Anchor options

[elwopo]

I need to purchase an anchor that will actually hold my boat.
Picked it up yesterday and the dealer gave me a slip ring anchor. Might be 10-12 pounds?
The boat is 25' Sportcraft walkaround with hard top and tower on top of that.
Needless to say....we stuck to nothing yesterday. It was windy to start....then got worse. We wound up just going back in.

Has anyone used the Hydrobubble anchors? They have pretty good reviews.

Trying to find something to hold the boat that won't be too much of a bear for my 13 year old son to work with.

 

[laughinghousekeith]

Re: Anchor options

There are so many variables ... You need the right kind of anchor for that bottom, did you have enough chain on? Did you have enough rope out? Google the problem, I found sites that gave all that info- I had same problem.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Anchor options

http://www.fortressanchors.com/anchor_tests.html

i was looking not to long a ago and some ome passed this on to me. i found it very helpfull

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: Anchor options

Most of the time it's not the anchor that is the problem it's the amount of rode that is let out. Typical range is a 7 to 1 ratio, example if you are in 10 feet of water you need to have 70 feet of anchor rode out, the more the better.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Anchor options

Get yourself a Fortress FX16 and 25 ft. 3/8 or 1/4 chain, 4 to one scope min, and you won't move, and hook up first time! I live in SW Fl Lee county and fish the gulf all the time. I'm usining a FX 7 which is only 4 lbs and it holds my 23' WA approx 6000 lbs, the FX 26 will hold up to a 33 fter I believe and only weighs 10 lbs, just remember it's not the weight of the anchor that holds...it's the chain, scope, and design. And they are Warr. for life. Go to there web and check them out! And don't forfet to get an anchor ball for easy retrieval.

 

[larryo]

Re: Anchor options

http://www.reelcharterfishing.com/anchor.htm 18 # with 8 ft chain . You will hold , better at that price . Got mine at store for $150. I use a windless so weight is not an issue . The tide runs hard and the water can get choppy where we fish .

 

[Boatist]

Re: Anchor options

My opinion Fortress is the best anchor out there. It digs in fast and deep.
FX-7 weighs 4 pounds and rated for boats up to 27 feet.
Fx-11 weight 7 pounds and rated for boats 28 to 32 feet.

As indicated above flute type anchors require you to let out line at a 7 to 1 ratio for max holding power. So if the water is 10 feet deep and you tie to the bow cleat 3 feet above the water you have 10 plus 3 equals 13 feet times 7 or 91 feet.

If water is 20 feet plus 3 to the bow cleat it is 23 times 7 or 161 feet for max holding.

Now in light currents and winds you can get by with as short as 3 to 1 if you have some chain on the front of the anchor. The chain will hold the shank of the anchor down on the bottom and alow the anchor to dig in when condition are light. As the current and wind pick up the extra load on the anchor rode will still pull the chain up and point to the bow so the chain will not help. At this point the only solution is to let out normal scope or 7 to 1. With 7 to 1 scope even if the shank points straight at the bow the flutes will still be point down and dig in deep.

Frotress has two angles you can set the flutes at also. They will supply a free mud flap if you ask for it.

I have had many anchors and the fortress is the best I have ever used. Our 4 pound FX-7 digs in faster and deeper than the 8 pound danforth. My wife could hardly pull the 8 pound anchor with 6 foot of chain and even with normal 7 to 1 scope it would offten drag before digging in.

The Frotress FX-7 digs in fast and deep even in the one lake that has a very hard bottom.

The Fortress does have one thing you need to know about and that is that it is light. So if you pull up to your spot and put the engine in reverse and start paying out line it will sail in front of the boat like a fishing lure and never hit the bottom.

Instead you come up on your spot and put engine in reverse until you have some stern way then take it out of reverse and pay out line until the fortress hits bottom. Then put back in reverse and pay out to proper scope for conditions. Stop the boat and tie off then back in gear and set with the engine if you feel you must.

Fortress is not a cheap anchor but to the wife and me worth every penny.


http://www.iboats.com/Fortress_Anch...id.238311--**********.488989199--view_id.4943

http://www.fortressanchors.com/

http://www.fortressanchors.com/anchor_tests.html