Anchor type and weight for Mac 26D

[romandesign]

I found out the hard way that the anchor I got with my 26D is broken. It's a Danforth type with one of the plates that lock its angle torn off, so it pivots 180 degrees and doesn't set. I'm on a tight budget, so I've been thinking to weld a piece of metal instead of that plate to fix it, but I want to be sure that the anchor is the right size for my boat. Many people on Georgian Bay use Bruce type anchor, so I wonder if I can live with my Danforth. I'm inclined to try, but I have no idea if it's big enough, and its chain is long enough. So any advice is appreciated.

[Tomfoolery]

I have a Fortress FX-7, which works very well in sand, but is just OK in sand/soft mud mix, even with the flukes at 45 degrees (they're adjustable). And weeds, tough for any anchor, pretty much negates any ability for it to get a bite. But being aluminium, it's a bit pricey for its size.

I had a Bruce on my last boat, and a Bruce knock-off as a spare on this boat, and they've always worked very well in the same conditions. And they don't fold and bite your body parts, most of which I rather value. If I had a convenient way to store it, I'd use the Bruce-knockoff in my local waters, but the FX-7 fits in the anchor locker (which I don't believe you have on your boat).

Starting from scratch, and if I had a place to store it above decks, I'd use a Rocna or Mantus or Manson Supreme.

I wouldn't fix the broken one, though. A Bruce-knockoff is relatively cheap, and so are actual Danforth anchors for that matter.

As to size, I couldn't say what's appropriate for a C, but there's plenty of folks who can. I would only suggest that most manufacturer's recommendations are a bit light, IMO, for a main anchor. Storms are not the place to figure out you should have gone up a size. And chain is normally recommended to be at least a boat length, then nylon (for the shop absorption), totaling long enough for at least 7:1 scope in the deepest waters you would normally anchor or find yourself in and needing to anchor. The puny FX-7 is ok on my boat for routine anchoring (lunch hook duty), but I wouldn't trust it in a real blow. Life life vests and flares, when you really need it, it had better work.

[grady]

The first anchor I had is the Danforth. Not sure what weight. Works good for day anchoring but never trusted it at night. I bought the Bruce knock off around 15lb. It works great for me. I have never had it slip. I use the PVC tube on the pulpit to store.

[romandesign]

The first anchor I had is the Danforth. Not sure what weight. Works good for day anchoring but never trusted it at night. I bought the Bruce knock off around 15lb. It works great for me. I have never had it slip. I use the PVC tube on the pulpit to store.

Where did you buy it and how much did it cost you? Just for reference, I googled anchors and they seem to be expensive. Much more that I heard from a guy next to me at the dock...

[grady]

The first anchor I had is the Danforth. Not sure what weight. Works good for day anchoring but never trusted it at night. I bought the Bruce knock off around 15lb. It works great for me. I have never had it slip. I use the PVC tube on the pulpit to store.

Where did you buy it and how much did it cost you? Just for reference, I googled anchors and they seem to be expensive. Much more that I heard from a guy next to me at the dock...

I think I bought it at WM. don't remember price. It's the ugly galvanized one. Not the stainless.

[Russ]

I've been using a 22lb and it has never failed. It's a bit oversized. a 16lb would work fine.

Do NOT repair your anchor. Not worth it, not a good idea. Cheap enough to buy new

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N9G5R78/re ... UTF8&psc=1

--Russ

[vizwhiz]

Just for curiosity, you might also check for a marine salvage yard nearby. They often gather anchors off of salvage boats and you might find a good deal on a decent one!

[bobflshmn]

For our D we have a Danforth 17 which has served us well so far. We also have a WM coated 15 as a backup recently purchased from a garage sale. Have not deployed it yet.

[romandesign]

For our D we have a Danforth 17 which has served us well so far. We also have a WM coated 15 as a backup recently purchased from a garage sale. Have not deployed it yet.

What does 17 stand for? Pounds?

[Retcoastie]

FIX THE OLD ANCHOR.

