What size anchor

[bondobill]

Pulled my Danforth anchor out of boat the other day.  
It be kaput !
Close to 20 years since the last time I looked at it.
The anchor and chain is nothing more than one big ball of rust. Can't even unravel the chain
Just wondering what size I need for my 222 FF......I am thinking this one was 12 Lbs  ....and how much chain and size of chain do I need ?  


Bill

[gran398]

Go ahead and spend the bucks on the Fortress, "World's Best Anchor."

This one is all you'll need

http://www.fortressanchors.com/selectio ... &Unit=Feet

Lightweight, won't rust, sets fast, holds great.

Longer the chain, the quicker it gets down, and the faster it sets. And the less rode you'll need. The grouper fisherman around here in 100 feet of water or more go with 20 feet of chain. Beach anchoring, shallow water, etc. 8 to 10 feet of chain is a plenty IMHO.

On the rode diameter we went with  half inch.

[Georgie]

X2 !!!!!!!!

or Guardian G-11 for the economy version.  As Scotty said, the lightweight AL-MAG materials allow you to use some extra chain which has the dual benefit of helping to hold bottom better in bouncy seas AND to reduce the amount of scope necessary for a safe hold.  Finally got one for myself a couple years ago and will NEVER own anything else again.  I do recommend at LEAST 10 ft. of chain though.



Add to that the fact that it's so light that the Admiral can even haul it.  Gives me quite a nice "view" as Captain.    :pirat:

[GoneFission]

Maybe I'm the naysayer here, but I would go for a steel anchor.  I have a lot of respect for the lightweight anchors, but you have to put more chain on them, and by the time you are done, you've got the weight of a steel anchor.    Steel will drop and stick better than aluminum every time.  How about a 13 lb. galvanized steel anchor with 4-5 feet of chain and a couple lengths of nylon rode?       Also, you can get one for less than $50, so if you get it stuck and lose it, you don't feel sooooooo bad...     Check out prices and make your choice.  

[wingtime]

I had a Guardian anchor and I loved it....:-) until I lost it. It all depends on how you use the anchor and what type of bottom you anchor in the majority if the time. If you get an alloy anchor be sure to reef rig it so you don't loose it.

[RickK]

What depths are you in over there and what kind of bottom - are you always out to sea and I guess, never using your anchor?
For my 230 I use a plow and swear by it but I'm not sure if it will work in all bottoms.  I got it caught in rubble one time and it almost broke my pulpit trying to power it out.  Finally we tightened it straight down, went to the back of the boat and sat down, popped a brew and let the waves work it free, which it did.
Do you have a pulpit on the boat?

[Blue Agave]

I agree with both Bruce and Rick, both depth and bottom type will dictate the type of anchor. Here on the Florida Gulf Coast the Sea Claw is a great anchor. It's stainless steel with a bronze fluke, with the 12lb and 18lb being very popular. Check them out, beware of the Knock Offs!

http://www.reelcharterfishing.com/anchor.htm

[bondobill]

I have never used the anchor.
I did use the rope once for a tow rope the first time my Yami bit the dust.  
If I can't find a dock or a can to tie up to, I don't go there.
Had it on board to keep me off the rocks should both engines ralph.  
The way it looks now I am glad I never needed it.  
Most of the shallow bays one would anchor in around these parts will have a sandy or mud bottom  and depth around 20'.

Bill

[RickK]

In that kind of bottom these things work great, the harder the drag the deeper they go. Google "plough anchor"

This is the one I have on the front of the 230

[Capt Matt]

For us in swfl a 12# sea claw is the only way to go, it's heavy enough you don't
really even need any chain. I put a 3ft piece of ss chain on mine for crazy windy days.
its rigged with 25ft of rode and a clip with a buoy so i can pitch it and chase a big fish in a hurry
I also carry 100ft of rope rigged with a clip just incase I ever venture offshore. 25ft of rode just does not get tangled up. 99% of the time im anchored off the stern. If you are feeling flush get the brass fluked sea claw
All those danforth style anchors are light and depend on the chain to make work, they drag in our soft bottom
Capt Matt

[gran398]

I have never used the anchor.
I did use the rope once for a tow rope the first time my Yami bit the dust.  
If I can't find a dock or a can to tie up to, I don't go there.
Had it on board to keep me off the rocks should both engines ralph.  
The way it looks now I am glad I never needed it.  
Most of the shallow bays one would anchor in around these parts will have a sandy or mud bottom  and depth around 20'.

Bill

   

If you're in 20 feet....the plough anchor our west coast Florida cousins recommend should work great for you in shallow, soft bottom.

[bondobill]

Thanks Guys      

Bill

[gran398]

In that kind of bottom these things work great, the harder the drag the deeper they go. Google "plough anchor"

This is the one I have on the front of the 230

We were in Miami over the weekend. Went to the sandbar/grass flat slightly west of Key Biscayne... a popular spot judging by law enforcement there.

Everyone  was using plough anchors. What surprised me was...in six feet of water...even the big boats only dumped twelve feet of anchor and chain...or less. The chain never made it to the rode at that depth.  Chains were straight up on the set.

Reckon that's what you're talking about with a plough. The harder the drag the deeper the set.

[dburr]

Another option...

The Old Man had a Bruce on. 38ft Holland..

 http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/product.do?part=106664&SHOPZILLA

and it held like no ones business..

Info:http://www.bruceanchor.co.uk

Interesting video on a set at 4:1 on hard sand (I am Not advocating short scope).. Not sure it is conclusive but some dude went to the trouble of making it...

http://youtu.be/zWXOurOiRkU

And from being then primary windlass for a while they are "light" for their size, in sand, mud and mixed bottom with stone I don't ever remember being able to get it free by just hand hauling.  Either wave action when the rode was up and down or a little goose with some throttle..  It was setup for a trip line (anchor marker) but we never used that...

[RickK]

The Rocna anchor demo is pretty impressive, it showed the one I have wouldn't even set in their demo  DOH!  :eye:
[youtube:rjn9pm7n]2meFjHHYhhc[/youtube:rjn9pm7n]