Remanufactured Fortresses deals on the net

[vyc2014]

I've been reading the Anchor threads for a long time, trying to decide what anchor to put on the Lagoon 380 I bought used (had an undersized Delta for a hook ). After reading, studying, looking at every type of anchor known to man, the Admiral decided we had to buy two anchors to make sure all of us onboard, including the grandkids, were safe at anchor. Anchor #1 - I started looking for a Fortress FX-37 to take to the Bahamas this winter as nothing beats it in the sand. I noticed a lot of online sites selling Fortress anchors at a great discount with "remanufactured" and "refurbished" in the description. I called Fortress directly and spoke with Brian. He said that BP Oil bought a bunch of their anchors for the spill cleanup. Fortress purchased them back, ran them through the manufacturing process and are selling them at a 25% discount with a full lifetime warranty. I went ahead and bought one. WooHoo! BTW, Anchor #2 is a Manson Extreme 60# which you can get at a good discount online as well. So I should sleep comfortably on my Lagoon 380, no matter what the bottom I anchor in. But I'm now out of money and can't afford the Bahamas entry fee. Perhaps I can sell one of the rugrats?

[colemj]

Manson Extreme or Supreme?

The Fortress FX37 is an excellent anchor and we have one also. However, we do not use it as a primary in the Bahamas. In the thick sand here, all decent anchors work well. In all the other anchorages here, the Fortress will not be your best choice for a primary - weed with current changing 180* regularly, thin sand over hard stuff, etc.

If your other anchor is a Supreme, that will be a good choice as a primary, and your Fortress will excel in a Bahamian moor (if necessary - we have never found this to be needed), and as a kedge when you go aground poking around in the interesting bits.

Mark

[vyc2014]

Yes, I meant Manson Supreme...

[Fortress]

vyc2014,

Thanks for your post. We also have refurbished FX-85 and FX-125 models, and along with the FX-37. They are also available through Defender:

Marine Hinged Fluke Anchors (Including Danforth) on Sale

Boat Owners Warehouse, who have 3 store locations here in south Florida, are selling the FX-85 and FX-125 refurbished models as well.

Here is their contact information:
Boat Owners Warehouse Locations in Florida. Everything Marine!

If any boater is looking for the ultimate storm anchor, then look no further than the 47 lb (21 kg) FX-85 or the 69 lb (31 kg) FX-125. Both are certified as Super High Holding Power (SHHP) anchors and have achieved holding capacities of 200 - 300x their weight in anchor performance tests, one of which was conducted by the US Navy.

The FX-85 has been the primary anchor aboard the USCG's 87-ft Coastal Patrol Boat (73 are in service) for over a decade, and from talking with "Coasties" over the years, I know they have put this anchor to the test when the seas are too rough for their patrols.

The FX-125 has been the primary anchor aboard the USCG's 110-ft Island-Class Patrol boat (37 in service) for many years as well, and for their new 154-ft Fast Response Cutter, which displaces 353 long tons (790k lbs). I don't think that there is another 69 lb anchor in the world that would ever meet the performance standard required for approval aboard a boat this size.....but the FX-125 did.

For storm conditions, boaters will often deploy one of these anchors by dinghy, and considering their physical size, two people are definitely required.

Safe anchoring,
Brian

[Philip St1]

I have been wondering lately why anchors do not have zincs on them to resist corrosion. Is there a reason they do not have them ?

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Philip St1

I have been wondering lately why anchors do not have zincs on them to resist corrosion. Is there a reason they do not have them ?

Steel ones are galvanized, which is zinc coating.

Mark

[sainted]

Originally Posted by Philip St1

I have been wondering lately why anchors do not have zincs on them to resist corrosion. Is there a reason they do not have them ?

Boats are not supposed to be anchored that long...

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Philip St1

I have been wondering lately why anchors do not have zincs on them to resist corrosion. Is there a reason they do not have them ?

As Mark said the galvanizing is zinc. But anchors don't usually end up in a dissimilar metal situation until you use a stainless steel shackle. Therefore, they don't die of galvanic corrosion and thus a zinc would not do anything. Galvanized steel anchors die from physical erosion of the galvanizing and then the exposed iron rusts due to the salty environment. Rust is not produced by the same process as galvanic corrosion.

[Fortress]

Originally Posted by Philip St1

I have been wondering lately why anchors do not have zincs on them to resist corrosion. Is there a reason they do not have them ?

Philip,

I think that you might have been referring specifically to Fortress with your question, and you are right to be concerned about galvanic corrosion occurring with our aluminum-alloy anchors.

During normal anchoring use (as Sainted noted), Fortress anchors are not in contact with a dissimilar metal and a saltwater environment for a long enough period of time for this type of corrosion to occur.

Exceptions would be if the anchor was used as a permanent mooring, or it was stored below deck in a leaky bilge area while in contact with saltwater and a steel (galvanized or stainless) shackle or chain.


While working at Fortress for the past 18 years, those are the only very rare cases that I have documented where galvanic corrosion has occurred, and the damage has typically been more cosmetic (minor pitting) than structural.

I believe that our anodizing also helps to minimize the risk of damage.

In any case, we have gladly sent the Fortress owner new parts under our Lifetime Parts Replacement Warranty.

All the best,
Brian

[S/V Alchemy]

I have one of the remanufactured FX-37s on my boat and I'm quite pleased with it to date. Certainly, it was pretty slick and unnicked out of the box. The story of my Fortress anchor use to date may be found here:

The world encompassed: Upsizing the old tackle

[donradcliffe]

The shank on my FX-37 has gone walkabout. Is that covered under the lifetime warranty??

[Fortress]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

The shank on my FX-37 has gone walkabout. Is that covered under the lifetime warranty??

Don, unfortunately not........but I have been known to make exceptions in very rare circumstances.

Please send me a PM with your address.

Thanks,
Brian

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Fortress

Don, unfortunately not........but I have been known to make exceptions in very rare circumstances.

Please send me a PM with your address.

Thanks,
Brian

Every time you post, I'm shocked at how great of a company you guys have

We're really happy to have Fortress in the marine world and on Cruisersforum.

Matt


P.S. When is Fortress going to sponsor a monthly giveaway on CruisersForum? I would love an FX-37 myself

[Fortress]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

Every time you post, I'm shocked at how great of a company you guys have

We're really happy to have Fortress in the marine world and on Cruisersforum.

Matt

P.S. When is Fortress going to sponsor a monthly giveaway on CruisersForum? I would love an FX-37 myself

Matt,

Thanks for your incredibly kind words, and back to you. Not to be overly sentimental, but being great isn't hard when you are involved in such a terrific fraternity of awesome, fun-seeking people.

Regarding the giveaway, I will look closer into sponsoring one, and thanks for the suggestion.

[SailRedemption]

I bought a refurbished oil spill FX-37 from defender on sale so it was quite a bit reduced.. It had a few nicks and scratches on it but that's OK with me. I plan on using it too.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk