"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
I have to agree that the CQR is more difficult to set and there is
definitely a technique to setting it. I saw far more CQRs in the
Bahamas than any other anchor. Our 45 poundes saved our
cookies when the Spade wouldn;t set. You can;t just drop it
and back down on is though. Our Spade just flopped over on its
side and dragged and wasn;t heavy enough to get a bite.


One lesson learned in our Nonsuch, which refused to back in a straight
line
anyways, was to just wait for a few minutes, and then very gradually add
backing
power. This certainly works for the Delta which almost always sets within
a few
feet of where it lands; I've heard that CQR owners use the same tecnique
and I'd
guess it also works for the Spade.

I definitely works for the CQR as this the standard way to set one. I tried
this with the Spade with no luck. I even dove on the anchor and pushed the
point into the bottom. Even with the boat just drifting back, it just
flopped over and
dragged over the grass. It is an aluminum Spade. I suspect the steel Spade
will work much better.

45 pounds? Do you mean the FX85 which is 47 pounds? This a monster (the
shank
is 51"), which I wouldn't mind having as a storm anchor, but it seems a
bit
large to keep on deck. How big is your boat?

Yup, that's the one I want and yes it will be my storm anchor but will be
used as a backup where my Bruce or CQR will not set. Won't be kept on
deck normally. Boat is 43' and there is plenty of room to keep it on
deck if necessary..

BTW, I've had Danforth style anchors tear out some weeds, then flop over
and
refuse to reset because the weed is holding the flukes up. THis is why I
wouldn't use a Fortress as the only anchor overnight, except possibly in
soft
mud. Perhaps the FX85 is big enough to avoid this problem, but how can
you
really be sure?

Danforth style anchors are not known to reset well. They quite often
tangle in their rode and don't reset. If I used one in sand or grass it
would
be in a Bahamian moor with the CQR on the other end if the current is
likely to change direction.




DOug
s/v Callista