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Anchoring - tips and tricks?


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We're a bit leery on anchoring - an ex-work aquaintance lost a launch at Slipper Island last year after shutting the engine off immediately after setting an anchor that actually didn't set.  We tend to sit for two or three minutes after setting with the engine running and watch some marks on-shore to make sure we aren't moving.  If we need to we have immediate power to reposition. 

Over the weekend we were at Rotoroa (Cable Bay) and Ponui (Chamberlain Bay) in a rising, blustery, shifting wind.

Both locations we set the anchor as normal but it ultimately dragged - both times while we were off the yacht!  

We set by dropping the anchor, running back so we have between a 5:1 and 7:1 warp and chain length to depth.  Anchor is a 35lb plough on 15m of chain.

I'm not sure a bigger anchor is any fix, but is there a technique that hasnt made it to youtube yet that improves certainty when you set in marginal conditions?

 

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Ok, here is what I do, but all chain rode. I often anchor with only a 3:1 scope, remember scope is from the bottom to the anchor roller, not just water depth for calcs. Drop the anchor while motoring slowly backwards. tie off, or put the chain lock on when the required scope is deployed. Continue moving backwards until you feel the anchor dig in , and it stops the boat. Once that is done, if picnicking, all good. If overnight, the anchor should hold a yacht at full throttle in reverse. 

Ive spent over 1000 nights at anchor in all conditions. I've moved/dragged anchors 4 times. 3 times the anchor was fouled in debris on the bottom, once just wouldnt set. I've never moved it once set for overnight as above.... but I do use more scope if the weather is crap, 5:1. Once, 10:1, but we had 80knots over the deck :-(

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11 minutes ago, aardvarkash10 said:

 

We set by dropping the anchor, running back so we have between a 5:1 and 7:1 warp and chain length to depth.  Anchor is a 35lb plough on 15m of chain.

I'm not sure a bigger anchor is any fix, but is there a technique that hasnt made it to youtube yet that improves certainty when you set in marginal conditions?

 

Is that a real CQR or one of the junk copies Manson's made? There is a huge difference between them.

A 35lb plough should hold your boat ok, particularly in both those bays which have good holding.

After you dropped anchor did you back down gently (not like some launches going astern at about 10kts) to make sure it has set and then give it a little more throttle to dig in. If you are just letting the boat drift back it may not set, just hangs on the chain.

 When I had a plough i used to count on it taking about 5m dragging across the bottom to set. A new gen anchor such as my Rocna sets with in a metre or so.

 

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Get rid of the plough and get an excel from KM. Don't worry, you actually get it from Chains Ropes and Anchors, and as far as I know KM never actually does any work, so you wont run into him, you'll probably deal with Alan, who is knowledgeable (just don't mention YNZ). Anyway, get the excel, anchor as normal. You wont drag.

I got one, now I have to tell everyone to sit down when backing down. A plough will drag all over the bay. It is near impossible to tell if they have set. An excel sets in 1.5 times its length.

I have photos of when I trialed it at Arkles at low tide. I'll see if I can find them. Dragged the plough up and down the beach, excel dug in, done.

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Yeah, we are lucky to make 3kt in reverse!

Pull up on it and then load and feel for it to "bite".  If we cant reverse at about 1/3 throttle, call it done.

2 minutes ago, marinheiro said:

Is that a real CQR or one of the junk copies Manson's made? There is a huge difference between them.

Unsure.  Might take some photos on Friday and you can let me know.

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Either way, its crap 🤐! The manson "CQR" has manson cast on the shank.

The modern SHHP anchors (Rocna, Manson Supreme, SARCA etc etc) are another world. I use a 20KG Rocna on Island Time (40Ft). Works great!

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13 minutes ago, aardvarkash10 said:

Yeah, we are lucky to make 3kt in reverse!

Pull up on it and then load and feel for it to "bite".  If we cant reverse at about 1/3 throttle, call it done.

Unsure.  Might take some photos on Friday and you can let me know.

A genuine CQR, made in Scotland from drop forged steel will have "CQR" and its weight in lbs on the shank.

