Scotty wrote:
Anybody using one? Comments?

I used a FX-16 (10 lbs) on my Nonsuch 30, and now use a FX-23 (23 lbs)
on the cat. In both cases I considered them lunch hooks or second
anchors (primary is larger Delta), and would never, ever leave the
boat unattended or try to sleep while relying solely on a Fortress if
it was not set deeply in mud. The smaller one released completely
several time when we thought it was well and truly set, and failed to
reset because of debris caught in the flukes. We've had better
experiences with the larger Fortress, but it also has been fouled.

However, in New England we typically have hard, foul bottoms, and
reversing currents, and Danforth style anchors are not the best
choice. In the Chesapeake, we used the large Fortress several times
and always found that it had set deeply in the soft mud, where the
Delta would do the "slow drag." You can add mud palms set the flukes
for a mud angle, and get increased holding power. You should look on
the docks and ask folks that have them for their experiences.


I have the opportunity to receive a free one, either 7 or 10
lb..
Does the old axiom of 'go one size bigger' apply to these
lightweight anchors?

Even more so. Don't even consider the smaller F-11 (7 lbs). Even the
10 lb FX-16 is so light for its surface area that without chain it has
trouble finding the bottom if there's any current. If you really like
to sleep soundly, I'd say go up to the FX-23, which would almost be a
storm anchor for your boat, and yet can be easily handled.

The selection charts don't even pretend to suggest the proper anchor
for stronger winds; they are actually trying to show that the
expensive anchors are competitively priced. The Fortress chart, for
example, begins with the disclaimer: "Boat size recommendations are
for boats of average windage and proportions in 30 knots of wind,
average bottom conditions, and moderate protection from open seas.
Remember that the loads in 42 knots of wind are twice as much as in 30
knots."

Anyone who goes out for more than one night wants to know that their
gear is rated for more the 30 knots since on any summer night you can
get squalls with much stronger winds. This is a pet peeve of mine,
since most of the anchor holding tests are based on the charts, when a
better measure would be to compare anchors that are equally easy to
handle and set.

BTW, tests by an anchor manufacturer showed that the stock (the
cross-bar at the bottom) and thick chain actually inhibit quick
setting in certain muds. The made a mud anchor without the stock, but
it didn't look "nautical." When my Fortress stock got bent by another
boat, I just cut off 6 inches and have been happy with the result.
Also, since I use the Fortress primarily as a lunch hook/second
anchor, I reduced the chain to about 12 feet for easy handling. One
advantage of a lightly set up Fortress is that you can fish for the
bottom and you know instantly when its set; you can't do this with a
CQR and 50+ feet of chain!