anchors

[carver]

I have a 30 ft santigo carver weight 11,000 lbs and boat the hudson by present anchor is a danforth. I heard and I have trouble holding any suggestions thanks

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: anchors

I have a Delta Plow and a couple of Bruce claws. Both styles work well. The Delta is my primary and resides on my anchor roller. The Bruces are mostly used as stern anchors.

If it were me, I try to find out what other use on the part of the Hudson you frequent. That said, almost everyone I know use a Danforth where I boat but I'm happier with my two choices than I was with my old Danforth...

I use a lot of chain in my rodes, 15 feet with my 22 lb Delta, 9 feet with my 15 lb Bruce and 4 feet with my 4.4 lb Bruce

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchors

If your anchor is the proper size the number one cause of not holding is too short an anchor line. For best holding power you need a scope of 7 to 1. So in 16 feet if with the bow 4 feet above the water you need 140 feet of anchor line. In light current and winds you can add more chain and go as low as 3 to 1 but if the wind and current pick up then you need 7 to 1.

I think the best anchor out there is a Fortress. I have two anchor on my boat an 8 pound Dansforth and a 4 pound Fortress. My boat is 21 feet and 2800 pounds dry. The 4 pound Fortress digs in in faster and deeper. It can also be set for hard bottom or soft mud or sand. The anchor looks like a Dansforth but the flutes and sharp to dig in fast and the shank is thin to allow the anchor to did in deep.

Power boat mag and the Coast Guard both rated the Fortress as the best anchor.

Fortress is very light since it is made of aluminum so when setting anchor need to set a little different than a heavy anchor like a danforth.

To Lower anchor it is just like setting a danforth with one difference. Come up to your position to lower anchor, use reverse to gain a little stern way then take motor out of gear and lower anchor. When anchor hit bottom continue to pay out line in slow reverse until have proper scope. Tie it off and wet with motor in reverse like normal. The main difference is with the fortress you can not just put it in reverse and lower anchor. Since the anchor is light it may just troll in front of the boat from the current holding it up, so you need to stop in the water and allow the to settle to the bottom. After that in will dig in fast and deep.

One thing I really like is wife can pull the anchor with no strain at all as I have only 4 feet of chain. When it foggy and she can not see land to guide on she does not want to drive the boat up on anchor. She would rather pull it. With the danforth she just could not do it but with the Frotress it is very easy for her.

http://www.fortressanchors.com/testimonials2.html

http://www.fortressanchors.com/

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: anchors

When I replied I was thinking there's no way a 30 foot Carver does not have a windlass. Fortress anchors are excellent, unless you have a windlass and a bow roller. Then they are a pain since they do not store well or self-right on the anchor roller. With a windlass, there's no need to have a light anchor either.

The Rocna anchor from New Zealand did extremely well in a recent test I read (so did the Fortress). The Rocna also stores well on a anchor roller.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: anchors

If you boat off Storm King or Anthony's nose or West Point, the water is rather deep and you will need a lot of rode. In that area as I remember (from 30 yrs ago), the bottom is firm and a Danforth will hold well provided you have the proper size for your boat. Up around Kingston and Esopus flats it is shallower and the bottom is weedy. Tarrytown by the Tappan Zee is not too deep and the bottom is firm. Thats my faulty memory from long ago. Go to Boating destinations and ask there.
BTW: Have you considered running the Hudson up to Canada? Season pass on the Champlain and Erie canal system is 50 bucks and once you get into Lake Champlain, The scenery is beautiful. Troy lock is federal and opens on the hour and you follow the lockmaster on the NY locks. From Peekskill, it takes about 4 days to get to the Eisenhower Lock and into the Thousand Islands. Great cruise--Especially if the Chambly Canal is still functioning and as picturesque as it was 30 years ago. Circumnavigating Manhattan is also a fun trip. And don't let them BS you about Hells Gate. You can see the whirlpools but in a 30 footer it will be no problem even during tide confluences. I did it in a 15 footer.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: anchors

How much chain are you using?