A25 Anchor - How Much is Too Much?

[Sprig1]

I just put something on my 27fc that might work. Search stainless steel anchor lock bracket on eBay. It looks like it will work. You might have to drill a hole in your anchor.

[DesertAlbin736]

Sunsetrider,

How cool is that! And a power windlass too! C'est bon, n'est-ce pas? (practicing for our road trip through Quebec later this year). Seriously, we'll be in transit by car from Niagara Falls, NY passing through Kingston, ON en route to Bar Harbor, ME around September 5th - 6th, give or take a day or two, passing by Gananoque on Hyw 401. Would love to stop by & swap stories.

[kerrye]

I bought a Mantus 4 or 5 years ago when we got our F-24. It's always held even when others around were dragging. I bought a Mantus for the A25 shortly after I bought the boat.

[Beta Don]

I bought a Mantus 4 or 5 years ago when we got our F-24. It's always held even when others around were dragging. I bought a Mantus for the A25 shortly after I bought the boat.

I'll second that!

We used a 25 lb Mantus on our trip and it's by far the best anchor I've ever used. I sold it to another member here on the forum

Don

[Sunsetrider]

Sprig1 - I am going to try a model similar to that. A little classier than a frayed string.
posted this a few days ago but of course pushed "post reply" instead of "submit". D'oh!

[stxray]

Anchor Update...
Great discussion and comments. Thanks to all who posted.

Given my high desire for a good night's sleep, here's what I'm doing.

1. I swapped out the 34 lb Delta for a 14 lb Delta by listing it on craig's list. The 14 lb Delta will be a backup/secondary anchor.
2. I bought a 25 lb Mantus. That will be my primary anchor installed on a Starboard pulpit connected to a Good Automatic windlass with 200' of 1/2", 3-strand nylon rode with a chain leader.
3. As a back up to the back up, I'll have on board a small danforth-type, lunch hook as well as a larger (not sure of the weight/size) danforth-type anchor hanging off the bow or stern rail.

On my previous boat (34' Tartan) I had a CQR which served me well cruising the Chesapeake Bay. However, with the opportunity to buy a new anchor and concerned with the different bottoms I'm sure to encounter, why not go with the latest technology? Looking at the Mantus, the Ronka and the Mason, the Mantus seemed to offer the best value.
Once I get all the pieces in place, I'll post some pictures.

Again, thanks for the great discussion.

[kerrye]

Mantus is having a Labor day sale
20% off stainless anchors. Promo code:MASS20D
10% off galvanized anchors Promo code: MAEE10D

[DCatSea]

Having just spent some time defunking my "best bower" and reserve anchors and lines (both Danforths - we don't spend a lot of time on the hook - and both afflicted with ingrained Chesapeake mud) this subject line caught my eye.
Quick research via google found this site: http://www.offshoreblue.com/safety/anchor-danforth.php which offers a sort of very informative / tongue-in-cheek comparison of different anchor types. Upshot is that the experts have developed a great knack for not agreeing on anything, but it seems that we are as well equipped as most, with appropriately sized irons.

BTW - the referenced site is quite readable and offers information on a variety of marine resources, some of it is obvious, but there's some good stuff here.

[Sunsetrider]

Great site - thanks for the reference!

[Sunsetrider]

Here's my anchor setup now. I had to replace the roller because the one that was on the boat was for a manual pull, with a chain stop. The chain stop wold sometimes catch the chain. Works well now. Notice there is no strain on the windlass itself, although it seems most of the larger vessels at my marina don't seem concerned about that.

[Beta Don]

You have a very handy crossbar there right where the chain attaches to the anchor. I think I would use a doubled strand of parachute cord (or something similar) and lash the anchor eye to that crossbar just for safekeeping . . . . if it was mine

Don

[Sunsetrider]

Good idea. Prevent hopping.

[WillieC]

Yeah, hopping is not good. Tie it down before it starts bouncing. Ask me how I know.

[DesertAlbin736]

You have a very handy crossbar there right where the chain attaches to the anchor. I think I would use a doubled strand of parachute cord (or something similar) and lash the anchor eye to that crossbar just for safekeeping . . . . if it was mine.

Yes, quite. What we do (inherited from PO) is hook a rubber bungee from the eye of the anchor shank (ours being a Bruce) to the cross bar on the bow rail. We also have a slotted chain stop. And I run the chain one turn around the sheet winch that's on the bow. In your case the roll bar on the anchor would be a good place to tie off and/or hook a bungee. The bungee I use is one of those trucker's solid rubber type, not the kind wrapped in a braided cover.

Actually, on our recent cruise up in British Columbia we talked to a fellow whose big motor yacht was tied up next to us at the Newcastle Island Park dock in Nanaimo. I want to say something like 38 or 40 footer. He'd had a nice anchor & chain rode & a windlass like yours. He also had a snap shackle spliced to a short length of wire rope cable to hook on to the anchor while it was stowed, the other end bolted to the deck. Long story short, he had hit some rough chop coming into Nanaimo & had forgotten to attach the clip to his anchor. Up there on a rough day we're talking 3 & 4 foot steep chop. Anyway, it was so rough that the anchor came loose & he not only lost the anchor, but it ripped his windlass right off the deck & it went over the side along with his anchor and all his chain rode and dinged up the bow a little. I mean the whole ground tackle GONE. This was a VERY expensive sport fishing type flybridge yacht.

[ssrig]

Here's my anchor setup now. I had to replace the roller because the one that was on the boat was for a manual pull, with a chain stop. The chain stop wold sometimes catch the chain. Works well now. Notice there is no strain on the windlass itself, although it seems most of the larger vessels at my marina don't seem concerned about that.

Is there something preventing the anchor from moving aft and hooking the bow roller?