[MHml] Reducing weight

[Brian Southwood]

I have no personal experience with Fortress anchors, but the tip loading must be
very small for the anchor size, which will reduce the ability to dig in easily
on a relatively smooth hard bottom. If the bottom is fairly soft they will
probably perform better. All Danforth types also have the undesirable ability to
get debris jammed between the fluke and the shank, and if this holds the fluke
upward they skate along the bottom indefinitely. I have watched this happen. I
have bought an aluminium SPADE anchor in the hope of getting a lightweight
anchor which will dig in and set easily. I have not used it yet as the boat is
not finished yet, so I cant tell if it works as advertised, but it does hook
into the lawn when dragged at the end of a rope. The grass is quite short and
the ground is quite hard. The SPADE has a very high point load.
Cheers,
Peter

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Gunn" <rgunn at ihug.co.nz>
To: <multihulls at steamradio.com>
Sent: 29 March 2001 09:46
Subject: Re: [MHml] Reducing weight


> Has anyone hd any experience with the Fortress alloy anchors?  I bought two
> on the strength of the convincing advertising, one for my Turissimo 10m and
> one for my father's 22' bilge keeler, since he was having back problems
> which the old anchor was not helping.  Both of us had huge trouble getting
> them to set, ending up dragging over and over again, when used in the same
> way as steel Danforths (including chain the length of the vessel or more,
> not the short length said to be adequate with the Fortress).  Were we doing
> something wrong, or are they hard to set?  Once set, they held OK.  (Once
> when trying unsuccessfully to anchor in shallow water with a sandy bottom, I
> rowed out to watch what was happening and the thing was just sliding over
> the bottom without digging in.  Once I manually pushed the flukes into the
> sand, it was fine.)
> I ended up buying a Bruce, which has been fine, and my father going back to
> his steel Danforth, also fine.
> Any ideas or experiences from the group?
>
> Robert Gunn
> Chesapeake - modified Tennant Turissimo 10m Cat
> Auckland, NZ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary Pearce" <gary at steamradio.com>
> To: <multihulls at steamradio.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 11:30 PM
> Subject: [MHml] Reducing weight
>
>
> > Speaking of lightweight anchors has anyone here actually tried
> > the SPADE anchor ?
> >
> > http://www.spade-anchor.com
> >
> > They do an aluminium version (as well as a stainless version).
> >
> > I have seen excellent reviews, but a review is not the same as
> > owning one.
> >
> > Gary
> >
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