Grass bottom Fl Keys anchor suggestion

[bobaefa]

I have been using my Fortress and it has worked very wel except for in grass. I try to avoid the grass areas but have had a couple times where I had no choice. The Fortress gets too clogged up with the grass/weeds especially if it has to reset. To guard against this at night I have set two anchors out. The Fortress and a knock-off Danforth. I have 30' chain and will scope it out 10 plus to 1.

I want an anchor that I can use for grass. I would like for it to be suitable for the sandy muck as well but I could switch back to the Fortress for that. Based on looking at the web and this site the following seem to be the most mentioned: 1) Delta 2) Manson Supreme 3) Ronca. I was leaning towards the Manson but the Delta got mentioned more for "all bottom types".

For the Fl Keys and grass which one? For the mucky Keys sand bottom which one?

Thanks
Bob

[Sumner]

We love the 25 lb Manson we bought and never had a problem with it in Florida. The other anchor....



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ng-16.html

.... we use is a 22 lb claw and it also works well. A couple times in Florida when I had both set out front in a "V" I dove on them and the Manson was set in better than the claw, but the claw didn't drag.

Now saying that the last night we were anchored close to a shore with the wind coming from the shore and we were on the claw. We backed down and then set the Manson astern of us. If there would of been a wind shift I didn't want us to swing around on the claw and into shallow water. The Manson was also attached to the bow, so we were on a Bahamian Moor.

The wind was over 20 all night and the next morning the claw had drug ans we were closer to the Manson by maybe 30-40 feet or so, but the claw was still holding us. I didn't dive on the bottom and the water wasn't clear, so I don't know if we were in grass or not. This was just before you go into South Dade Marina.

If it was me I'd get the Manson. When we recently bought the Endeavour the first thing we did was buy a 35 lb Manson for the boat even though it has a good 35 lb CQR,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Divecoz]

Claw's work best in grass..( mine is a knock off and works as good for 1/2 the price) Fortress and Happy Hooker and the such...Not so well.. This was confirmed for me by a Sea-Tow Captain out of Port Charlotte Fla. ( Don't Ask )

[DaveB]

Try to evoid grass ,
Anchor in sand and use very heavy chain 3/8 inch and min. 12 ft..
This will allow proper lift of chain and reduce grass destruction.
A plow anchor will set better than a Danforth type includeing the Fortress in a grassy area.
Point is to have a anchor with heavy chain at least 12 ft. length so the swing has min. damage to sea grass
Dave

I have been using my Fortress and it has worked very wel except for in grass. I try to avoid the grass areas but have had a couple times where I had no choice. The Fortress gets too clogged up with the grass/weeds especially if it has to reset. To guard against this at night I have set two anchors out. The Fortress and a knock-off Danforth. I have 30' chain and will scope it out 10 plus to 1.

I want an anchor that I can use for grass. I would like for it to be suitable for the sandy muck as well but I could switch back to the Fortress for that. Based on looking at the web and this site the following seem to be the most mentioned: 1) Delta 2) Manson Supreme 3) Ronca. I was leaning towards the Manson but the Delta got mentioned more for "all bottom types".

For the Fl Keys and grass which one? For the mucky Keys sand bottom which one?

Thanks
Bob

[bobaefa]

I hope the plow type will set quicker. I have only been forced into a grassy area once but I really needed to get anchored. We try to look around for sandy bottoms. The Fortress can dig up some grass trying to get it set. I have 30' of chain which seems to reduce the dragging around. I hope between the two styles we will have what we need for the Keys.

[uanhanlouee]

You are not supposed to anchor or ride over grass in FL Keys shallows.

[bobaefa]

As far as grass anchoring goes that was what I thought as well. I have limited any "grass" anchoring to areas where there are several other boats anchored and is being used as a anchoring field. The "grass" is not turtle grass but the weed like stuff. I have asked about the anchoring issue and don't really get a clear answer.

[Divecoz]

Keys must be the key point.. Pelican Bay and much of Florida shallows has turtle grass.. Interesting enough Florida has few turtles ..
Sea Cows? Yea they have a lot ( too Many?? ) of those.... Thinking of how you might feel if a farmer herded his cows into your beach area or in front of your Canal Home and let his Cows crap in the water.. Same Exact Results....

