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| We will sleep like a rock because of this guy! Delta Fast Set 70lb. |
- What is your style of boating? Find an anchor that is suited to your cruising area. The two main types are the fluke and the plow. The fluke being the most popular because it is lightweight and easy to stow BUT it doesn't do well in grass or rocky bottoms.
- Where will you be anchoring? Plow anchors hold best in grass, mud and sand but stowing them usually requires a bow roller and they are mainly seen on cruising sailboats and powerboats.
- What material will you decide on, galvanized steel, 316 stainless steel or lightweight aluminum/magnesium? Generally speaking galvanized anchors are the most economical choice and provide high tensile strength. Stainless steel sure does look pretty but it's going to cost you. Regardless of cost weight is often a factor so aluminum magnesium appeals to light-weight vessels and racers.
- How will you stow the anchor? Plow anchors have curved shanks that self launch from a bow roller and are a widely used choice for boats with windlasses and or remote control operation. If you choice a heavy anchor be prepared to invest in an electric windlass as manual windlasses are the bane of many cruisers' existence.
Personally, we subscribe to the "bigger is better" theory. We have had experiences with just about every type of anchor, CQR, Delta, Bruce and Fortress. For Felicity, we selected the Delta Fast Set 70 lb, just about double the suggested size. She's a big girl and rightly she should have a good, heavy anchor! AND yes, we have an awesome windlass! (It's almost ready for installation)
The first time we anchored we were very happy the Delta dropped in perfectly from the bow, dug in quickly and held tight! We are looking forward to many more nights at anchor with this baby on the bottom!
What's hanging off your bow pulpit?
1 comment:
Hey guys, I just stumbled upon you through the Hatteras Forums. My wife and I too were in interest in Felicity. We live in Key West, and thought it was a little too far for us to go check her out. We currently live on a 36' Mainship trawler. I grew up in Myrtle Beach and decided to move here to the Keys. Prior to leaving Myrtle, we bought Reef Runner. You can check out our blog http://www.reef-runner.blogspot.com/. We left July 12th 2010, so you can search the blog back to that date to see what we went through during our trip. We did take the Inter Coastal Waterway through Miami. Hopefully you can find some good stuff on there for your journey. Enjoy your trip, because we loved ours. I'll keep following you to see how the Hatteras does. We are hopefully getting the 50' we are looking at now real soon.
Rob
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