Hello all

I own a 17ft half cabin boat which weighs around 800kg. I currently have a
traditional sand anchor (sized correctly for the boat) with around 2 meters
of light chain attached to it.
I anchor the boat on in an area of beach type sand, trying to always let out
about 5 times as much rope as the water is deep. On all but calm conditions
the anchor will drag, even after diving down and digging it in by hand. I am
considering buying a plough anchor in the hope of superior holding power. I
have been told the sand anchor should be as good as any in sand and perhaps
a heavier chain would help.
Any thoughts or experiences with different anchor types would be greatly
appreciated.

Daryl

I bought a SPADE anchor from Glenn Ashmore in this group, at substantial
savings from WEST, I might add, and have never regreted it. It's
especially good in sand, which we have almost entirely on Lake Superior.
It also worked great in the wierd clay/shell/rock/mud mixtures on the
Inside Passage to Alaska this summer, as long as I didn't try to set it
too soon after I deployed it. Actually I had the best results not
setting it at all, just throwing it in and letting it figure it out for
itself, even on sloped anchorages.

Capt. jeff

Daryl Harris wrote:

Hello all

I own a 17ft half cabin boat which weighs around 800kg. I currently have a
traditional sand anchor (sized correctly for the boat) with around 2 meters
of light chain attached to it.
I anchor the boat on in an area of beach type sand, trying to always let out
about 5 times as much rope as the water is deep. On all but calm conditions
the anchor will drag, even after diving down and digging it in by hand. I am
considering buying a plough anchor in the hope of superior holding power. I
have been told the sand anchor should be as good as any in sand and perhaps
a heavier chain would help.
Any thoughts or experiences with different anchor types would be greatly
appreciated.

Not all "sand anchors" (maybe you mean a Danforth type?) are created equal. It
may be that the flukes are at the wrong angle, or not sharp enough, or it may
just be a piece of junk shaped like anchor.

I would recommend 1- more & heavier chain (this always helps) 2- letting out
more rope to get the anchor set, about 8 times as much as the water is deep. You
can always shorten it if needed, later, once the anchor has a good bite. 3- If
you want to buy a new anchor, get a Bruce. These are the best for all-around
ability to hold in various types of bottom, but they do not hold as well in sand
as a Danforth. They are also very easy to get a good set.

Fair Skies- Doug King

When it comes to anchors I use the Fortress, Guardian. For a17' boat the
Guardian G-7 will give you a working load of 575 lb.. Guardian G-7 weighs 4
lb.. Don't let the light weight fool you. Fortress and Guardian anchors
have superior holding power. A 5 to 1 scope will give you about 50% of the
holding power of an anchor. I would suggest a minimum scope of 7 to 1, and
10 to 1 for a holding power of 100%. Power set your anchor. Back down vary
slowly, then as the anchor sets slowly increase speed with your engine. Use
your engine to simulate wind speed and set the anchor.
When it comes to anchors and anchoring I use the Fortress 125 as my main and
the Guardian 85 as my secondary anchor. I especially like being able to
breakdown the Guardian for storage and the weight is vary minimal. On each
anchor I use 15 meters of 1/2" proof coil chain with 400' of 1" rope on the
Fortress, and 300' 7/8" nylon rope on the Guardian. Since I regularly
anchor in 25' of water.
Remember you can always use a larger anchor to gain holding power.

Jack
Oyster 56
"Daryl Harris" wrote in message
...
Hello all

I own a 17ft half cabin boat which weighs around 800kg. I currently have a
traditional sand anchor (sized correctly for the boat) with around 2
meters
of light chain attached to it.
I anchor the boat on in an area of beach type sand, trying to always let
out
about 5 times as much rope as the water is deep. On all but calm
conditions
the anchor will drag, even after diving down and digging it in by hand. I
am
considering buying a plough anchor in the hope of superior holding power.
I
have been told the sand anchor should be as good as any in sand and
perhaps
a heavier chain would help.
Any thoughts or experiences with different anchor types would be greatly
appreciated.

Daryl

"Daryl Harris" wrote in message
...
Hello all

I own a 17ft half cabin boat which weighs around 800kg. I currently have a
traditional sand anchor (sized correctly for the boat) with around 2
meters
of light chain attached to it.
I anchor the boat on in an area of beach type sand, trying to always let
out
about 5 times as much rope as the water is deep. On all but calm
conditions
the anchor will drag, even after diving down and digging it in by hand. I
am
considering buying a plough anchor in the hope of superior holding power.
I
have been told the sand anchor should be as good as any in sand and
perhaps
a heavier chain would help.
Any thoughts or experiences with different anchor types would be greatly
appreciated.

Daryl




I think the ratings for anchors to the size of the boat are generous. Go to
a bigger anchor. A sand anchor is probably a Danforth and I have had the
anchor rated for my size boat, just plow through the sand. Go up a size and
try it. Borrow one from a friend.
Bill

I'm guessing that by "sand anchor" you mean a Danforth type.

A real Danforth, or a GOOD (read expensive) copy, is fantastic in
sand. It just digs in. I'm a diver, and I get to check the anchor every
time I dive. In a stiff breeze, my (real) Danforth will be six inches under
the sand at the end of the dive.

The cheap imitation Danforths are abysmal. One of my dive buddies had
one, and watched it drag across the sand time after time, got a good one
(one of the good West Marine knockoffs), no more problems.

But 6' of chain isn't a lot, and light might not be enough. I have a 17'
Boston Whaler, and 13' of chain (1/4" SS proof coil).

--
Chuck Tribolet

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/people/triblet

Silicon Valley: STILL the best day job in the world.


"Daryl Harris" wrote in message ...
Hello all

I own a 17ft half cabin boat which weighs around 800kg. I currently have a
traditional sand anchor (sized correctly for the boat) with around 2 meters
of light chain attached to it.
I anchor the boat on in an area of beach type sand, trying to always let out
about 5 times as much rope as the water is deep. On all but calm conditions
the anchor will drag, even after diving down and digging it in by hand. I am
considering buying a plough anchor in the hope of superior holding power. I
have been told the sand anchor should be as good as any in sand and perhaps
a heavier chain would help.
Any thoughts or experiences with different anchor types would be greatly
appreciated.

Daryl

"Daryl Harris" wrote in message
...
Hello all

I own a 17ft half cabin boat which weighs around 800kg. I currently have a
traditional sand anchor (sized correctly for the boat) with around 2
meters
of light chain attached to it.
I anchor the boat on in an area of beach type sand, trying to always let
out
about 5 times as much rope as the water is deep. On all but calm
conditions
the anchor will drag, even after diving down and digging it in by hand. I
am
considering buying a plough anchor in the hope of superior holding power.
I
have been told the sand anchor should be as good as any in sand and
perhaps
a heavier chain would help.
Any thoughts or experiences with different anchor types would be greatly
appreciated.

Daryl

I use a Plough anchor and it's great in sand / mud / clay / broken shell
etc. The only issue with a plough is that it can get stuck really well on a
rocky bottom.

As far as chain goes, 2 metres for a 17' boat is not enough. The New
Zealand Coast Guard (I'm from NZ) recomend at least the length of the boat
in chain. I carry 1.5 times the length and a lot of people even use nothing
but chain. 5 times the depth is the recomended practise from the NZCG as
well. More in a storm.

My spare anchor is a danforth and whenever I've used it I've slipped. I've
sat in 2 metre swells with 40 knot winds on my plough and never moved.

Enjoy!
Dan