No-anchoring zones provide protection from heavy ship anchors in ...
www.fossweb.com

[Ixneigh]

Yea...
Do NOT use claw or Bruce in turtle grass. It will pop out and have a big ball of mud and grass held in the upcurved palms. Unless its like a sixty pound Bruce. Don't use any of the smaller claws.
I am having a hard time with the rocna also. Yanked it out once already. Then last night had it drag. I had to retrieve it and drop it down again. Wind was thirty plus knots. I was anchored in really shallow water.
I have had really good results with the deltas. I will probably go back to it. At least a twentyfive if not thirty five. Overkill? Maybe. I want the frivkin boat to stay, I want her to stay where I put her and I dont want to have to get up in some squall to reset the anchor. In thirty knots this boat puts a lot of strain on the rode. Emagine sixty seventy knots. Perfectly possible even common in big squalls.
Due to it's design its unlikely a delta will pop out suddenly.
So far as two anchors go, not any more unless I am staying a while. Makes it too hard to get underway quickly if you need to.

The other bottom we have In the keys is rock. Delta works as good as any other anchor in that. Better then danforth types.

Ixneigh

Disclosure: I live here

[Divecoz]

Ix: How much chain are you using? I dragged once , my fault in Pelican Bay P.C. Fla. with my claw.. sat out numerous storms in that general area after than.. I am using 30 feet of 5/16" and a snubber.. My claw is ? 15 lbs.

[Ixneigh]

I had twenty feet of quarter inch plus a hundred feet of half inch line the time I was having problems with my Bruce 16. It set fine. Just came out suddenly and WONT reset until cleaned. That was on my v 22.2 btw.

Now I have thirty feet of 3/8 chain plus thirty feet of 5/8 line on a rocna. It too has come out on me.

I thought last night I might have TOO much scope out for the rocna to set. I was in about three feet of water.
I like parking in the shallows. I'll anchor all over that grass. If you have proper ground tackle that don't drag it won't hurt the grass. Run thru it on full plane, yes that hurts it.

[Divecoz]

A goodly portion of your issue may be that your line / rode is too large.. Theres No Give in the line theres just Yank..POP! Or so it is that we have read and discussed here numerous times..
That said . I have, and use 1/2" line as well, but I have a rubber snubber in the chain..( home made .. Big Black Truckers bunggie) It " Pretty Much" eliminates the shock..

[bobaefa]

I think after reading this board and www I am going to try a Manson Supreme. I called West in Key Largo and they said they had one and would hold it. Overtons have it cheaper by $50 but West said they would match it. I want an anchor that will "bite" and not drag scratch the service and get clogged. WIth the 30' of chain once I get it said I am not tearing up grass.

Ixneigh, you got any favorite anchorages you want to share? We have spent a good bit of time in the Manatee Bay area down to Key Largo. Currrently we are just above Marathon in Long Key at Sea Bird. Haven't been any further down than Bahia Honda. Would like to expore some of the Lower Keys. Not sure that want to go as far down as Key West but maybe.

Bob

[Retcoastie]

Bob,

Good to see you here. We met last winter in Manatee Bay. You were anchored and I came along side to visit.

I stopped by South Dade Marina each time I went past to check on your boat. Man, I sure like your trailer. Did you get it or did it come with the boat? If so, do you know where it came from?

As far as anchors go, I have a Bruce, a CQR, and a Danforth. I pick what ever I think will hold and if it doesn't I throw down another, and another. You get the idea. I heard one time, "It doesn't matter how many anchors you have ON the boat when she hits the rocks."

Happy sailing.

Ken

[bobaefa]

Hey Ken. Thanks for checking on my boat. I appreciate it. Are you back in the Keys or going anytime soon? I will be down there for the week of July 4th. I can't remember who makes the trailer. It came with the boat. I really do love the trailer and it pulls like a dream. I bought the boat/trailer up in Maine and trailered it to GA and now to the Keys. You have to remind yourself it is back there.

I think by adding another type of anchor I should be in good shape. I was down around memorial day and the winds really were blowing all week and the Bay was really choppy so we put all the anchors out. No need keeping them on deck.


Let me know when you are down in the Keys and we will try to meet up.

Bob