Good anchor for Maine?

[jalmberg]

Can any experience Maine locals recommend an anchor for cruising Penobscot Bay? I don’t have much experience anchoring in rocks, kelp, etc. I’ve got a Rocna, CQR, and Fortess aboard.

Also, what are the typical depths I should expect?

Boat is a Joshua 40 - basically a Colin Archer type boat. Manual windlass with all chain.

Thanks in advance.

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by jalmberg

Can any experience Maine locals recommend an anchor for cruising Penobscot Bay? I don’t have much experience anchoring in rocks, kelp, etc. I’ve got a Rocna, CQR, and Fortess aboard.

Also, what are the typical depths I should expect?

Boat is a Joshua 40 - basically a Colin Archer type boat. Manual windlass with all chain.

Thanks in advance.

===

We've never had trouble finding good holding in Maine, usually in depths under 20 ft. My choice for your boat would be something like a 45 lb Rocna with 25 ft of 5/16ths chain coupled to a 5/8ths nylon rode. All chain would be even better if you want to minimize swing radius and have a suitable anchor windlass.

[CaptJamesCook]

Spot on Wayne.b

[jalmberg]

Easy enough. Thanks!

[dwass]

We have used a Fortress for the past 8 years in Maine on a Capedory 36 with great success. No windlass so pulling by hand is a factor. For depths 25-35 company recommends only 6 feet of chain. We usually are in 15 to 20 feet of water.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by dwass

We have used a Fortress for the past 8 years in Maine on a Capedory 36 with great success. No windlass so pulling by hand is a factor. For depths 25-35 company recommends only 6 feet of chain. We usually are in 15 to 20 feet of water.

Not in Maine but a Fortress FX-37 with a 15 foot/5 m. chain leader and 3/4" three strand nylon backspliced to it is a decent lunch hook or light air choice. Save the chain and bigger anchor for overnight or rougher/variable weather.

[sailorboy1]

I used a 60# Manson Supreme

[JOHNMARDALL]

Whichever anchor you use, remember that if it's snagged on rock, you probably won't be able to break it out in the conventional manner, so set a buoyed tripping line, then you can pull the anchor out "backwards" if necessary.

Good luck

John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Group

[Anduril]

Last summer we anchored from Isle of Shoals to Roque Island on a Beneteau 35. Primary anchor 35 lbs Rockna with all chain, and a secondary anchor Fortress 23, 30 ft chain with nylon 3 strand.

1. good holding in all conditions except soft bottom weeds- neither would hold
- used the Rockna mostly
2. recommend trip line if uncertain about bottom conditions- rocks or other hazards. crowded spots so others don't drop on your anchor.

Pickup a mooring where possible, less stress, sometimes the only option due to space.

Have fun and be extra careful scouting lobster pots, we had to dive on the boat several times to clear lines from prop.

[CaptTom]

Despite how the Maine coast looks, you don't really anchor in rock. Expect mud and sometimes weeds in almost all anchorages. We used a Fortress or similar for many years. We use a new generation (Manson) most of the time now, but still have the Fortress. Also have a big ol' CQR we've never used.

I rarely mess with a trip line. Maybe where there's known to be a lot of debris on the bottom I'd give it a shot.