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.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 28, 2009)
November 27th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Hey Steve, My wife and I have been full time cruisers for the last 6 years, Australia, S.E.Asia , Sth Pacific mostly. We changed anchors from a CQR (copy) to a Bruce both where good anchors The Bruce set very quickly, in a 180` wind change you could feel it pull out and reset. We have now had a 60lb Manson Supreme for 18 months, this sets very quickly as well, we recently sat out a low pressure system with gusts to 72 kn , anchored in clean sand we never moved , however we have had 4 instances when the anchor refused to reset after a 180` wind shift. What has caused this in every instance is the bottom material we where anchoring in was of a thick mud/clay and once it was muddy sand held together with sea grass roots, we always back down heavily to set our anchor and this forces the mud to compress into the concave shaped fluk and the roll bar stops this mud from falling out and clearing the anchor in the wind shift, this then won’t let the anchor reset. This also happened in a tide change once, we slowly drifted past other anchored yachts at 1 to 2 knots, not untill we lifted and cleared the offending mud did our anchor reset. In clean sand we have never had a problem . Just something to consider
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:17 am
[…] other boats before she sets. I have heard good reports from experienced cruisers and the Dashews https://setsail.com/gettng-to-the-bottom-rocna/#more-5153 even recommend the Rocna as an improvement on their beloved […]
December 6th, 2012 at 11:53 am
[…] crashing into other boats before she sets. I have heard good reports from experienced cruisers and the Dashews even recommend the Rocna as an improvement on their beloved […]