What Anchor Should I Buy ?

[carstenb]

Oh - I forget to mention - anchors are a religion. Ask 10 cruisers and you will have 15 opinions. Sometimes more. And they will all defend their choice virtually to the death. (Not me - I'm open-minded and unopinionated. In other words you can trust me :-)

Welcome to the club

[Adirondack]

For most purposes, I recommend a Rocna or Manson Supreme. Most tests that I have seen have a hard time finding a definitive difference. Those who have Rocnas recommend Rocnas, those who have Mansons recommend Mansons.

[Rapanui]

I have had a Delta which is a good anchor but even better is the Kobra which in the UK at least is much cheaper and holds better. In the various published comparitive tests it is up there with the Rocna, Manson and Spade and ahead of Delta. They are all good anchors and most importantly are predictable in behaviour.
I echo what people say about the Danforth, when it sets its brilliant but is easily fouled by grass, stones etc and if it breaks out, tends not to reset itself so are unpredictable - not a good characteristic