SetSail » Anchoring http://setsail.com A New Paradigm for Cruising Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:33:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Getting to the Bottom – Rocna http://setsail.com/gettng-to-the-bottom-rocna/ http://setsail.com/gettng-to-the-bottom-rocna/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:03:42 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=5153 There is considerable discussion about Rocna vs Manson vs Spade floating about. This discussion is somewhat contaminated by the defensive jabbing amonst some of the designer/manufacturers. Given your tacit endorsement of the Rocna, can you give us some real life (NZ to UK via Alaska) insight into where the Rocna proves to be superior and when it does not (e.g., bottom types, fast currents and shifts, storm conditions). Thanks!
The Rocna has worked well for us in thin sand over coral in the S Pacific, heavy weed in the Bahamas, alluvial rock fans in Alaska and Greenland, and heavy kelp in Greenland and Labrador. No weaknesses that we have seen. The only  less than perfect experience was in very soft river mud in New Zealand, but nothing would have worked well here. We were initially concerned with the roll bar possibly being prone to fouling, but this has not been a problem. The one feature we prefer on the Rocna to the other similar hooks is the very  pointy end. This looks good for rock and getting through weed. We often anchor on 2-1 scope in tight locations with good results – but then we have a big (in scale) anchor. I suspect the Manson and Spade are  probably similar in capability, but have no real world experience with them.
]]> http://setsail.com/gettng-to-the-bottom-rocna/feed/ 2 Bow Roller for 110 kg Bruce http://setsail.com/bow-roller-110kg-bruce/ http://setsail.com/bow-roller-110kg-bruce/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=10

Hi Steve, I took your advice and got the next size bigger Bruce for my 46 foot, 28 ton displacement schooner. The new 110 lb anchor is quite a conversation piece sitting in the shop while we try to figure out how to mount it. We don’t think a standard bow roller will work because of the 90 deg turn needed to bring the shackle and anchor up onto the roller. It’s difficult enough with the current 60lb CQR. We’re thinking that a pivoting bow roller may work but I’ve not found any rated for that kind of weight. Can you recommend a roller or have any suggestions? Thanks, Carl

Hi Carl: We’ve used both pivoting and fixed rollers with our Bruces. If you look at the photos on the Dashew Offshore part of the website under the FPB, you can see the fixed double roller arrangement on Wind Horse. This was engineered for a 120Kg Bruce. It is self launching. Also, our Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia has lots of bow roller details. Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/bow-roller-110kg-bruce/feed/ 0 Anchoring System for Hurricane http://setsail.com/anchoring-system-for-hurricane/ http://setsail.com/anchoring-system-for-hurricane/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=11

Aloha from Hanalei Bay, Kauai. I am in the process of making a hurricane plan for AVALON, one of your beautiful, well thought out and seaworthy Sundeer 60s. She is now happily living in Nawiliwili, Kauai.

I think that in the event of a hurricane I will anchor her in the harbor rather than leave her at the dock. I am considering a 50 lb Danforth style anchor on about 20 feet of chain shackled to the 120 lb Bruce on the 5/16 schedule 70 300 ft anchor cable. I also plan to put a 30 lb kellet on the chain rode. Thoughts? Aloha, Scott

Hi Scott: Hard to comment on a hurricane system. What we do know is a Sundeer 64, with 80kg Bruce and 3/8” sched 7 chain, survived at anchor in Grenada couple of years ago. Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/anchoring-system-for-hurricane/feed/ 0 Anchor Shackles http://setsail.com/anchor-shackles/ http://setsail.com/anchor-shackles/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=12

Hello, Thanks for your excellent books and CDs. We have purchased your Encyclopedia and CD but have not gotten off cruising to the Carribe yet. Soon though.

In following your recommendations on anchoring, (we purchased a 65 lb Spade Anchor and will back it up with 200 feet of ACCO 3/8s Chain with oversized links on each – and following your admonition it must be the right size as our dockmates have laughed at the size we bought), but we had a question as to what shackle you are using with your system. We want to insure that our shackle will not be the weakest part of our system. Can you advise the maker and size of shackles in use on your boat? Ed & Sue

Hi Ed and Sue: The first time you are anchored on a poor bottom with a gale howling around your ears and your neighbors dragging you’ll be the ones laughing with the big anchor!

Re shackles, just make sure the breaking strength is equal to the break strength of the chain. Shackles will often be marked with a working load and you need to find the factor of safety, which is often five to one. Then check this against the chain. Stainless shackles are typically NOT strong enough. Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/anchor-shackles/feed/ 0 Chain and Rope Anchoring Combinations http://setsail.com/chain-and-rope-anchoring-combinations/ http://setsail.com/chain-and-rope-anchoring-combinations/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=13

Hi Steve & Linda, Thanks for the great Encyclopedia & library. We have been enjoying it for a long time now. Thanks also for your advice on the ROCNA anchor. We have now purchased one & hope to start using it & the boat soon. I’m wondering if you’ve any knowledge/feedback on leaded anchor line. We have 42 metres of chain but would like more. Unfortunately our anchor locker won’t take any more & I thought perhaps 50 metres of leaded anchor line might make a suitable compromise (added to the existing chain). We have not come across anyone who has used this product & are hoping you or one of your readers can help with some feedback. Thanks, Pam & Bill

Hi Pam and Bill: I am not familiar with leaded anchor line. Is there a website where we could get more info?

