Anchors and the Chesapeake

[btrayfors]

Have sailed and anchored in the Chesapeake and its tributaries for over 50 years.

Among the more traditional anchors, the preferred anchor is a Danforth Hi-Tensile or a Fortress. Both of these work very well if they're deployed properly. On my 42' 28K displacement sloop, I use an "oversized" Fortress these days....an FX-37. When it sets, you KNOW you're not going to move no matter what. This anchor is great in the typical clay and mud bottoms encountered, and it is good even in the silt conditions you find, e.g., in the upper Potomac river, particularly when you use the wide setting.

The Danforth Hi-Tensile is also a very good anchor for the Chesapeake. The CQR is NOT. I keep my 45lb genuine CQR belowdecks when in the Chesapeake. However, when I exit these waters, I keep the CQR on the bow. It's an excellent anchor for most bottom conditions found from Maine to the Caribbean. But it's a real dog in parts of the Chesapeake...I've dragged it all over the Potomac.

The newer anchors may be good, too. Haven't tried them. I have friends who love the Bruce. It's a good anchor because it sets fast in most conditions, but it can't develop anywhere near the holding power of the Danforth or Fortress or the newer anchors such as the Rocna or the Manson Supreme.

That said, I've sailed in waters from Maine to Grenada and all places in between, and feel that with a 45lb CQR, a 35lb Danforth Hi-Tensile, and a Fortress FX-37...and an all-chain 3/8" hi-tensile rode....I really don't lust after anything else. Have NEVER had a problem, even in adverse conditions.

Bill

[SVAuspicious]

In personal experience the Rocna (my boat on Chesapeake and Potomac) and Spade (friend's boat on Chesapeake) are outstanding. They set so well that -- with very few exceptions -- one has to drive over them to break them free.

I've had good luck with Delta anchors on the Bay and Potomac although they definitely do not hold as well as the new generation anchors.

Bruce is an okay anchor (personal experience on friend's boat in Chesapeake and Bahamas) but the holding power is low.

My experience with Fortress anchors agrees with conventional wisdom: they set and hold great but don't respond to reversing pulls consistently.

In my opinion, an experienced cruiser with a CQR or Bruce can comfortably stick with what they have. If you are going to buy an anchor, buy a current generation anchor like a Rocna or a Spade.

[T37Chef]

We're using a CQR with 50' chain & 200' of rope. This may be not my first choice given the new anchor designs available, but we have never dragged our anchor on the bay. My concern with the danforth/fortress anchor designs is how well will it reset when the storm approaches and you swing, just when you really need it to hold???

Case in point: Last evening in St Michaels we were in 15' of water (+-). as a storm was approaching slowly from the west, the Anchorage was still pointed east. As the storm encroached on us we all swung 180 to west with gust up to 25 knts. I painfully watch a raft up drag into another, and another large boat drag it s anchor. We held fast. I couldn't make out what anchor was used in the boat in the raft up but on the large power boat it was a danforth style? Doesn't mean much I know, just what I witnessed