anchor weight required

[fernando]

i have a 16ft bowrider and need a anchor but the some of the people they hire these days(let me tell ya )i just dont know.. anyways what weight should i get for that size boat thanks

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchor weight required

Really depends on where and how you will use it. I always carry 2 anchors for my 21 foot boat..
My favorite anchor of the 6 that I have is a 4 pound Fortress FX-7. Will hold up to a 27 foot boat. It light enough the Wife can pull with no problem. Also it sets quicker and holds better than the two 8 pounds Danforths anchors I own.

It is not a cheap anchor and I would not use it in rocks. Coast Guard and power boats rated the fortress best in several anchor tests. The only draw back is you need to learn to lower and set the anchor. No different than any other danforth except that it is lighter. Being lighter (Aluminum) you can not just put the boat in reverse and lower the anchor as it may just troll behind the boat like a fishing lure. Instead you come to your spot and put the boat in reverse untill you have slow sternway in the water, then take out of gear and lower the anchor until it reaches bottom. Slow astern to pay out proper scope then tie off and it will set quick and deep.

 

[ziggy]

Re: anchor weight required

i'll give a second thumbs up to the 4lb fx-7.

there must be something to ancohr design cause that fortress sure does hold.

my other two anchors are a 10 navy anchor which only kinda works. and mushroom anchor that think weights in at 8 lbs. it's worthless too......

 

[Wotam]

Re: anchor weight required

>"there must be something to anchor design "

I think anchors are like propellers... 'a black art'. Anchor design is a subject they would teach at Hogwarts.

More seriously, it seems that accuracy in the manufacturing process counts for a lot. Gleaned from the tests I've read, being even a few degrees 'off' on the fluke angle seems to make a lot of difference in holding and setting power.

Carrying a couple different styles of anchor makes a lot of sense. You don't want to drop that expensive Fortress on a rock cobble bottom. That's a good place for that inexpensive 12 lb 'navy' anchor.

>"Being lighter (Aluminum) you can not just put the boat in reverse "

It's critical to have enough chain on a Fortress. I tried to set a 7lb Fortress (without much chain) in a strong tidal current once. I don't think it ever saw the bottom. It was just a big fishing lure down there. Added 20' of 1/4" galvanized chain. No problems now.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: anchor weight required

I'd recommend starting with a genuine Danforth (steel, not aluminum) @ 9#.

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/157160151msk.htm

 

[Scaaty]

Re: anchor weight required

Anthing you need to know..
http://boatingsailing.suite101.com/article.cfm/boat_anchoring_basics

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchor weight required

I have been useing the Fortress FX-7 for over 10 years on My 21 foot runabout. I got it at first for the Wife. She does not like to drive the boat up to the anchor to pull when it foggy with strong winds and current, she would rather I drive and she pulls. The problem is she is not strong enough to pull the 8 Pound Danforth, she gets it off the bottom and up about 10 feet and she totally worn out.

So I bought the Fortress FX-7 and 4 feet of chain. First trip up to a local lake where it was always hard to get the Danforth to dig in and set but the fortress set without draging at all. The old danforth sometimes we would try several times and it would just drag the bottom and not set.

After a few trips with the Fortress I removed the 4 foot of chain and it stillsets with out dragging.

The Frotress flutes are sharpened on the end and as soon as it hit's bottom in grabs and diggs in without dragging. Also the shank is thinner and longer and will bury in the sand just like the flutes. Old anchor would often drag untill the flutes went under a rock or a fallen tree or bush. This then would make it very hard to pull up and the end of the day. Also the old Galvanized anchor had drug on the bottom enough to sand some of the Galvanizing off and woud try to rust.

The Frotress is Anodized Aluminum Magnesium Alloy and over twice as stoung as steel per pound. It will not rust and is the best anchor i have ever used.

Check the testimonials and the anchor test at there site. Also the facts and myths.

http://www.fortressanchors.com/

 

[Chris1956]

Re: anchor weight required

Fernando, A 16' boat requires a 5-7 # fluke-type anchor. You can get away with any inexpensive galvanized steel anchor of this type. Use 3/8" three strand twisted nylon anchor line with galvanized steel thimble and shackle.
I use a 2.5# galvanized steel anchor on my 16' speedboat. I've never had an issue. My 21' runabout needs a 12# anchor.