Dimitri,
I had the chance to see you anchor several times. You put the boat in fast reverse once the anchor hits the ground. This will cause the Guardian or any other Danforth type anchor to drag before digging in, this is to late and the anchor will pick up enough sea grass so it doesn't set.
Best to lower the anchor and slowly let it get a bite. The one who sets it should give tugs on the line to make sure it is set and not dragging.
Once set than go reverse and slowly set it deeply with higher rpms to 1500 rpms. If boat doesn't drag. you are good for a blow.
Delta, Claw type anchor is good for grassy areas.
30 ft. of chain puts the anchor shaft down so the anchor has a chance to dig in and also acts as a shock cord.
Lot of reading on anchors are in Practical Sailors Mag. on testing, also Boat US.
Fortress 11 weighs about 7 lbs and has much larger flukes than a Danforth 13 pds. So adding 6 lbs of 1/4 inch proof coil chain at 20 ft more in length than your 10 ft. of chain equals same weight but much more holding power.
Until I can mount my Fortress 11 on my yet to be installed Bow Roller, and will always be on the roller, I will still use the Danforth that fits in the locker.
Most of the time we anchor in 5 ft. of water with 30 ft. of chain and 20 ft. of rope.(that's 6-1 scope adding 3ft. for bow ht.) This has always held us in winds below 20 knts, more wind, more scope.
I had 60 ft. of chain and rope when the 4 boats rafted up on Thursday cove with my Danforth 14lb. Took 15 min. to try to brake out the anchor next morning under power.
Retirement end of Jan. were all stuff gets done.
Dave
Dimitri-2000X-Tampa wrote:Dave, I agree than once a Danforth is set properly, it has great holding power. But what is the difference between your Fortress and your Danforth? I thought these were the same designs? With my 10 feet of 1/4 inch chain, I've never had issues before this trip and certainly a longer chain couldn't hurt but I had other problems in the Keys other than the chain...afterall, some of these guys had much shorter chains than what I have. First, my Aluminum Danforth is much lighter than a steel one and this presents even more problems setting in grass since the flukes aren't heavy enough to cut through the grass despite the angle of pull. So today, i took a dremel to the points and sharpened them. This is bound to help a bit but still won't cut grass so if it doesn't go down under the grass right away, it is not likely to set. The point you made about speed of setting is certainly relevent too (and even more relevent with the light anchor) and I think having a helper along made it worse...ie, my daugher would cleat it off and then I would back down the anchor right away..as opposed to when I am by myself and I cleat it off and it takes me a while to get back to the helm to back it..during this time, it probably starts digging in slowly. Like you said, you had problems in the high wind probably because you are making the anchor skate across the bottom too fast...and of course, if it picks up any grass or weeds, thats it.
And what also accomplishes the same goal as more chain is attaching the anchor at the bow hoop which is much lower than the deck cleats, this would also lower the angle. There is some sort of Gadget that I saw Randy using which probably makes that easier to do.
But I have been thinking I need a different type anchor anyway, other than the danforth. Afterall, danforths are known to release if you do a sharp 180 and not reset. They work great in soft sand and mud but it is well known that they have problems with hard bottoms and grass. So having both a Danforth and a plow is the right approach and installing a bow roller is a great mod from what everyone says. So, its definitely on my project list. I want to keep the Guardian in the anchor locker like it is now, maybe enough room for the chain of the plow too and then a rope bag attached to the pulpit or something for the rode. I can use the Danforth as a secondary anchor after that.
