Tom Harrison
We need to buy an anchor for Out of The Blue and I was wondering what size people carry? This is to actually anchor the boat with not to convince race officials that we have an anchor!
I was thinking about 5-6kg with 5mtrs of chain, plus warp. The boat is used on Windermere which is rocky muddy on the bottom. Max depth we’d anchor in probably about 30 feet.
Tom
Tim Owen
Hi Tom,
There isn’t a simple answer – heavy isn’t a guarentee of holding power – the design is more important, and there are now dozens of new designs about! I have a big heavy plough type anchor around 11Kg with lots of chain that is a real pain to haul in, and an aluminium Fortress anchor of 3.2Kg with a 5m chain and a 30m weighted rope that is a joy to use.
In sand or mud I’d back the Fortress any day – I worked with fishing boats that anchored literally a few feet off the beach in strong onshore winds to tiny Fortress types in Mexico without problems. You just need to be careful to make sure it’s set properly, which is easier with a light anchor. On rocks you may be better with a different design – ask locally – but there nothing will be 100% reliable.
Tim Owen
James Dargie
This website has a useful description of Shackle sizes, chain diameter and rope diameters for anchoring as well as describing how to calculate the scopee of chain needed:
http://marinestore.co.uk/page/mrst/CTGY/an…nd-accessories/
I went for 30m of 7mm chain and 30mm of 12mm rope in the end.
George Jack
Hi There,
Although you do not want to convince any race officials,
The Class Rules state:
C.5 PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
C.5.1 FOR USE
(a) MANDATORY
3. One anchor of not less than 6 kg in weight together with a minimum
2m of 4.5mm chain and with not less than 20m of line of not less
than 10mm in diameter.
It would be prudent to have the above as a minimum to keep the boats equipment within class rules for if you ever sell it.
I have not anchored a Sonata yet so sorry I can’t be of more practical assistance.
Regards,
George Jack.