Anchor Holding Problems

B

Bill Herb

New Member
Mar 6, 2006
27
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
2001 340 Sea Ray Sundancer
Engines
8.1 Mercruisers w/V drives
I am considering a switch from the standard "Delta" type anchor which came with the boat to a "Hooker" mfg by Tie-Down Engineering, Atlanta, GA. This is a Danforth style anchor. My reason for this change is I've had some very bad experiences with the Sea Ray Rig. My question is has anyone out there made or attempted the switch, and will the anchor nest properly in the bracket when retrieving same. I am simply tired of swinging on the hook and having the GPS sound off in the wee hours indicating slippage. Past experience with the danforth style anchor was very good-I'm just concerned with the interface bracket/anchor. Yes I have about 6' chain on the business end. Appreciate any response.
 
Do you really mean 6' of chain. That's not enough. My 310DA came with 30', and it works fine.
 
Bill you do not mention where you boat? This may help folks in providing a recommendation.

Swinging sounds like you may be on a lake or calm waterway (guessing here) with no current and shifting winds. In my previous boat we had a hooker anchor... it swung.... upgraded for other reasons to fortress and it swung..... and now have the plow style that swings.... when on a lake or similar calm water and only attached by a single anchor. With a single pivot point and no current to hold you straight I would think you would swing with any anchor type. To stop the swing (during the night when we are staying on the hook or backed into shore) we deploy a stern anchor thus pulling on the main anchor and keeps the boat straight. I borrowed this process from Frank... I always seem to wake up where I fell asleep :smt001

Just taking a swag at it.... this may not fit your situation. Who cut your chain short? I have 20 foot of chain on a smaller 280.
 
Bill,

Some Danforth style anchors will nest in the Delta pulpit and some will not. True Danforth's have a long stock and sometimes there isn't enough room between the windlass and the bow for the anchor to fit. The only way to know is to try it and see if there is operating room.

How well one anchor holds vs. another depends upon your bottom conditions and anchoring habits. A lot of people in our area have problems with the Delta plow. We have a sandy bottom and unless you thoroughly set the plow, it will work its way loose as the boat swings. Those who have stayed with the Delta normally set the anchor by backing down on them at fast idle until the boat stops moving...others put out a stern anchor to limit the boat's ability to swing in the wind.

I don't usually "take sides" on brands of equipment , but be careful with Hooker anchors. My experience with them has not been good. Even with a 10+ :1 scope, they will slip and pull out. If I were replacing an anchor today I'd buy a Fortress, even though they are expensive. They are self-setting in about 3' of pull and you will not get one to slip out once its set. The Fortress design just goes deeper the more you pull.
 
I can strongly echo Frank's comments re: the Fortress. We have one that we use as a stern anchor/lunch hook and it is amazing. Our 16# Fortress once held my 36' Carver, from the stern, against a raging current. I couldn't believe it. It sets and retreives easily under all conditions we've used it in, and we have no chain on it as it is intended to be a stern anchor. Plus it is very light.

I recall seeing one of those "anchor bake-offs" in a magazine recently and it was among the best tested.

If the Fortress fits in your pulpit, I'd strongly consider it.

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the Fortress Company, its parents or affiliates. :thumbsup:
 
My boating experiences are in the Chesapeake Bay, first beginning about 1970. I have studied these anchors on other boats, even observing a trawler with the same anchor sporting a flotation tube attached in a bored hole through the anchor shank. When I questioned the vessel's captain about it, he advised me that it was indeed a flotaion device designed to keep the anchor claws down to plow the bottom and obtain a purchase. Needless to say I have tried many things such as extra scope and backing down on the anchor, but to be sitting in the dinette and observing the coastline moving by it is most disturbing; or 1 or 2 am in the morning when the GPS alarm goes off that's disturbing! My anchorages have been picked for shelter and seclusion in areas visited in the past in which a Danforth always held. As I was new to the plow, I have given it a reasonable chance but I'm afraid it's not building any confidence. These are mill pond areas.
 
I've had good luck with the Kodiak plow anchor provided by S/R in a mud and/or sand bottom. Even with the boat swinging around on a windy day, it seems to stay put or reset.

You may want try extending your chain before taking the plunge for a different anchor....
 
