Box Anchor?

[jnb]

I am about to buy a new anchor and see a lot of comments from box anchor supporters. Looking at them you might think it was the ultimate anchor. I am interested in knowing the CONS of these anchors. In particular, I often anchor in hard sand & shallow water by the beach for my kids to swim ashore. I always do it when it is relatively calm. However it is not uncommon for a couple of bigger waves to come in occasionally and give the boat a strong bounce. I don't want to find out the anchor doesn't hold by rolling ashore. Thanks for your input.

 

[themaniam1]

Re: Box Anchor?

Need a little more info. What size and type of boat? How much room do you have to store an anchor?

If you are in a tinny then the box would work and can collapse to save space. But if you are in a 16' or bigger V hull I would say get a fluke type anchor with 6' vinyl coated chain as a minimum. Fluke anchors work great in sand and mud bottoms and the chain will help it stay set by weighting down the anchor shaft. It can also be use as a shore anchor and is light weight. It uses the flukes to hold the boat in place not weight.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Box Anchor?

I am about to buy a new anchor and see a lot of comments from box anchor supporters. Looking at them you might think it was the ultimate anchor. I am interested in knowing the CONS of these anchors. In particular, I often anchor in hard sand & shallow water by the beach for my kids to swim ashore. I always do it when it is relatively calm. However it is not uncommon for a couple of bigger waves to come in occasionally and give the boat a strong bounce. I don't want to find out the anchor doesn't hold by rolling ashore. Thanks for your input.

They are certainly not the "the ultimate anchor". You don't see them on cruising boats, boats that often anchor for the night, every night, in strong tidal currents or rough weather. You also don't see them on boats where the anchor is stored on a roller or pulpit.

Anchoring technique is at least as important as the type of anchor. Proper scope, setting the anchor, etc.

It would help if you describe your boat and the area and conditions where you normally anchor. Also, remember that you might have to anchor just about anywhere in case you have an engine failure.

 

[jnb]

Re: Box Anchor?

It's a 24' Regal i/o with enough room to store just about any anchor. I usually anchor in a medium/low current, good conditions, about 10' of water and medium to hard sand for the day - nothing overnight. I have been having trouble with my Danforth (which came with the boat and is bigger than necessary). It has about 5 ft. of heavy chain. It either barely sets and pulls out easily or just slides along the bottom. I can let out tons of line, back down, drift, anything with no luck. I can't do much more heavy chain or it will kill my back. Oddly, my tiny aluminum beach anchor with no chain sets like a champion. I was thinking about buying a Bruce/claw anchor.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Box Anchor?

It's a 24' Regal i/o with enough room to store just about any anchor. I have been having trouble with my Danforth (which came with the boat and is bigger than necessary). It has about 5 ft. of heavy chain. It either barely sets and pulls out easily or just slides along the bottom, although the sand is not really hard. Oddly, my tiny aluminum beach anchor with no chain sets like a champion. I was thinking about buying a Bruce/claw anchor.

I would say your boat should have a "real" anchor. I have a claw anchor on my boat and it has served me well. Many nights sleeping in reversing tidal waters without dragging. Of course, I also have 30' of 5/16 G4 chain and I use at least a 5:1 scope, more if possible.

I had a plow anchor on my precious (smalled) boat and it also worked well. I had a boat length of 1/4" chain and used the same scope.

If you let out 5:1 scope or so and then set the anchor by backing down, it should set and stay set. Don't go too fast or you'll just drag it. Once it's set you can shorten the scope if you'll be on or near the boat.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Box Anchor?

I just went through the anchor plight myself. I have a heavy 22' walkaround, and boat in mostly sandy areas, up to about 60'. My wife (108lbs) handles the anchor at least half the time, so weight was a huge deciding factor.

I looked at the box anchor, and for the money, short history, and weight, I went against it. For your boat, the Small box anchor is pushing the upper limit, and the large box anchor would be my choice. The weights are 19 and 25 lbs. respectively. That's a heavy anchor. $150 and $180 is a chunk of change, too.

My 3rd choice was the traditional claw anchor;

But I don't have a pulpit or anchor roller, so I was concerned about storage. Weight on these are about average, and for your boat, the 14lb would be the correct one. Price is about $130 (Delta Fast Set galvanized). I think this would be a good choice, but you still need to add chain (about 6' is recommended in most instances (more never hurts)), so you have to think about your back.

My 2nd choice was a sea-claw:

The huge benefit to this anchor is no chain is needed. I'm on other forums, and everyone that uses this anchor (except for one guy) uses it with no chain. It's available in galvanized and aluminum. I was going to get the 12lb aluminum (7lb actual weight) for $99, and they have the bronze 12lb (actual weight 12lb) for $150. Everything I've heard about this anchor is great, so I was ready to order (didn't helo that shipping was free in FL) until...

I ended up getting the Fortress FX-11.

It's a traditional style fluke anchor, but is made of aluminum. Weighs 7lbs. It does need chain, but the wife is already used to the 6' chain plus the 15lb turd we were using. The feedback I've gotten from almost everyone is the same as their catch-phrase of the best anchor in the world. Holds in all types of bottoms. The msrp on the FX-11 is about $170, but I got crazy lucky on ebay and got one for $81. There is also the FX-7 (4lb) that would technically be okay for your size boat (and mine), but I figured if I can get the power of the larger one with the weight savings, I'm ahead of the game. Fortress can be disassembled for storage if needed, and comes with a lifetime guarantee on all parts (free replacement of damaged parts).

If I hadn't grabbed the one on ebay so cheap, I would have gotten the SeaClaw. I think the SeaClaw and Fortress offer the same benefits for equal money. I think I just like the look of the SeaClaw.

As far as the box goes, I think the weight will be your biggest issue. I also don't want to have to assemble an anchor in an emergency before I can use it, however 'simple' the assembly process is.

My 2 cents, and worth half that!

 

[jnb]

Re: Box Anchor?

Thanks for all the input. Beefer, thanks for all the effort with the photos! I just saw this from some tests that were run on several anchors.

"Both the Bruce and the Claw are one-piece anchors that are unrivaled for reliable setting. They are not, however, equally famous for holding power in any bottom. Neither the Bruce, with an average holding power of 307 lbs., nor the Claw, which held to an average of 283 lbs., did anything to alter their reputations.

The Box anchor, an ingenious box-shaped anchor that folds flat and stows in a canvas bag, repeatedly tipped forward releasing its back ?teeth? when any more than a scope of about 3:1 was used and a force of about 100 lbs. was applied. The Box really is an anchor intended for runabouts, set off the stern at a scope of 2:1 and the bow tethered to a beach. For that purpose, it is probably fine. It was included in the tests at its inventor?s request."

I guess he regrets making that request...

In another study, out of 33 attempts, the claw set 32 times. It looks like the Bruce/claw may be best for my purposes and your opinions about the Box are right.
Thanks again.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Box Anchor?

You're welcome.