What to get?

[Mrpark267@gmail.com]

Just purchased a 22 Cruiser and need to get an anchor and gear. Specifically, what style and anchor weight should I be looking at? Planning on doing The Great Loop starting this fall. Any help would be appreciated.

[thataway]

I would get two types: one being a fortress FX 7 for a stern, sand and bow in mud. The bow should be one of the 14 to 15 pound anchors, such as the Manson supreme, Ronca or Mantus in that size. The Delta is an excellent anchohr, and I have had these on most of our C Dorys, I don't share the Claw or Bruce camp. I have done tests along with the other anchors and the Bruce type was almost always behind the Mantus and similar scoop type of anchor. I favor 50 feet of G4 high test chain, if you have or are going to put in a windlass. The ling should be at least 200 feet of 1/2" 3 strand nylon, or 8 PLait braid. 8' of chain for the stern and 150 to 200 feet of rope. If no windlass on the bow, then 20 feet of chain.

[Schuster]

I would have to agree with Bob on this one. I have a 25' cruiser and am currently running a 22 lb delta behind 60 feet of 1/4" high test chain and sleep well at night. if I were in the market to upgrade my anchor I would opt for the Mantus anchor. The Mantus is a scoop style as opposed to the Delta which is a plow style. Tests performed by various entities show the scoop style anchors to be a better all around anchor. For a cruising anchor on a 20'-25' (5000lbs) Mantus recommends a 17 lb for winds less than 50knt. That may seem like over kill but with todays unpredictable storm cells I would go heavy. Another feature of the Mantus is that it easily breaks down for stowage if you don't have a windlass. As far as the chain goes I believe there is a rule of thumb that says the length of chain should equal the length of your boat. But here again bigger is better as long as you have the ability to store it. Weight is a consideration. I would suggest that 25 or 30' of chain would be good for your 22' boat.
There are many options for anchoring and many articles have been written on the subject. You'll want to look at some charts and maybe some test videos of various anchors and go with your best guess.
Good luch with your loop trip.

[thataway]

One of the earlier dealers, I believe in Baltimore, put 100 feet of chain the the 25's, and it may have been 50' in the 22's to "get the bow down, and run better going into chop". It does that, but also you have to trim up, when running with higher waves to prevent bow steering. G4 1/4" chain weighs about 0.75 lbs per foot, so 50 feet will be about 37 lbs. That with an anchor comes close to 50 lbs in the bow. The original boats were designed lighter weight 75 hp 2 stroke outboard. Also most of us put a second battery and larger fuel tanks than "original". However we like to have as little weight as possible in the ends of a boat.

Please by chain made in the USA--It may be a little more expensive, but I have seen Chinese made chain fail, under what seemed to be "normal" loads. Mention is often made of the "Cantenary" effect of keeping the pull of the chain parallel to the bottom, and the rising of the chain as a "shock adsorber"--true. Until the wind sets at 40 mph, then the chain will all off the bottom, and no longer as effective. A Kellet can be added near the rope to chain interface which will increase the cantenary effect.