From your e-mail address I take it you are in the S. Pacific. This being the case, if there is any coral around the preference is going to be chain. If not all chain, then you will want a line which floats, so that it does not foul or chafe on coral. In the olden days some of our cruising friends used polypropelene line with their chain. Today I’d look at something like Spectra or Vectran without a cover as it is much stronger. All of these are floaters. You just have to be careful with traffic if the line floats! Good luck – Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/chain-and-rope-anchoring-combinations/feed/ 0 Bow Roller Material http://setsail.com/bow-roller-material/ http://setsail.com/bow-roller-material/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=14

Hello Steve, Would you please tell me the material you used for anchor rollers on Windhorse? Is there a good mix between something soft (quiet) enough and durable? Thanks, Bill

Hi Bill: We have used UHMW plastic for bow rollers and chain skids for many years. It is very tough and long lasting. But you will not get much support for a long span shaft through it so the pin has to be beefy or a metal sleeve used for stiffness. – Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/bow-roller-material/feed/ 0 ROCNA vs. Bruce Anchors http://setsail.com/rocna-vs-bruce-anchors/ http://setsail.com/rocna-vs-bruce-anchors/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=15

Hello, How about some coments about anchors Bruce vs ROCNA for the tropics for a 68 ft wt 68,000 sailboat. What size for the ROCNA do I go with their charts or go weigh up and do we keep a large Bruce also. Thanks, Fred

Hi Fred: The ROCNA is a much better all around anchor. There are no hard and fast rules about sizing, except that BIGGER is always better. Lots of comments on this throughout SetSail.

As to your specific boat, without knowing the windage and configuration hard to say. But a Sundeer 64 Ketch went through the big hurricane a couple of years ago in Grenada with a 80kg Bruce (176 lhbs), so I would start there, using the additional holding power of the ROCNA for higher factor of safety in poor holding and the ability to anchor on very short scope. – Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/rocna-vs-bruce-anchors/feed/ 0 System Seven Chainwheels http://setsail.com/system-seven-chainwheels/ http://setsail.com/system-seven-chainwheels/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=16

I am going to school on your experience. I am wanting to upgrade my windlass from an older AnchorMan that is better suited to line than the System 7 3/8th chain and 65-pound spade we have acquired.

I was intrigued by Maxwell’s offerings but their specs shown on the web seemed to indicate they support 3/8th SHORT chain? Have I missed something? The G-7 seems to have a diameter = .394", inside length = 1.23", inside width = .62".

Do you get a different chainwheel/gypsy? I saw a discounted Maxwell VW series 1200, but with a shorter chainweel/gypsy at my local chandlery that I would like to buy if it’s possible to get a chainwheel put in for the system 7 3/8th chain.

Maxwell can supply you with a chainwheel that will fit. Just tell them what you are using (they have supplied us with chainwheels for many years that fit ACCO system 7).

]]> http://setsail.com/system-seven-chainwheels/feed/ 0 ROCNA Anchor http://setsail.com/rocna-anchor/ http://setsail.com/rocna-anchor/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=17

When you get a chance could you please ask Steve what he thought of the Rocna anchor he bought after using it in Washington, Canada and Alaskan waters? Thanks, Dennis

Hi Dennis: The anchor works as advertised – and is a big improvement over anything we have used in the past. We were often anchoring on 2-1 scope (usually after setting on 2.5-1) due to lack of swinging room, water depth, or both, and we never had a problem.

The only time we did not get a really good bite was in Sitka, on Baronof, where the bottom is extremely soft. In rocky bottoms and kelp-fouled bottoms it did well.

All of this in the context of an oversized hook- 250 pounds/115kg – and 3/8" chain. – Steve

]]> http://setsail.com/rocna-anchor/feed/ 0 Anchor Windlass with Multiple Anchors http://setsail.com/anchor-windlass-with-multiple-anchors/ http://setsail.com/anchor-windlass-with-multiple-anchors/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/?p=18

Steve – I am preparing to install an anchor windlass on my light displacement 43′ sloop. Primary anchor is a 45# CQR with 75′ of 3/8 HT chain + 250′ 5/8" nylon rode. Secondary anchor is a Fortress FX-37 with 25′ of 3/8 HT chain + rode. I will carry a 100# Luke storm anchor. My question is how to manage multiple anchor lines/chains with a single windlass. I would prefer a low profile vertical windlass to keep weight down and stay out of the foredeck crew’s way when racing, and am willing to live with rope/chain splice and redoing same when any splice wear starts to show. But I do not believe this will enable handling two anchor rodes? Adding a drum to the vertical windlass will handle the second rope rode, but not the chain. What do you suggest? Thank you. – Bill

Bill: You can use a vertical windlass – chain on the gypsy at the bottom of the windlass with the second anchor rode onto the warping drum on the top of the windlass. The alternative is to have a horizontal windlass with a separate gypsy and warping drum.

We favor the single vertical approach as we rarely anchor on two hooks, preferring to put most of our anchor weight in a single hook. In your case, we’d switch to 5/15" schedule seven chain and put the weight savings into the primary anchor. Also, look at the Spade/Rocna type hooks as these offer better holding in a wider variety of bottoms than the CQR. – Steve

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