Storage options stern anchor

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EdPajon

New member
I’m the new owner of a 2024 C-Dory 25 Cruiser, having just moved to the “dark side” after selling my Catalina 36.
I chose a Fortress 11 as my stern anchor since anchorages in the Santa Barbara Channel Islands ( my cruising area on the Catalina) are rather tight in Santa Cruz so it’s customary to set a stern anchor to limit swing.
I had plenty of locker space on the Catalina and had the anchor on the rail and chain and rode on a stern locker.
That’s not going to be possible on the C-Dory so I was planning on a milk crater or other such crate to hold the chain/rode. I’m installing stern rails so I could keep the Fortress there.
Any better suggestions from the group.
I haven’t totally gone to the dark side, I still am keeping my ComPac16 sailer that I bought new in 1982.

Ed Pajon
ChemSavvyToo
 
Welcome. I was a sailboat person too. Now look at it like leaving the dark side.

My stern anchor storage is a 5 gallon bucket with 1" holes drilled in it. I use a 15# Bruce knock off with zero chain and 1/2", 3 strand nylon line. Going against anchoring rules the I find that the Bruce anchors work better with no chain, it seems to dig into the ground better with a upward pull. Having no chain on my stern anchor keeps the ground tackle simple and easier to handle. (this is my go to anchor 90% of the time for sand/ mud bottoms) For rocks and grass the bow anchor is a 12# Delta with all chain tackle. Keep it simple, the dark side is more complicated.
 
I also used to be a rag-baggin' dark side fog stuck in port sailboter. But I did have
ample storage aboard for a handy stern anchor.

Now, in the light, once converted to a downsized outboard powerboat, which took
an entire week, storage came at a premium including the stern anchor. Thus, I
improvised with the proverbial bucket.

It'll work. Just don't kick it.

Aye.
 
Well, join the club. We had a Catalina 36 and sold it for a C-Dory 25. A sailboat is only good for long distances and we'd had our fun. It took us to Tahiti, Alaska and a couple of years on the Great Loop. A wonderful boat.

The first time we set an aft anchor at Santa Cruz Isle was at Pelican Bay, using an anchor rode without chain. The Danforth would not set, until an extremely nice person dove on it and set it. A problem was that I couldn't let out the amount of rode it needed to set because the anchorage was crowded and I was dumb. My advice is to try out your aft anchor to see what it needs to set without chain, or God forbid, add 20' of 1/4 inch chain.

BTW, did you sail/motor your 36 inside the Painted Cave? Make sure you take your 25 there.

Boris
 
I’ve been to painted cave but did it only on the zodiac, didn’t try the Catalina.
BTW do you use a smaller kicker engine as back up

Ed
 
The FX 11 is the size I used for the alternate bow anchor (Mud or sand. The Danforth type (and must be "real" Danforth, best the High Tensile) Works best in sand or mud. I used a FX 7 for stern anchor on the 25, I also had a similar sized Guardian. Normally kept under the hatch under the raised are under the dinette table. When actively using it, I put it in the splash well, with some vinyl loop matting to protect the gel coat. The line was made up and placed on top of the anchor, with a light line attached to a crossbar used to mount accessories in or on the splash well. 3/8 " is plenty of strength.

Anchors like the FX 11, I had on the bow rail in a Danforth mount so the shank was vertical. The rode and chain made up and tied to the pulpit or nearby cleat.
 
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