Need advise about boat Anchors

[AFDan52]

[font "8514oem"][red] [font "Arial Black"][red]Hey guys, I could use some advise about the proper boat anchor to use on my 16 ft'er. The one that I have right now is not good at all in any type of wind. Any recommendations will be helpful.[/red][/font][/red][/font]
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[font "Arial Black"][#ff0000] AFDan52[/#ff0000][/font]
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

I have a 16' aluminum w/35hp. I use a 20lb good old Navy style anchor. The 20lb weight is sufficient to keep me from "dragging the anchor" even on really windy days at Bear Lake. I don't care for the mushroom or river style anchor. They just don't seem to work as well. As far as the Danforth style, they are nice and dig in good on the softer bottoms but you usually have to use a 3-5' anchor chain in front of the anchor and quite a bit of rope to get them to dig. They also snag up on the rocky bottoms. I much rather prefer to anchor with just enough rope (close to vertical) so the boat doesn't "swing" so much compared to when you have a lot of line out.
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[AFDan52]

[font "Arial"][red] Thanks Scott, that's the kind of thing I was hoping for. I will look into that type. By the way How does BearLake look for the weekend? Thinking about going up this weekend , there are a few BFT'ers going up on Friday.[/red][/font]
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[font "Arial"][#ff0000] AFDan52[/#ff0000][/font]
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[fish1on]

Hey Dan,

Take Petty4life fishing with ya! When you get over the concentrations of fish throw him overboard with a rope. He makes a great anchor![][][]

Just kidden Jason!

Bearlakefishguy is right on with the style anchor.
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[BearLakeMack]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]A machanical anchor such a a danforth style anchor is easier on your back because it weight a third of a 20 lb anchor. I have a Danforth on the front of my boat and that anchor has held in some very rough water. There is nothing wrong with a Danforth. They are the standard that other anchors are rated against.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]you will never see an navy style anchor on a boat that's serious about staying in place especially in rough weather. weight alone will not do it. Most anchors are used with an anchor chain and the proper diameter nylon twist rope. Contrary to popular belief, yellow poly rope, cotton clothes line rope, and parachute cord are not suitable substitutes for anchoring applications.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]Here's some info that may help you and others out. There's a ton of it out there.[/size][/font]
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Anchor types
Kedge. A traditional anchor with relatively small flukes perpendicular to the stock and connected by a shank. It is commonly used to warp a boat from one berth to another or to haul off when grounded. Its large size and heavy weight relative to its holding power have caused this anchor to fall from favor. Kedge anchors are difficult to stow, but they're great for weedy bottoms. Brands: Fisherman, Yachtsman, Luke.
Pivoting twin fluke. A lightweight anchor, made of steel or aluminum plate and bar stock, with a high holding power-to-weight ratio. These anchors are easy to lift, throw, and retrieve. They are ideal for sand, mud, and clay bottoms. The pivoting flukes dig in easily, often disappearing into the bottom. They are not as effective on rocks or in grass, and they tend to pick up debris easily. Brands: Danforth, Fortress, Hooker.
Plow. An anchor with blades that resemble a farmer's plow. A traditional anchor for cruisers, the plow is designed so it rights itself when deployed, causing the blade to plow into the bottom. Plows perform well in grassy bottoms and also work in sand and mud, but they tend to be twice as heavy as pivoting-fluke types for the same holding power. This makes for a moderately heavy anchor, but one that stows easily in a bow roller. Brands: CQR, Delta, Spade.
Tripoint. Very popular with cruisers, the tripoint has no moving parts to get jammed or that give, works with a variety of bottoms, and easily plows into softer surfaces. It features three round-edged flukes that curl out from the dogleg shank. It was invented in Scotland to secure floating oil rigs, so you know it's strong. The tripoint has high holding power and low breakout force. Brands: Bruce, Claw.
Folding grapnel. Suitable for dinghies and daysailers because of its compact design (four to six flukes) and light weight. However, because of its light weight, it may not penetrate weedy bottoms. The folding grapnel is sometimes used to retrieve sunken objects.
Mushroom. Large mushroom anchors are commonly used as permanent mooring anchors. Similar small mushrooms, often coated with vinyl or plastic, are widely used in inland waters. It can be used as a lunch hook on lightweight boats in the 15-foot range, but is not an all-around efficient sailboat anchor.--Elizabeth B. Wrightson

[url "http://www.boaterexam.com/Training/seamanship1.html"]http://www.boaterexam.com/Training/seamanship1.html[/url]
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[Troll]

Dan,
Anchors and anchoring are a real test of boatmanship. A 16' boat is not that large and there are lots of anchors that will hold it. I use a mushroom on my 19 amd have a fluke for when it is really windy. I also have a 6' chain at the end of my anchor rope to help the anchor hold. The chain is not extra weight for the anchor it is to act like a bungie when the boat bounces up and down in the waves. It helps keep the boat from lifting the anchor.

My fluke anchor is on a 15' piece of rope with a clip. when the mush won't hold I clip the danforth to it. this keeps the angle of pull on the fluke low and maks it hook up really well. I also carry a pyramid anchor like the drift boats use because it is small and can be used to help the fluke if needed. I made it by cutting a mold from wood and putting it in a bucket of damp sand. Then I melted tire weights and filled the mold and inserted a eyebolt with a nut on it.

Rope is also a factor and scope is the angle of the rope relative to the boat and bottom. more rope makes less scope and a slighter angle. In very bad conditions low scope is needed to help prevent the boat action from lifting the anchor.
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[walleyebob]

Hey AFDan,
A fluke anchor will hold pound for pound better than any other anchor in most situations. Always use at least a thirty inch chain and hook to a cleat about four or five feet back from the bow. You can hold without swinging and change positions by changing sides.
I anchor in seventy feet and more at Deer Creek.Afternoons get real windy and the boat stays in one place without having to pull up an anchor that weighs as much as an engine block.
A 16 pound anchor should hold your boat. If it won't, it's time to get off the water.

walleyebob
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[Hopper]

Check out a Richter. They are pricey, but you get a lot more hold for a lot less weight.

Hopper
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[BearLakeMack]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Fortress makes a forged aluminum flute style anchor that is probably the lightest anchor vrs holding power. I've got a Fortress FN-11 but I prefer the standard steel Danforth. Anyone want to buy a used Fortress?[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I have 12 ft of coated 1/4" anchor chain on my anchor. As Troll said, the chain weights the anchor so it will stay in the right position so it will dig. A longer chain will take any of the swell and wave action and not disturb the anchor set. A 30" chain may not be enough in 4 ft and bigger waves because the entire chain will be lifted off the bottom causing the anchor to possibly slip. Once I get a good set, Even in big water, my anchor will rarely slip.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]A good reference is Chapman's book on 'Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling'. There is a rather lengthy section that goes into detail specifically on anchoring. I can tell you this. You can never have enough rode (rope) and don't lose the "bitter end" of you're screwed![/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]Another odd shaped anchor that is gaining popularity is the Box Anchor. It requires no chain, stores flat when folded and holds on almost all bottom conditions. It's a little pricey at about $120 though. Here's a pic to check one out.[/size][/font] [center][/center] [center]Box Anchor[/center]
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