Cripe, its paid for. If you're any kind of fixer at all you can put on a plate that will be as strong as the rest of the anchor. It doesn't weigh much. If you have room it won't flatten your trailer tires to haul it. That said, the repaired anchor would become a secondary or maybe a third anchor. As others have suggested, you need a good reliable primary anchor. This danforth has now become relegated to other duty. I carry a large Bruce and a large CQR. When I shore anchor I set one of those out in the water and back up to the beach. When I step out, it isn't the other big anchor I carry. Its my little danforth. I can make sure it is set properly on the shore. I can carry it in the dingy if I'm in a place where I might get checked. I have dropped it to reduce anchor swing.

Your repaired danforth may not be your best anchor. You have a new one of those up front, but it will still be useful, if you have it with you.

Ken

[ris]

For overnights on the anchor, buy the best you can afford. How much do you spend eating out with your wife at a good restaurant? A $300 anchor is cheap if it lets you sleep good and your boat doesen't drag. I will second the Rockna or the Manson Supreme. For sure have 25 or 30 feet of chain and at least 3/8 inch, 3 strand nylon rope. Go ahead and get 7/16 rope it isn't that much more expensive. Get good 3 strand they are not all equal. In talking to people doing the loop who anchor out a lot, there are many who have bought Rockna or Manson anchors after dragging a couple of times. If you only day anchor get a cheap danforth if you want. We have a 15 lb anchor, I would not buy any anchor that weighs less except a fortress anchor for sand.

[Wayne nicol]

best anchors i hav eused for sand/ mud / gravel/ sea weed- anything are the fixed plow anchors
WESTERN marine sell a nice 22 lb anchor for about 60 canadian- you can get all weights- but thats what i use- had my boat anchored in mud in a 50 to 60 kn blow( according to the weather man- not me)- held like snot on a blanket!

in fact i have 3 on my boat- two to use in a Bahamian moor and then 1 spare

[bobflshmn]

For our D we have a Danforth 17 which has served us well so far. We also have a WM coated 15 as a backup recently purchased from a garage sale. Have not deployed it yet.

What does 17 stand for? Pounds?

Sorry 17 lbs.

[romandesign]

best anchors i hav eused for sand/ mud / gravel/ sea weed- anything are the fixed plow anchors
WESTERN marine sell a nice 22 lb anchor for about 60 canadian- you can get all weights- but thats what i use- had my boat anchored in mud in a 50 to 60 kn blow( according to the weather man- not me)- held like snot on a blanket!

in fact i have 3 on my boat- two to use in a Bahamian moor and then 1 spare

Do you mean West Marine in Oakville? All 22lb claw anchors I see on the US site are more than $100 US... Maybe I'm looking at the wrong place? I'll come by West Marine and see what they have. For $60 I'd buy it. My friend did fix my anchor - he welded a small steel plate and now it locks as it should. But it still seems that people prefer claw anchors, so maybe I'll get one it I have find it for $60 and keep mine spare...

[Tomfoolery]

best anchors i hav eused for sand/ mud / gravel/ sea weed- anything are the fixed plow anchors
WESTERN marine sell a nice 22 lb anchor for about 60 canadian- you can get all weights- but thats what i use- had my boat anchored in mud in a 50 to 60 kn blow( according to the weather man- not me)- held like snot on a blanket!

in fact i have 3 on my boat- two to use in a Bahamian moor and then 1 spare

Do you mean West Marine in Oakville? All 22lb claw anchors I see on the US site are more than $100 US... Maybe I'm looking at the wrong place? I'll come by West Marine and see what they have. For $60 I'd buy it. My friend did fix my anchor - he welded a small steel plate and now it locks as it should. But it still seems that people prefer claw anchors, so maybe I'll get one it I have find it for $60 and keep mine spare...

Wholesale Marine has the 16.5 lb [7.5 kg] Lewmar Claw for about $60 US. Don't know about shipping, nor about the exchange rate, or even if they'll ship to Canada. But it's far cheaper than WM prices in the US, at least. http://www.wholesalemarine.com/boating- ... nchor.html

Marine Outfitters in Kingston, ON, has the same anchor for $77 CAN, in fact. http://www.marineoutfitters.ca/index.cf ... 3683405983

I noticed there are a number of boat wreckers not far from Toronto. Perhaps one of them has a used anchor of whatever style you want. It's pretty hard to damage a Claw anchor, other than wear the zinc, or bend a tip on rocks.