anchor set-up...

sailhog · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

This Friday I'm sailing with a friend up to Edisto Island. I'd planned to stay at the Marina, but it's Memorial Day weekend and they're out of slip space. However, I can anchor on Big Bay Creek, which is a tidal river with strong, reversing currents. At the moment I only have a 35-pound Danforth. I think I'm going to need to shackle some chain and a second anchor to the Danforth, or visa-versa in order to hold to the creekbed, which is a fairly light mud.

Any suggestions on how to go about doing this? What anchor would be the recommendation of the learned panel?

camaraderie · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Hawg...I would go for a completely secondary anchor on a short (10') chain/rope rode. Obviously you don't have time for a Rocna or Spade to arrive. Can you get a manson at the local West? If not...get a Delta. Drop 'em at 90 degrees to each other...making an expanded V off your bow. Have fun!

The other option given your cruising grounds would be a Fortress on the 45 degree fluke mud setting. You might end up chucking the danforth in a locker for secondary use only since the Fortress will be lighter weight and better holding.

Idiens · #3 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Having only one anchor, chain and rode is the start of bad news. If stuck with that situation, I think you will have to be up and about at the change of tide to lift and reset your Danforth (which I think is fairly good in soft mud).

Freesail99 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

As far as an anchor goes, is a Manson Supreme that much of a drop off from a Rocna ?

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Danforths and other fluke style anchors are generally bad news in shifting current/wind situations. Get a Delta 22 if you can, and use that as a secondary anchor... It should be fine for a boat the size of the Hogpen.

According to Halekai, the Manson Supreme isn't as good, and he owns the Spade, the Manson Supreme, the Rocna and a few others... so he's got real world experience with them. I've never used the Manson Supreme, so can't comment on its performance directly... I did just get a Delta 22 lb. for use as a secondary anchor, with a Rocna 15 kg. as my primary.

PBzeer · #6 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Actually Dawg, Halekai said it wasn't that much of a difference between the Manson Supreme and Rocna. West does carry the Manson Supreme, which if you purchase one Hawg, I'd make that my primary and the Danforth as the second anchor on the short chain/rope rode. You should have at least 30' of chain on your primary (length of the boat).

Have fun, however you sort out the anchor issue.

sailhog · #7 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Thanks, gentlemen!

One last question: Is the secondary anchor that you all speak of set 90 degrees in the V that Cam described, or does it trail the primary anchor?

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Set it at 90˚ from the primary.

Sapperwhite · #9 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Sounds like an excellent opportunity to justify buying new boat goodies. Upping your primary anchor is good, and the danforth will stash away pretty easily.....everybody wins

JohnRPollard · #10 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008

Hog,

That's a pretty good sized Danforth for your boat -- you should get good holding with it if it takes the bottom. But a second anchor type would certainly be desirable.

If you don't absolutely need it for this weekend, I have a 25 lb Delta that I'd sell very reasonably (with or without the chain/line rode). PM me if interested.