Anchor locker?

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
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Chip Hindes
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Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu

Post by Chip Hindes »

And as others have said, a big anchor does not adequately substitute for poor anchoring technique. I certainly never gun my 50HP in reverse to set the anchor...maybe 2000-2500 RPM max which probably isn't much more than 10HP. I usually only back it down until the boat stops moving and a few seconds after that
If a big anchor can't compensate for poor anchoring technique, neither can luck. But either or both can work most of the time.

Based on on your description of your technique, you've been lucky indeed.

On Conch Cruisers' trips to FL, the Keys and the Bahamas over the past three years, I have observed boat after boat after boat drag anchor. I don't believe there is one member of the CCs who has never drug anchor at least once, and that includes yours truly. Some have drug multiple times, a few at nearly every anchorage. The vast majority of CCs have some variation of the lightweight anchor; Danforth, Guardian, West Marine et al. By my recollection, since accurate records don't exist, the vast majority of dragging incidents have involved not failure of a set, but instead falure to reset on a wind shift.

Lightweight anchors are prettty well know for this tendency.
Paul S
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Post by Paul S »

Just got the latest PS (all color/glossy paper btw)..they tested under $200 anchors in soft mud..they still gave the FX11 a good writeup (even though it was not set up for soft mud as instructed).. It was the best in the field I was most interested in - weight..it was 2x-4x lighter than all the rest (other than the other fortress') (and looked pretty too ..LOL)

Upon looking at the rest of the results.. the Claw performed well, was less expensive. Not going to replace the FX11 (doesnt fit in the locker and is 3x heavier than the fx11)

Interesting writeup

Paul
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delevi
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Location: San Francisco Catalina 380, former 26M owner
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Post by delevi »

I got mine with the boat as part of the "coast guard package." It looks identical to Paul's, at least from the picture. Fits in the locker of my :macm: perfectly with 15' chain & 150' rode plus some room to spare. I never had a problem. Extremely happy with it. I usually let out 5 times rode to the depth. I slept on the boat on three different occasions while anchored down and no drift. I was also out during Fleet Week last year on San Francisco Bay, anchored near Alcatraz. Frank, we must have been within an earshot of one another, provided the Blue Angels weren't doing a fly-by. The depth was approx 45' so I let out all my 150' rode with just enough to cleat off. The winds picked up to 15 knts+ in the afternoon. No drift what-so-ever. I probably don't know the difference between a fluke & danforth, etc, but it looks just like Paul's, so must be danforth. Very happy with the hook. 8)

I can't imagine how you guys store anchors in a place other than the locker. The amount of mud on it when you pull it up is just nasty. :?
waternwaves
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Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while

Post by waternwaves »

motoring slowly seems to wash off all the mud
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