Any C-brats ever use an onshore slide anchor?

[Frogpawg]

I am considering purchasing a slide anchor for when we beach our C-dory I am looking at them on www.slideanchor.com and was curious if anyone has one, what size they have and how well they feel it works. Thanks

Soapy Joe
22' Cruiser[/url]

 

[Sea Wolf]

Soapy Joe-

That's essentially a slide hammer on a stake.

People use similar devices to anchor houseboats to the shore on Shasta Lake all the time. There are several manufacturers of like products.

Would be easy to use in sand.

They work OK, but just be sure you take a real sledge hammer along for rescue missions if you plan on driving it into hardpan or between rocks.

We have stakes of various kinds around the lake that folks haven't figured out how to remove yet!

How much does one cost? Looks like it's chromed or stainless to me.

Do you need two of them?

Joe. :thup :teeth

 

[Nan-C]

What is the collective wisdom on the box anchor offered by the same company? Does it really work as claimed? Does it offer advantages over others in some situations?

Greg

 

[Doryman]

This thread about sand anchors at Lake Powell may be relevant to your question.

 

[timflan]

What is the collective wisdom on the box anchor offered by the same company? Does it really work as claimed? Does it offer advantages over others in some situations?

According to the marketing, it's the only anchor you'll ever need.

Funny, then, that it has never been included in any serious anchor test.

I get the impression that it's marketed at smaller boats operating primarily in freshwater. It's possible, but I'm no expert, that anchors in lakes and rivers just don't need to DO very much. River anglers use grapnels, mushrooms, and all sorts of anchors that no coastal cruiser would consider as a primary anchor. I suspect that anchring in a river, with constant current from one direction, is an entirely different game from coastal anchoring with tidal currents that change direction. Can somebody with more knowledge/experience confirm or refute this?

Thanks!

 

[Nan-C]

Thanks, Tim. Smittypaddler's trouble anchoring on his St. John's trip popped to mind when I saw the box anchor.

Greg

 

[rogerbum]

What is the collective wisdom on the box anchor offered by the same company? Does it really work as claimed? Does it offer advantages over others in some situations?

According to the marketing, it's the only anchor you'll ever need.
<stuff clipped>

Yes that's true. Because once it lets loose in the middle of the night, and you and the boat are dashed against the rocks, you won't need the anchor anymore! :shock:

 

[Nan-C]

Given your perspective, Roger, I think my curiosity about the box anchor is totally resolved. Thanks!

Greg

 

[thataway]

How about stowing the "Box" anchor? Any good anchor has to have the ability to bury deeper as the load is increased. The box, tends to limit that ability. (This may also be a problem with some of the plow type with the "hoops" with ultimate holding conditions).

There are plenty of good anchors for mud--the Fortress in mud position and the Creative Marine, Super Max anchors.

For sand, we just take a light weight Guardian, Forthress or Danforth and push it into the sand with the foot--much more holding ability than a stake into the sand. You can use any plow type of anchor. Think of what the physics of holding power of an anchor are; both fluke area and burying ability are high on the list.

A bit of wind from the side and many of these stakes can pull out--if they are pounded into sandstone etc--then that is a different story--but will be hard, if not impossiable to get out. We have also experimented with a "sand screw"--basically what the telephone guy wires are attatched to--for hurricane moorings and there is much to be said for those--but not for a temporary setting where they are superficaial

 

[Frogpawg]

Thanks for the insight on the stake anchor, which I realize is a slide hammer. I want it for one purpose only and that is to keep the stern from swinging around when I have the bow anchored with my Danforth in tight areas with other boats in swimming areas etc, close enough to shore that it is staked at the beach.
As far as your conversation turning to the box anchor I would not even consider using that anchor for anything other than what they advertise it for, which appears to be again, in harbors where there is alot of congestion, other boats and not much room. I would never consider such an anchor when I could use my danforth, AND NEVER overnight.

 

[hardee]

As most of you know I am not an anchor expert, and have been searching for the answer myself. Which lead me to approach a sailor on a 26-30 foot sailboat here in Sequim bay. He had a funny looking thing that turned into a box anchor on board. He uses it frequently in the PNW, and has never had it not hold. He had a Danfoth type on the windlass but said he did not have a good experience with it and preferess the box. Looked like it might be a possible secondary or stern, has nice holding capability, and apparently worked well on various bottoms. Not sure I would be willing to sleep on it though. Not yet anyway.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon