Ok, now that I have your attention, this is about anchors so get your mind out of the, well whatever is under the water. I need a new anchor for my boat as it doesn't have one. The problem is I don't know what size to buy, or if paying a premium for a Fortress or Danforth is necessary. I have a 252 Valanti and depending on what reference you use the length of my boat varies between 24'2" and 26'. Do I need an 8# or 13# anchor? What size/length/weight rode and line should I use?
Is Bigger Better?
- Thread starter Dave24
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ALWAYS get 1 size bigger than the mfg. says.
Your "normal" bottom will dictate the type of anchor. Fortress is excellent, Danforth is also, but there are numerous "knock-offs" of the danforth type. Personally, I prefer the Delta. (I anchor in sand)
Your "normal" bottom will dictate the type of anchor. Fortress is excellent, Danforth is also, but there are numerous "knock-offs" of the danforth type. Personally, I prefer the Delta. (I anchor in sand)
Where are you boating. If in the bay, 13. If in the James, the 8 that came with my 2465 held fine in the muck in all tides, as far out as Jamestown. I have both. Neither is a "brand name". Both are Danforth style.
If you have a bow roller (no pulpit), make sure you measure the tines to the hull. I damn near punched a hole in my hull. Easy fix.
If you have a bow roller (no pulpit), make sure you measure the tines to the hull. I damn near punched a hole in my hull. Easy fix.
KiDa, thanks for the response, it helps that we are from the same general area. My 252 does have a pulpit with a roller. I usually don't go up the James, more often Hampton Roads, Norfolk and York River. Most times it's an overnight trip to another marina but wanted to have an anchor just in case of emergency. Walterv, I noticed there are different chain lengths and sizes, what would you recommend? Sugilbert, thank you also, I think most bottoms in my area are mud, at least that's what I see on my friends anchors when they pull up. Thanks again to all!
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For whatever it's worth, I run ALL chain...100' of it. Originally, I had 100' of rope with 10' of chain, but broke the rope in it's 2nd year by a rogue wave and damn near got beached. Vowed never to let that happen ever again.
As an added bonus, I only need a short scope most of the time.
As an added bonus, I only need a short scope most of the time.
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Steve, do you have trouble with the all chain feeding into your anchor locker properly?
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Not at all. It lays down far better than the rope ever did. Still room for 100 more feet. I may, for my own sanity, add 100' of rope to the bitter end this spring-just to be on the safe side.
I guess I forgot to mention that I have a Lewmar 700H windlass. It is a horizontal unit.
dave24
You’ve probably heard that size does not matter and when it comes to anchors, size has little to do with it in normal conditions. It has a big part in extremely high winds and currents. What matters most is the angle of your anchor line to the bottom. This is governed by two things, the length of line you pay out, and the amount of chain you use. because the chain is heavier than line you don't need as much of it as with line alone. If you add the total depth of the water plus the distance between the anchor roller and the top of the water, an absolute min with a chain line combination is a 3:1 ratio of line to depth, a safer ratio is between 5:1 and 7:1 depending on the bottom conditions, wind and current. With a proper ratio and normal wind and current most boats will in reasonable bottom conditions will not pull out an anchor that is 2/3's the size of the specification for your boat. If you have a depth finder on board, use it every time to calculate the ratio and purchase anchor rode markers from any marine supplier to mark the line so you can accurately tell how much you have paid out. Trust me if you follow the ratios correctly and don't run afoul of seaweed/grass or other bottom conditions you will be fine. To make sure that you have not fouled the anchor itself in seaweed etc. gently back down the boat once you have enough line out and taken up the slack to set the hook, you'll know once it has set as the anchor rode will go taught and the boat will not move any further aft. Don’t worry about the anchor getting too far into the bottom, when you retrieve the anchor pull the line back in by hand until it is straight up and down, cleat it, then gentle push the boat forward and let the boat do the work of pulling it free, then just pull it up.
Buying an oversized anchor is fine as long as you are comfortable with pulling the extra weight aboard and have room to store it. It probably will never be of use to oversize if your boat is never stored or used in conditions that could involve very high winds/current such as overnight anchoring. If you do anchor overnight what I have outlined above will give you more comfort to sleep at night than simply buying a larger/heavier anchor. One more tip, find out who the local professional skippers are in your area and ask them what kind of anchor they prefer and why. Some types hold better in certain bottom conditions and if you don’t know what the bottom is made of in your area, the local pro’s will.
You’ve probably heard that size does not matter and when it comes to anchors, size has little to do with it in normal conditions. It has a big part in extremely high winds and currents. What matters most is the angle of your anchor line to the bottom. This is governed by two things, the length of line you pay out, and the amount of chain you use. because the chain is heavier than line you don't need as much of it as with line alone. If you add the total depth of the water plus the distance between the anchor roller and the top of the water, an absolute min with a chain line combination is a 3:1 ratio of line to depth, a safer ratio is between 5:1 and 7:1 depending on the bottom conditions, wind and current. With a proper ratio and normal wind and current most boats will in reasonable bottom conditions will not pull out an anchor that is 2/3's the size of the specification for your boat. If you have a depth finder on board, use it every time to calculate the ratio and purchase anchor rode markers from any marine supplier to mark the line so you can accurately tell how much you have paid out. Trust me if you follow the ratios correctly and don't run afoul of seaweed/grass or other bottom conditions you will be fine. To make sure that you have not fouled the anchor itself in seaweed etc. gently back down the boat once you have enough line out and taken up the slack to set the hook, you'll know once it has set as the anchor rode will go taught and the boat will not move any further aft. Don’t worry about the anchor getting too far into the bottom, when you retrieve the anchor pull the line back in by hand until it is straight up and down, cleat it, then gentle push the boat forward and let the boat do the work of pulling it free, then just pull it up.
Buying an oversized anchor is fine as long as you are comfortable with pulling the extra weight aboard and have room to store it. It probably will never be of use to oversize if your boat is never stored or used in conditions that could involve very high winds/current such as overnight anchoring. If you do anchor overnight what I have outlined above will give you more comfort to sleep at night than simply buying a larger/heavier anchor. One more tip, find out who the local professional skippers are in your area and ask them what kind of anchor they prefer and why. Some types hold better in certain bottom conditions and if you don’t know what the bottom is made of in your area, the local pro’s will.