Anchor tests

Don't forget that you may have mud or kelp or something else on the flukes of the anchor--making it much heavier. During the tests the anchor with the most mud was the manson, then the Delta and finally the Danforth 35 and FX 16.
 
The buoy anchor puller I use is called an Anchorlift by Ironwood Pacific. It is similar to the one Joe posted and is the most popular here. It does require that there be no knots in the anchor line whereas the ring type model might be more forgiving .... but would still hang up some // not slide as quickly as mine due to increased friction. This equates into having to drive your boat farther upstream to pull it, a decided disadvantage if fishing in a crowded area where hoglines are tighter. Here is Anchorlift's website, replete with diagrams, prices, and the video is worth downloading to see it in action. A word of advice, get the largest buoy practicable, not the minimum rated to pull your anchor. They are easier to see in low light by all boaters and less likely to get pulled underwater by the current or disappear from sight while you pull it up with the boat - making it harder to tell when the anchor is completely raised. C.W. http://www.ironwoodpacific.com/products/anchoring_mooring/anchorlift.htm
 
Thanks for the link. The bouys seem to be the standard fender/float used by fishermen and yachtsmen world around. We have used the large round fenders on our larger boats (difficult to store, we usually kept them in the RIB or hard dinghy on deckk). We found a 36" one of these bouys half way across the Atlantic "Bahama Mama" was the name painted on it. We scraped several years worth of marine growth off, and used that bouy/fender for the next 4 years. They are very tough!
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I do pull the anchor without the help of a windlass so I am very aware of the weight. I never thought I would want a windlass but with my priority being a good secure anchor I may soon buy one. I had problems with my Boaters World Hooker anchor letting go at the most inopportune times.

Bob thanks for the advice on the Isthmus. I will check that spot out soon. I usually try to moore in smaller (empty) coves. Until this point I haven't trusted my anchor enough to spend the night on it at Catalina. I did for two nights at Mission Bay but one of the mornings with the slight wind change it let go. I was on shore and noticed my boat was half way across the bay. Luckily it was heading for the beach on the other side and not the rocks that were about 100 yards up the beach.

I do have a spare anchor (Hooker) and will use that when needed as a stern anchor. I have heard very good things about the Delta Fast Set and look forward to having an anchor that I can trust to hold and reset when needed.

Bill
 
Bill, I wouldn't plan on anchoring at either Avalon or the Isthmus at Catalina. If there was a decent anchorage, they've put mooring buoys there. I've anchored at Cat Harbour (south side of the Isthmus,) but that field has been filled with buoys. And at Avalon, you're outside the breakwater. For our small boats, the string line is a good choice and probably not as crowded. Anyway, good luck.

Boris
 
There is still (or was last fall) anchor room in front of the KHYC, the little Fisherman's area to the East side of the Isthmus. With the C Dory you can get in there. Also at Cat harbor, you can always get in close over the mud flats--too shoal for mooring bouys.

My favorite to the East of Isthums is Ripper's. There is a very small cove with beach just to the East of Ripper's --no name on it, but room for a C Dory--and rare to see any other boats there. Anchor fore and aft.
 
The Fortress is great for the typical bottom on the Chesapeake. I have a FX 16 & FX11 on board with 150' of chain and a bow roller. The 16 would probably hold the C-Dory 22 in almost any conditions.

This summer I was on the hook with the FX11, when a 50kt squall blew through the anchorage. There was no time to switch to the FX16, but it was not necessary because the FX11 held firm and did not drag.

Steve
 
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