Anchor thoughts & urgency preparedness

J

jengiz

New member
Howdy, we're new. Got a 16' cruiser and berthed in the Oakland estuary. Will be initially estuary and Bay boaters. Got very little kids. Need an anchor. Have got the anchor bow roller on the front. What size do I need, type, where and how do I store it?
Also anyone suggest level of vessel assist we should obtain. Our boat and motor are brand new?
By the way we are so excited it's fantastic. We live less than 5 minutes away from our berth. We have a pedicab and can take that down to the marina.
 
Hi Jengiz!
Congrats on the new boat! Since no one from the Bay area has responded, I'll toss in my two pesos: the size anchor will depend on the type of anchor you use (some require more weight for their holding power). And the type of anchor will depend on the bottom where you will anchoring most often. I always have two anchors onboard (three if I'm cruising). I've been pleased with the Fortress, Danforth, and Bruce anchors; our bottom is mostly sand/mud. I've heard some good things about the XYZ anchor and it's holding ability with any bottom (don't they all claim that? :wink: ), but it is pretty spendy.
Check with some local boaters to see what they recommend for an anchor type. I have always gone one size up from what the manufacturer recommends for weight for the size of our boats.
Hope this helps some - good luck with the new boat! :D

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I bought a Lewmar claw anchor from West Marine for my 16' Cruiser. I bought the 11 pound one just for a little extra margin of safety. I have 10 feet of 1/4" chain. It works really well. I have used it in mud, sand, and rocks and it really grabs. In the past I have used CQR's and they are real good as well, but spendy. My Lewmar only cost $40.
 
Here is one totally naive viewpoint . . .

No boat; taking USPS Seamanship class as we speak. Tues night the topic was anchoring and mooring.

The instructor reviewed all the types of anchors, including advantages in mud, sand, rocks, sea grass, etc. These features, along with weight, cost, and stowability all play a role in one's choice. And, of course, recent experience from other C-Dory owners can help answer these questions.

However, his concluding comments indicated that the best guidance, bar none, comes from -local knowledge-! Look at the boats nearby. What are they using? And why?

Local discussions will include the -variety- of bottom conditions you are likely to encounter within your typical range, but also will likely rule out a number of conditions, thus focusing your attention to a few 'better' choices.

One reason I am motivated toward CD is its ability to be trailered. 'Local' is obviously not where the boat lives most of the time, but where it is put in the water for the next adventure. This could change the whole anchor equation, either leading to a more general anchor choice, or a wider variety of anchors in the garage.

e.g.
 
jengiz-

Congradulations on the new boat, and welcome!

SF Bay is all mud and sand, except for a very few areas where the tide really rips and rocks are exposed, like Racoon Straights, but you probably won't be anchoring there.

Any of the three most common anchor types for the C-Dorys will work in the bay.

The Danforth has a lot of holding power because of the extra area of the flukes, but doesn't re-set itself in a wind or tidal change as well, and won't do well in rocks, should you go somewhere later off the bay. The Fortress variety with it's adjustable fluke angle and mud paws, however, is rock solid in soft mud. Pretty expensive, though.

The Bruce or bruce knock-off is a good all around anchor. It dosn't have the holding power of the danforth in mud, but is OK, and resets itself well, and is good in sand and rocks.

Perhaps the best compromise for your use would be a plow anchor like the Delta Fastset. It works like the CQR, but is lighter and more suitable for a smaller boat, resets itself well, and works well in all situations.

The 9 lb Delta Fastset will actually hold a CD-22 well, and is rated for 9-20 foot boats, and will hold your 16 very well.

Be sure to use at least 10 feet of 1/4" chain between the anchor and the rope rode, as it's the weight of the chain that makes the pull on the anchor horizontal and digs it in. Also, power set the anchor with your motor to get a full bite, not just a surface hook in the top of the mud.

Keep in mind all the above are generalizations.

I don't think you have a chain locker, although a few with 16's have added them-look in Oldgrowth's album for a very clever example.

You can carry the rode and the anchor in a milk carton / case carrier, and take it forward when you need it, or lash it to the foredeck. One nice thing about this system is that it's easy to rinse off the stinky SF Bay mud when you get back to the dock, either on the dock or foredeck.

You'll love San Francisco Bay! And the Estuary! We spent 38 years living in the East Bay, 35 years of it teaching, and over 30 of those racing sailboats in the bay and elsewehre. Good luck with your new fun machine!

Joe.
 
I've used a Danforth for most of my boating in the Bay Area in my old boat. But lately(after this years storms) the Danforth hasn't been able to catch to well in San Pablo Bay(skipping). My neighbor went to a Delta Fastset and he's had better luck with it. I personally just ordered a Bruce anchor to try out.

Bill from Outboard Motors called me today and said my 16' Cruiser will be ready for pick up this weekend!! So I'll be able to try out the Bruce in a week or two.

Like Sea Wolf said go with about 10' of 1/4" chain with 150' of 3/8" or 1/2 rope to start with and you'll be on the right path. Don't forget to look in the "anchoring" section of the "FORUM" page to get MORE then enough info to suite your needs.

Hope to see you out in the Bay!!!
 
Hi Jengiz,
Welcome to the site and C-Dorys. There is a multitude of information on this site in regards to anchoring. (Quite a bit about 16's and anchoring specifically). In order to locate those previously discussed threads "click" on "Forums" on the home page, then scroll down to the the "Anchoring" section and click on it. The individual threads will then appear. Perhaps some of that information will be of use to you as well.
Previously, I had a 16' cruiser with a Bruce type anchor secured in my anchor roller. Since there is no "anchor locker" on the 16' cruiser, I stored the anchor rode (chain lead and line) in a 5 gallon bucket with a hole cut in the lid, so I could access the chain lead, secure it to the anchor and lower away. Certainly not the best in emergency situations, but worked OK. What has been said previously in this thread about which type of anchor to use for your area is obviously "target on".

By the way, with your vessel name....."NaughtycalNurse", I'm guessing you'll fit right in here....we already have "Nurse Ratchet" :disgust on board. LOL!
 
Well, I could use some comments on anchors. I just read an article in Latatude 48 on anchoring with an anchor which I took to be a Fortress. The point of the story was that the Fortress was too light to really dig in, through kelp and rocks, etc. I carried a Fortress as an emergency anchor on the sailboat, but never used it (luck beats skill.) The CQR only draggeg twice: through mud.

I got a small fortress as an aft anchor and also emergency anchor. So my question is: has anybody actually used a small Fortress, and what were the results? Any Problems? Any comments?

By the way, Latitude 48 has a number of articles on anchoring, which indicates that you shouldn't do it.

boris
 
Hi Boris,
I've used the FX-11 and FX-16 on our Corsair trimaran and always had good luck with those... except in a grassy bottom. 25' of chain and powering back on them and they set nicely. Most of our bottom situations have been sand and mud. The 11# is light enough to use as a lunch hook, but is considered to be good for a 28' boat if I recall correctly. I never set that particular anchor off the stern, so I can't speak to that. With the windage on the CD-25, I think I'd consider going up one size for a primary anchor. HTH

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I have used a FX 11 as a main hook to over night for years with out problems but only in sand. My favorite all around anchor is a 25 lb. richerdsons! It will hold in anything.
 
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