We have used the Delta, Danforth and Fortress. I currently have a Delta that came with our boat. We have 35 feet of chain and 250 feet of rode. We anchor in sand, some gravel and some areas with lots of weeds. The Delta works the best by far. Why do you worry about swinging? That's what keeps the breeze coming down the front hatch and you don't have to worry about waves slapping on the of the boat if a squall blows through will you are trying to sleep at night. We keep our Fortress in the basement. I've never thought it lived up to the hype.
 
goblue said:
We have used the Delta, Danforth and Fortress. I currently have a Delta that came with our boat. We have 35 feet of chain and 250 feet of rode. We anchor in sand, some gravel and some areas with lots of weeds. The Delta works the best by far.
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goblue, it would be nice if you would put info about your boat in your signature block, so we can see what it is you are anchoring. It would be appreciated.
 
I have the three types too. The boat came with a danforth. I think it works OK. But I keep the boat in my shop. The danforth sat about forehead high, and did not sit well in the chute. So I got a Delta and put there. It looks nice. Last year I was out by myself often, and needed to be able to drop anchor from the cockpit. Got tired of dragging the chain across the deck, so took it off. I found with the Delta, when you back down on it with no chain, you just drag it out to sea. When I am using it I never go away from the boat, and it is short duration daytime use only.

I found I can use the Fortress with no chain in shallow water, It holds nice, I have some faith in it. But it does not fit well in the anchor chute either, too much like the Danforth. And it is too light to drop by releasing the rode tied alongside the boat. But if I want to get off the boat and walk the beach, I take off the Delta and put it on.

I really need a windlass. Santa, are you listening?
 
More Chain??

Is it possible to add more chain to a short rode and still let it go thru the windlass (LaFranse...did i spell that right?) . :smt100 ..I also have a short chain...maybe 5-7 feet...I am almost always in 10-12 feet of water where I set the hook.

It was like that when i bought hte boat 2 years ago.
 
I believe your close enough on the spelling; mine is the same. I'm talking about 6' or so of water, soft bottom which is pretty much the norm for the Chesapeake Bay. This thing happens with the least amount of wave/wind action. It cannot be trusted. I'm talking protected anchorage(s). From previous experience I know the Danforth design can be trusted from prior experience with a similar size vessel. I am searching for someone in the group nwho has made or tried the switch and could and could (would) impart their experience.
 
Maybe we should simply exchange anchors. I'm planning to switch to a Delta this year. Not for performance, I've always used Danforths and had good experience - even on a 28 ft flybridge. But I don't like the way my Danforth sticks out on the sides of my bow pulpit. My neighbor almost got snagged on it last year.

Now I wonder if the next larger size of Delta would be better. Also, I've always used 6 ft of chain without a problem. I think that was what was suggested in Chapman's, although I could be wrong.
 
Cap10Pat said:
Now I wonder if the next larger size of Delta would be better.
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You should look closely at this. The Delta anchor I bought was supposed to be the right size for my boat. But in reality, it is too small. It doesn't do much to hold the boat in pure sand, and the shank is too short for it to sit properly on the anchor chute rollers. Due to the shape of the lower inner curve of the shank (that may be the wrong name), it does not pull up tight in the chute. Instead it hangs down about 2 inches and swings back and forth. I have to tie it up with a dock line to keep it from hitting the winch when loading and unloading.

I should have taken the boat to Portland so I could "try before you buy".
 
In my travels (Marina Hopping) I noticed a 40' trawler with the similar anchor rig. It sported a tubular 6"dia. x 20" long piece of hardware mounted on the shank, which at firat glance appeared to be a weight. I questioned the boat operator and he advised me that it was a flotation device which caused the anchor to always deploy in a proper fluke down position. As he had purchased the vessel with this apparatus he had no knowledge where this add-on could be obtained. Does anyone else have knowledge of this device? Maybe this is the fix. I have not seen it in any brochores or catalogs.
 
With my 260 - the delta style always set the first time - with the 320 - it doesn't. I usually now let out the 20' of chain and let it set and then once it seems like it is starting to grab - tap it into reverse for a second. That tends to set it. I am usually in 6' to 10' of water. Then I let out more until I get the appropriate scope.
 
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