Practical Sailor Anchor Plug

[LinekinBayCD]

I was kind of surprised to see a plug for the CQR anchor in the Rumb Lines section of the December Practical Sailor issue. I have never seen an anchor test where the CQR performed well as compared with more recent designs. Just thought that a publication like Practical Sailor ought to be more cautious with something as important as ground tackle and not make endorsements based on anecdotal evidence vs. controlled tests.

[Beersmith]

They have always been very thorough in terms of testing, I wouldn't think their endorsements are based on anecdotal evidence.

They perform the widest array of tests on some of the most simple products, I actually stopped reading it because I just wanted an answer and not the data.

[Hudsonian]

The original poster is absolutely correct. Darrell Nicholson, the editor of Practical Sailor, noted that the CQR has limitations but basically dismissed Practical Sailor's test results.

[LinekinBayCD]

Originally Posted by Beersmith

They have always been very thorough in terms of testing, I wouldn't think their endorsements are based on anecdotal evidence.

They perform the widest array of tests on some of the most simple products, I actually stopped reading it because I just wanted an answer and not the data.

It was based apparently only on the writers personal experience.

[Craig Smith]

Originally Posted by Beersmith

They have always been very thorough in terms of testing, I wouldn't think their endorsements are based on anecdotal evidence.

This is the same magazine that concluded a CQR is better than a Delta because a 35 lb CQR outperformed a 22 lb Delta by a small margin in one of their tests?

The same magazine that re-writes submitted letters on uncontrolled testing from amateurs as their own "test"?

The same magazine whose anchor testing of recent years has been conducted by Powerboat Reports and only reprinted by PS? Including some of the single trial gems that conclude short scope offers superior performance to long scope?

Give me a break. PS/PBR is no better at anchor testing than any other magazine - no repeat trials at all, no real control on bottom type, mixed anchor sizes and materials, and so on. The cost of doing a proper test far exceeds the value to these publications of 4 or 6 pages of print content.

If their editor truly believes a CQR is an appropriate choice for his own boat - I've not read the Rhumb Lines in question - then this should be well indicative of the effectiveness of their own "analysis".

[eherlihy]

I have to say, as a PS subscriber, that in general, I agree with Craig. I don't know about the powerboat reprint... but that could be the start of a legal battle.

PS does their best to evaluate, but they frequently compare apples to oranges to figs (ie. the best of one manufacturer's line with the middle of another with the low-end of another) and they appear to outsource some of their testing. If I recall correctly, there was a report by Beth and Evans Starzinger in PS that seemed to compare the Manson Ray 50kg, Manson Supreme 55kg, and ROCNA 55kg anchors. However if you read the report closely, you would see that they actually only compared a 50kg Bruce to a 40kg Manson Supreme. And, they concluded that the 50kg Bruce held better than the 40kg "Roll bar" copy ...

Full disclaimer: despite this report in PS, I bought a Rocna 15 for my 35' boat last month...

Personally, I wish that their comparisons were more critical, and more comprehensive. Frankly, IMHO, our friend MaineSail does a far more comprehensive and equitable job of comparing like products.

I know that the PS editor reads this forum on occasion. I hope that he takes these critiques to heart.

[lancelot9898]

[QUOTE=eherlihy;682972
Personally, I wish that their comparisons were more critical, and more comprehensive. Frankly, IMHO, our friend MaineSail does a far more comprehensive and equitable job of comparing like products.

[/QUOTE]

For that very reason I stopped my subscription to Practical Sailor even though flawed testing still provides useful information. I continue to think that the CQR gets a bad rap based on my own experience with that anchor even though several years ago I updated to the latest design( a 45 lb Manson Supreme). I have not been disappointed, but have yet to experience as severe of conditions that the little 35 lb CQR experienced.

[Trekka]

FWIW, the CQR is very popular among a wide swath of cruisers. I never had mine fail me during 25 yrs on the Chesapeake. When the SSCA does gear surveys among its members the CQR is very highly rated by that large group of experienced blue water cruisers.

And yet there are many tests in which it does not perform well. Go figure. Tests vs experience.... I don't have an answer.

[LinekinBayCD]

Originally Posted by Trekka

FWIW, the CQR is very popular among a wide swath of cruisers. I never had mine fail me during 25 yrs on the Chesapeake. When the SSCA does gear surveys among its members the CQR is very highly rated by that large group of experienced blue water cruisers.

And yet there are many tests in which it does not perform well. Go figure. Tests vs experience.... I don't have an answer.

Can you post a link to the survey you reference? I'd be interested to read it. My guess is is that the disconnect between owner surveys and tests is that the owners are not comparing one product to another. Maybe it's the ignorance is bliss factor. Not many owners go to the length that Mainsail has with a large group of anchors and actually test them himself. In side by side comparisons with other types the CQR does not hold up well.

[SVAuspicious]

I've been looking for a good sized CQR. My girl friend needs a new mailbox post and I think the CQR would be great ...