If it is an Australian made Trevco, unshackle it and throw it in the scrap metal bin, they are an even worse copy than the Manson, they are very reluctant to set.

Peter Smith has written a bit of history on the traditional (old) anchors

https://www.petersmith.net.nz/boat-anchors/old-generation-anchors.php

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I can't seem to find my photos, but here is a link to the excel. I got the #4.

https://chainsropesandanchors.co.nz/boat-anchor/11-to-20kg/12.5kg-excel-anchor

Basically, I changed anchors cause I could never tell if the plough had set. I suspect 90% of the time we were just swinging on chain. When I got the new anchor, I took both down to Arkles bay on a low tide. Bottom is typical of several places I anchor. I dragged the plough around on some rope up and down the beach, in a massive figure 8. Could not get it to set!?!

Did the same with the excel. It set within maybe half an anchor length. Didn't matter which way I lay it down, it always rolled over and set. I couldn't drag it more than 1.5 times its length before it set. Like night and day between those two anchors. Best money you can spend. 

PS, if you tell Alan you think KM is actually a raving socialist at heart, he will probably give you a good discount ;-)

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Another vote for Excel, held us tight in 55+ at Port Charles where plenty will tell you is the shittiest holding on the Coromandel.  Had to tow the anchor out next morning.

Same discussion being had about anchors on Attainable Adventure Cruising which is a subscription site but they won't touch Rocna's and always had Spades as #1, but in the latest blurb they rate Excel's as equal to Spades.

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Purchased a yacht 6 summers ago, with an Excel.  They are amazing , I’ve never had a moment of worry about it setting and holding tight  

I’ve been converted to Excel  , in fact when we changed yachts recently, it was one of the first things we bought, yes from CRA.  great service and products. 

 

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8 hours ago, marinheiro said:

Is that a real CQR or one of the junk copies Manson's made?

Yes there are junk copies out there, but Manson wasn't one of them. They had licence to build the genuine real deal. The CQR is one of those anchors that seems to work great for many and work absolutely crap for a few. I think it is setting technique that makes the difference.

Follow IT's advise. People make the big mistake of thinking they are setting the ancor, but never testing it. As said, you should be able to pull down at full throttle and the anchor should hold you. NEVER try that unless you have the chain/warp locked off though, or you will damage the winch.

The Manson Supreme is a fantastic Anchor. The Excel is even better and arguably the best on the market. The original Rockna was a great anchor, but I would never touch the ones they have been making for the last 10yrs out of China and from cheap steel. So many of them have bent and not when being used in anger either.
Chain/rode length is the realy important point anchoring. The more the better. But having witnessed anchoring in the North, I understand the difficulty anchoring in a crowded bay when everyone else is virtually on top of you.
 

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Thanks everyone.  I'll try a tough love setting technique over the next few weeks and if we still have issues I head off to the closet JA voter's place of business and see if he takes my dirty red roubles as tradeable funds😂.

 

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I’d say your a bit light on chain but also an Excel will fix that

We have a number5 which is recommended for boats between 12-15m 

We are 15.3 so should have a #6 but the point hit the bow so took it back and swapped down

Have anchored in 70kts squalls at barrier as finish boat rock solid but had 100m+ chain out in 25m of water

Have to say we have dragged, but it’s always when we didn’t have enough room to have lots of scope

The Excel is the best anchor I’ve ever used

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+1 for the excel,  I had a manson plough on the old boat and never had any issues, but when I changed to an excel a few years ago you know when it sets as the boat just stops.  First thing I purchased when I got the new boat,  I still use lots of scope normally but when you have to anchor on a short scope (such as americas cup parking) it seems to only need to touch the bottom and you are stuck

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EXCEL 16kg, +40m AQUA4 8mm, and 60m 3 strand laid. As per KM's recommendation. Dragged once on sand.... but if you anchor in 1.5m with a 3:1 scope and the tide comes up 7m those numbers are not gonna work for more than 1 beer.

 

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3 hours ago, wheels said:

Yes there are junk copies out there, but Manson wasn't one of them. They had licence to build the genuine real deal.
 

That's not correct, Manson's just copied the CQR, they never had any licence from Simpson Lawrence. Same as the way they copied the Rocna 

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