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Would a shortened shank compromise the holding ability of a Danforth? I wouldn't believe so, especially if you put a good length of chain on it. It doesn't appear to me that its geometry would be compromised by something like that; maybe it would be harder to break it loose when you're ready to leave your anchorage, but a trip-line would take care of that problem.

I would be extremely leery of cutting-and-welding the stock, for the sake of the shackle eye. I wouldn't trust the weld. I would rather drill a hole in the end of the cut-down stock, for my anchor shackle. Another option is a rail mount for the Danforth ... yet another, though expensive, is a Fortress or Guardian anchor that takes down and stows in a bag below-decks.

And BTW, the folks who are saying "carry a plow-style anchor (CQR-type, Bruce-type, spade-type) for your primary hook and a Danforth as a backup" are absolutely spot-on right. Some places, a Danforth will hold better than a plow - there are other places where the plow will hold better.

When I had my MAC26M I bought an anchor as my son in law argued that it would fit the locker. I had to cut about 2 inches off to make it fit.Never listen to anyone who knows less about boats that you yourself knows.

I wonder why Danforth makes the shank as long as they do? Wonder why my truck's jack stand base is as big as it is? Why does that trailer hitch mount need to be as wide?

I don't know, it makes me uncomfortable shorting a proven device. Maybe it would just just make it harder to retrieve, but for me, I wouldn't sleep as well in a wind.

--Russ

Rick Westlake wrote: I would be extremely leery of cutting-and-welding the stock, for the sake of the shackle eye. I wouldn't trust the weld. I would rather drill a hole in the end of the cut-down stock, for my anchor shackle.

Cutting and re-drilling the hole for the shackle would not be an option on this style of anchor since there may not be enough stock remaining once the eye was cut off, hence the thought to weld it back on the shortened shank: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10418

However, given the availablity of this style: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10418

The latter would be an obvious choice for modification with just cutting and drilling if this path is selected.

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

Bob