chrispoe]

I just purchased a Catalina 350 and plan to start cruising along the east coast. We are currently in Hilton Head, SC, but plan to move the boat to Oriental, NC in the fall. Most of our future sailing will be in the Pamlico area and the Chesapeake. We've sailed for many years, but are new to cruising. I am considering purchase of a 22# Delta anchor with 125 ft of 5/16 Grade 40 chain. This seems to be consistent with Lewmar specs. We have been using a 25# Danforth with 15 ft of chain and been fine so far, but really haven't been tested in a big blow.

Anyone have any advice on all chain rode or anchor size for a similar size boat?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, chrispoe.

IMHO, a 22# (10 kg) Delta, though a good anchor, will be smaller than your boat deserves (requires?).
You'd be better off with a 35# (16 kg) or even a 44# (20 kg).
5/16" G40 chain will be fine.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

As Gord said, heavier is always better.

[Factor]

There always used to be an old rule of thumb - 1 lb per foot for anchors which would support the 35lb.

Of course I dont understand feet or pounds! so maybe 1.5 kilo per metre??

In any event - I agree that 20 kilo - if you can fit it would be good but a 15 kilo should be reasonable. In a roll bar style - Manson Supreme or Super Sarca - in a non roll bar style - Sarca Excel.

(Note we dont seem to get spades and a few others here)

For a second anchor there is IMHO only one choice and thats a suitable size Fortress.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Factor

There always used to be an old rule of thumb - 1 lb per foot for anchors which would support the 35lb.

Of course I dont understand feet or pounds! so maybe 1.5 kilo per metre??

In any event - I agree that 20 kilo - if you can fit it would be good but a 15 kilo should be reasonable. In a roll bar style - Manson Supreme or Super Sarca - in a non roll bar style - Sarca Excel.

(Note we dont seem to get spades and a few others here)

For a second anchor there is IMHO only one choice and thats a suitable size Fortress.

Cruised for a couple of years on a 32' med displacement sailboat with a 35' CQR and usually felt like it was an OK size. At least until a squall blew up in the middle of the night. Then I started thinking about 45 lbs.

I'll second the recommendation for a Fortress as the second anchor.

[janders]

I have yet to run across another cruising boat that regretted buying too big of an anchor. However, I've seen plenty of regret the other direction. For our 40' cruising boat, we use a 73lb Rocna. We sleep very well at anchor.

If it were my Catalina 350, I wouldn't entertain a 22lb anchor regardless of the type. Everybody I talk to that has a Delta seems happy with them but 44lb seems to be more likely to hold you in place when the stink kicks up. What's that extra 22lbs going to cost you?

[edit]

If you are trying to save weight, I'd save weight in the amount of chain you have. I'm not familiar with your cruising grounds but in seven months in Mexico, we never put out more than 150' of chain. We could have gotten by just fine with say, 80' of chain and a few hundred feet of nylon rode. We have 300' of chain because our boat can carry it and then we don't have to worry about chafe. But I don't see it as a requirement. Chafe you can deal with, an anchor that drags every time the wind kicks up to 20kts is a much more difficult problem to solve.

[svcambria]

Weight? Definitely 44 pounds or more. All 5/16 chain should be fine.
Type? No discussion, a CQR...



Michael

[svHyLyte]

Considering the bottom conditions in the areas you've described, you might do well with with a Fortress FX-23. These are very reliable anchors that really do work well in the appropriate conditions. The 5/16" G4 chain would be a good choice for rhode.

You might want to take a look at http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...bag-65647.html

FWIW...

[avb3]

Originally Posted by janders

I have yet to run across another cruising boat that regretted buying too big of an anchor. However, I've seen plenty of regret the other direction. For our 40' cruising boat, we use a 73lb Rocna. We sleep very well at anchor.

I assume you have a Rocna made in Canada or NZ and not one of those mild steel Chinese ones?

Rocna-great design, poor execution once moved to China.

[chrispoe]

All,

Thanks for all of the tips and detail on making this selection. I thought the 22# looked awfully small and you all definitely agree. Thanks for taking the time to help me with this decision.

Certianly says a lot for the value of CF.

Chris Poe

[Bash]

22 lbs?
No.

Delta?
No.

[Cheechako]

For your main anchor go with 40+ lbs. At a reasonable price Delta is good, or get a used CQR bargain.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by chrispoe

... I thought the 22# looked awfully small and you all definitely agree ...

If an anchor doesn't look ridiculously OVER-SIZED, it's probably too small.
Even, an appropriate-looking anchor is probably too small.

[Ray Lewis]

We are trying to decide between a Delta, Rocna, Manson Supreme and even an Ultra (SS made in Turkey and looks pretty). Anyone out there got any advice or experiences that they would like to share to help our decision making. Boat: Moody 38S and sailing in and around Turkey Greece etc so a variety of bottoms!
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you
Ray

[janders]