On Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:04:29 -0700, "
wrote:

On Nov 1, 3:46 am, Skip Gundlach wrote:
This article has me rethinking my anchor management. Adding another
will be a storage challenge; only the fortress (which is knocked down,
in a bag, and fits nicely in the lazarette) and the danforths lend
themselves to stowage on the rail(s) - their currrent location(s).
However, when I lost my 65# CQR (see "Anchor's Away" - a report of a
sea trial last year) and was considering what to do for the
replacement, the Rocna, not only very expensive but at the entire
extent of the USA apart, a very high shipping charge, as well, and the
Spade, with the 120 being really the appropriate one for the boat,
being even worse, I eventually went to a like, but heavier, CQR.

I'm not sure I read this right Skip, the Rocna is definitely cheaper
than a CQR on a weight-for-weight basis, and far far better value on a
performance for $ basis.

The CQR 60lb from West Marine online at the moment is: "Sale $1,075.00
USD (Save $320.00 USD)"
The Rocna 25 (55lb) from West is $800.00 USD, the 33 (73lb) is $900.00
USD, and even the 15 or 20 Kg could be expected to out-perform the
60lb (27Kg) plow...

A lot of pricing comparisons these days inevitably come from looking
at cheap knock-offs, which flood the market from both domestic and
Asian manufacturers. It's a lowest common denominator thing. The
genuine CQR, genuine Bruce, Spade, and Rocna are fairly equal in one
sense: quality of build - and comparisons of value need to be
undertaken like-for-like. Their prices generally reflect the true cost
of a decent anchor. There are lots of things from a construction and
production point of view that could be done to make the Rocna cheaper,
but then it wouldn't be top quality!

If it's cheaper, it's cheaper for a reason... How much is your boat
worth?

Something I have always wondered about is that everyone talks about
anchors but nobody seems to talk about the anchor rode.

For example, 3/8" Grade 30 BBB galvanized chain has a working strength
of 2,650 Lbs., 25% of its breaking strength of 10,600 Lbs. 5/8th inch
double braid nylon rope has a tensile strength of 15,000 Lbs. and if
we go to Kevlar core double braid we are talking 22,000 Lbs.

Yes, I know - catenary..... but Alain Hylas (Inventor of the 'Spade'
anchor) say the opposite. He says that once the wind gets 20 - 30
knots (a gale force wind) the chain becomes effectively a straight
line, in other words for all practical purposes the catenary is gone
(Note: you can never pull the chain completely straight) and wave
shock is transmitted directly to the anchor.

So why do nearly all cruising yachts use an all chain rode? And, why
does everyone talk about anchors but ignore the "thing" that attaches
the anchor to the boat?

Bruce-in-Bangkok
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