ANCHOR TYPE AND WEIGHT F-32

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:56 pm

ok, this question may have been posted in the past, but, I would love to hear opinions / experience on anchor "TYPE" and weight that other F-32 owners are using. I know I may be opening a can of opinion worms, but, after all, its why we all are here.

Reason:

I have a 33# Belgian Bruce anchor that came off of my previous boat, a 26,000 lb trawler, but it seems a bit overkill for the F-32. I will need to modify the pulpit to use this Bruce, or any other for that matter but it seems a 22# Bruce would be a better fit to launch, hold, retrieve and store.

I have had tremendous success with the Bruce anchor in all of So Cal waters and in a few storms, using the rode system theory of chain equal to the length of the boat and 3 strand line for the remainder.

Danforth style anchors IMO are not suited for so cal waters and any anchor with a pivot point opens one up to injury (IMO)

I have a chance to sell the 33# for a premium, it is a real Bruce after all. but I would be replacing it with a 22 lb lewmar (China)

Anyways I got cold feet when the guy made and offer so I thought I'd throw this out there

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:05 pm

I really don't know too much about the waters you boat in, so that being said I can't really comment on what I think is best to use there.

Personally I use a 14# Danforth. I boat on protected waters though, and its mostly either sand or mud on the bottom. There is a 32# Bruce included in the sale of the F-32, but I am gonna most likely replace it with my trusty 30+ year old Danforth, which has never let me down. It held a previous F-32 in a major storm until it passed several hours later. There were 3-4 footers rolling in head on in that storm, and I was hooked up in a sand bottom. Didn't drag at all, but I did have the engines idling in neutral the whole time in case the $#it hit the fan.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:19 pm

If you have a real 33# bruce, be sure to ask a premium, Bruce is no longer selling to the public and there is a market for the originals.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:24 pm

17lb. Danforth. Never had a problem with it holding in my waters.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:37 pm

gettaway wrote:If you have a real 33# bruce, be sure to ask a premium, Bruce is no longer selling to the public and there is a market for the originals.

Thanks for the info. I'm usually pretty generous when it comes to selling off extra gear. If its the genuine article and demand is like you have indicated though, I may have to convert it into some sort of toy.

I had one of these in an older model on the old F-32. I wouldn't mind having one on the new F-32 either. Anchor for Sidebar seems like a resonable proposition.

http://www.sidebarbeverage.com/online-s ... egory_id=3

Aaron should put one in his Tri. Pusser's at the touch of a button is a nice option

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:51 pm

The type of anchor you need depends on the type of bottom you intend to anchor over. There are a lot of references out there to help figure out the right type based on type of bottom. I think West Marine even has a thingy on their web site (or at least used to) to help you select the right kind of anchor.

Conditions and wind will dictate the kind of scope you need to pay out (3:1, 4:1, 6:1, or more), and remember scope should always be calculated from where your pulpit or fairlead is - wherever the line goes over the side of the boat - to the bottom... not just water depth.

Length of chain - everyone has an opinion (6', 10' boat length, etc..), but length of chain goes hand in hand with scope and conditions. The main reason for using chain is to help the anchor lie flat and minimize the vertical tug when waves or wakes hit, or current pulls the boat. With LOTS of scope, you need less chain. If you don't have much wave or current to deal with, you need less chain.

Bottom line - there is no simple formula, but there is a 'procedural guideline'....

* Bottom will dictate the kind of anchor you need
* If you will anchor over different bottoms, you may need multiple anchors of different types
* Wave and current conditions you intend to (or may be forced to) anchor in will dictate scope, rode, and amount of chain needed

Look at what people who boat - and anchor - in the same area are using; ask them why they are doing what they are, and how their anchoring experiences have gone. From that you can figure out what is right for you.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:58 pm

I get the whole formula / condition thing and have read them until I see ocean blue, as far as what everyone around me use, its a pot luck, sailboats, sport fishers, bubble boats and most never drop a hook, so the cheap anchor that came with the coast guard kit on the boat is what you see on the bow with the frozen clasp holding it in place

I was kind of hoping that there would be a consensus that a X # and Y type anchor was generally used by the F-32 owners.

maybe not

to sell or not to sell, that is the question................................

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:35 pm

wow there is alot more to this than i thought, my new to me f-25 didnt come with an anchor. just 200 feet of thick arse brand new rope. i was going to install a nice setup for it, but now im way confused. think im tackling to many projects at once for a boat thats on blocks in my back yard HA!

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 12:01 am

jefflaw35 wrote:wow there is alot more to this than i thought, my new to me f-25 didnt come with an anchor. just 200 feet of thick arse brand new rope. i was going to install a nice setup for it, but now im way confused. think im tackling to many projects at once for a boat thats on blocks in my back yard HA!

I have a F25, and did the research and the questions here before buying. The census at the time was 17lb Danforth with 15 feet of chain.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:22 am

Thanks I wrote that down, can I install the extended price off the bow to store it? Sorry I don't know the names of all the boat areas and prices yet

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:41 am

I like the Danforth mine holds well even with out chain ( windlass is rope only) I do add 6-12 feet of chain when I over night . ( a rare thing) \

If using a Danforth type use a real Danforth the Knock offs/copy's do not work well . they may look the same but wont hold the same.

Jeff I belive your taking about a pulpit . Make sure the line you have is not poly . ( it floats )

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:18 am

Ok, im sure it is anchor rope. 3 large ropes wraped, poly would look like my ski ropes right? This does not

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:10 am

I'm using a big Danforth with NO CHAIN...... hooked up many times fishing, sometimes in very rough water and never broke the hold.

Ron

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:26 am

I believe I have a 16# Danforth. No chain, but I probably should have 6' - 10' on there.

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:26 am

jefflaw35 wrote:Thanks I wrote that down, can I install the extended price off the bow to store it? Sorry I don't know the names of all the boat areas and prices yet

Oh, and I forgot.
make sure that you install a swivel between the anchor and the chain. Very important!