anchor setups

[Ed Epstein]

2014 compac 16 legacy anchor yet -want to setup with anchor and rode-have bow roller in place
-recommendations?? almost always sail singlehanded

Ed

[Mas]

Hey Ed, I believe the Legacy is the heir to the CP16? Not sure what the bow ground tackle set up looks like but we have never had a problem with a Danforth type anchor, small length of chain and rode on our 16. We usually have sand, mud bottoms. The Danforth type are light and very stowable.

Aiso noticed your reference to boom roller reefing. I replied to a question from Whistlingdixie regarding that. I simply can't imagine the Legacy has such?

Welcome!

[Ed Epstein]

Thanks Mas,

The Legacy is the heir to the 16-identical except that it has a drop down centerboard that retracts into the keel. What weight Danforth ? Do you just stow everything in the locker between uses or do you
mount on the bow roller? (I have usually either mud or pebble,gravel type bottoms) Thanks!

Ed

[Salty19]

Ed,

There have been chapters in many books written about anchoring and it's a tough question to answer.  It's like asking what is better..Ford, Chevy or Dodge.  Lots of opinions, some conflicting.

Tell us more about your conditions.  Bottom type, depth, wave height, small lake or open water, etc.  Overnight or just a few hours?   

Know about scope, swing, pull-out and chain suggestions before ordering anything.   It is cheaper to get the right stuff the first time, and I would say to go longer on chain and rope than shorter.  That is to say the chain should be at least as long as your boat and the rope should be at least as long as the deepest depth you expect to anchor in times a factor of 7 or more. 

In general the heavier the anchor, the more and thicker the chain, and longer the rope you deploy will hold better. A lot of us have more than one anchor.  One heavy duty setup for making sure we stay put and another "lunch hook" as a lighter, easy to deploy alternative for short stops, but knowing that it might pull out so alertness is required.

Each anchor works better or worse in different types of bottoms.  The danforth works good in mud and sand, but stinks in rocks or hard bottoms.  They also can pull out and not reset when the wind shifts, so may or may not work for you or others.

Good luck!

[Hadders]

In spite of the popularity of Danforths. the real evidence is clear—the best anchor by far (for any conditions) is the Rocna. It's more expensive, but it sets well on almost any bottom, and it doesn't unset if the wind or tide changes. For a Compac 16, a 9 lb Rocna is the perfect anchor. It should be paired with 150 feet of rode and at least 20 feet of chain, in my opinion. I opt for an arrangement which allows me to set and retrieve the anchor from the cockpit—a great arrangement in a small boat like the 16.

[Potcake boy]

Agree with the Rocna for cruising boats. I purchased one for my 23 and it performs exactly as advertised here in S.W. Florida. It does set very quickly and resets with equal performance when the wind shifts. I use 25' of chain and unless the weather turns bad, another 20' or so of rode does the job nicely. The extra chain allows good holding on a short scope with light wind, and provides extra assurance with more rode out during stormy conditions. We once got tornadoed (probably a water spout) in Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa state park at 1:00 in the morning. It was terrifying to feel the boat lurch and listen to the wind rise to a roar standing in the cabin trying to sort your thoughts. Luckily it ended just as quickly as it began, and we were still in the same place at the end of our Rocna. Obviously this wasn't a comparative test, but it rendered my respect for that anchor.

A quick note to those of you that may be using a Fortress in salt water, check those aluminum straps that hold it together. The stainless steel screws cause galvanic corrosion to those straps, and Fortress will provide new ones on request. I discovered this just in time as mine were almost falling off.

[Mas]

Thanks Mas,

The Legacy is the heir to the 16-identical except that it has a drop down centerboard that retracts into the keel. What weight Danforth ? Do you just stow everything in the locker between uses or do you
mount on the bow roller? (I have usually either mud or pebble,gravel type bottoms) Thanks!

Ed

Hey Ed, the comments regarding the anchors folks are using are spot on. We use the Danforth because it came with the boat and preforms well in our bottom conditions. We had also used one many years ago when we first had a CP16. The anchor never let us down, though we choose anchorages with an eye to comfort while there, sheltered from both wind and wave. It lives on her bow with the chain and rode stowed through the hause pipe into the locker below. We also have another vessel that is many times the displacement of our 16 and her anchor is not a Danforth as the primary. There the Danforth (Fortress) is the lunch hook. The Rocna Vulcan, though pricey and I cannot personally attest to it's use yet, is well regarded for almost all bottom types and conditions. I mention the Vulcan as the roll bar on the original type proved to be a challenge on the bow roller setup on our PSC31 and had to return it. One may also prove unwieldy for the bow of your legacy. We are being patient and waiting for a sale on the Vulcans to get one. Probably not for the 16 however, though if I did not already have an anchor for her that we were happy with I sure would consider it.

Regardless of what you decide enjoy that Legacy!

[Jim23]

I've been using a 13 lb Mantus on my 23 for a few years now. It's performed flawlessly for our conditions which are clay/mud/grass bottom with frequent gusts and change of wind direction. It always sets quick and holds even when we spin 360's at anchor dreaming about steady coastal winds. I do use plenty of scope with only 6' of chain (my opinion is that chain is primarily for abrasion resistance) and 3/8" 3-strand which stretches nicely.

Mantus sells an 8 lb. version that's about $50 cheaper than the 9 lb. Rocna.

[Ed Epstein]

Thanks everyone for the advice-I am shopping at West Marine in the Rochester area tomorrow as I have
a Christmas gift certificate to spend. