R5 Anchor Choices

[NautiGirl]

Now Now guys, this thread is about Anchors, it would be terrible if it got hijacked and we started to discuss cheese graters...

I don't use a cheese grater with my cheese whiz

I was watching the food network the other day. They said that if given the choice, you should always grate a block of cheese instead of buying the shredded stuff in the bag. Logic was the shredded stuff in the bag has additives to keep it from sticking together where a block of cheese shredded at home does not.

I tried it on some BBQ Nachos, and I have to admit the stuff I grated at home did melt more evenly and had a better overall texture. I don't think I will ever go back to buying in the bag. That said I dont look down upon those who enjoy the convince of purchasing shredded cheese in a bag.

The lesson here is that no matter how you get there shredded cheese makes everything better. One should not judge a man by his anchor choice, much like we should not judge how you get shredded cheese. Instead we should accept that some anchors hold better than others in specific bottom conditions. Box Anchor, Mushroom, Navy Anchor, Fortress, Grated, Shaved, Shredded, buy it in a bag, who cares, as long as you have cheese, a boat, and a anchor that works for you. Thats whats important.

Oh, and we also use a box anchor on our boat. It holds our boat well in different bottom conditions, including wind. I guess the points on it could also be used for grating cheese...never tried.

[CobaltDeadHead]

I cut Brie like butter with my Danforth anchor

[NautiGirl]

I cut Brie like butter with my Danforth anchor

This guy gets it.

[bradnsheri]

+1 for Fortress or similar

-1 for Box Anchor. Unless all you do is boat in a lake where you just anchor for lunch in a cove and you will never see more than 5MPH winds and no waves. Used to go out boating with a friend who had a box anchor on a small 22' boat. Was always a miserable experience. No idea what the bottom was like other than it was a mixture of mud and rock because that is what would come up on the anchor when we had to move all the time. Just my observation but it seems new boat owners get talked into them since they are cheap and don't require chain. Of course its cheaper when they get wedged into a rock and you can't release them so that is one pro for them when you cut the line.

[stevea207]

Thanks for the responses.

[dustinm]

That day we were all tied up on TRL everyone did have their fluke anchors out and we were drifting it wasn't until tgrace threw out his box that we stopped. The breeze was a solid 10-15mph and we had no wave protection.

JUST IMAGINE THIS POST WAS MADE BY A PHONY HUSBAND AND WIFE NAME

[Snowman8]

I am not a salesman for any anchor and could really care less what anyone has but I have never drifted with a fluke anchor in wind and current as I boat on a river. I understand that box anchors need less anchor line but with any anchor if you are drifting you need to let out more line. I typically have at least one bot if not two tied to me and my Fortress FX 7 with 6’ of chain always holds. I am usually anchored in 10-15’ of water. On a busy weekend I don’t like to be in the crowd of boats so we sometimes end up in 30-40’ of water and it still holds fine with about 60-70’ of line out. I only have 100’ of line and I have never come close to using it all.
Since I switched to the Fortress I have noticed that it digs in WAY harder than any of my previous fluke style anchors as it is way harder to pull up, when we have been tied up in the wind with 2 other boats tied to me I usually end up pulling past the anchor with the engine to loosen it because its dug in so hard.

[Ytmsn]

Well, I like my digger. It got hung on some rocks and bent the top rod and it has a little trouble locking in now, so I need to order a new one and use this one for the back.

No doubt it would still be on the bottom of it had not been a digger. I've had to use the release feature several times. And before the digger I've had to leave a couple anchors on the bottom. Our lake is pretty rocky.

And Cheese Whiz BB? Eww. Just Eewww.

[Krob1114]

I bought mushroom anchor, somewhere around 16-20 lbs. and 6 ft of chain. The first time I tried it on windy day, it didn't hold: R3, 20 foot depth, maybe 50-60' of nylon line I had left over from planting project. We only carry anchor for emergencies, like boat won't start and blowing into shore or rocks or trees.
I can never tell for sure what we're dropping the anchor on, as our lake used to be valley with trees, rocks, roads, river and creek bottoms, houses, etc.

YT: would you suggest the digger of us also?

[Norris_Boating]

I have a box anchor on my pontoon boat. I use it to control drift. It won't hold one bit. If you want an anchor that will hold in wind, buy a real anchor.

Gotta love the people that throw anchors. You can tell a newbie in a second.

You must not know what you’re doing then. Large box holds my 6200lb r7 no issues in the wind. Mostly rocky bottom lake.

LOL...I assure you I know what I am doing. Been ocean boating for past 40 years and been in 30 mile winds anchored overnight with no issues with REAL anchors.

I have found it really depends on what kind of bottom and where you are anchoring. If I were anchoring in the ocean I probably wouldn't use a box anchor either. I have seen where if you let out more than a 2/1 ration on a box anchor it doesn't hold, so if you treat a box anchor like a typical anchor it won't work well.

[AsLan7]

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Yes. Personalities aside, the type of bottom to which one is anchoring is the key to correct anchor selection and scope. Also discussed here. Box Anchor review here.

We try not to scratch our fluke.

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[TruckerTim]

Great post, A7.... Funny how the most expensive has the "highest holding power" notation!

[Big Block Power]

I bought mushroom anchor, somewhere around 16-20 lbs. and 6 ft of chain. The first time I tried it on windy day, it didn't hold: R3, 20 foot depth, maybe 50-60' of nylon line I had left over from planting project. We only carry anchor for emergencies, like boat won't start and blowing into shore or rocks or trees.
I can never tell for sure what we're dropping the anchor on, as our lake used to be valley with trees, rocks, roads, river and creek bottoms, houses, etc.

YT: would you suggest the digger of us also?

Yes because of you drop it down a chimney you can give it a jerk and it straightens out and you can pull it right out

[fourmasons]

D36AA4D8-398D-4899-BBA1-130BFAE29ED0.jpeg

Fortress FX-7 4lbs/16’-27’ Boats

Works great in sandy,muddy bottoms, never used it in rocky conditions. Original chain was rubber coated. Never cared for the chain. The coated chain didn’t seem to be hefty enough. Swapped out for a 1/4” x 8’ S/S chain and 5/16” S/S shackles. All #316 S/S. 100’ of 5/8” line.
The extra weight is better for setting and holding.
We’re usually anchored shallow in 5-10’ near the sand bars, max of 25’, in the St John’s River. Gets fairly windy and choppy. FX-7 holds great!

Red bag is my Fortress Commando second anchor, usually used off the stern. Very handy to have. Stays disassembled unless I’m expecting to need it. 5 minutes to assemble, so plan accordingly.

Great combo with the R5.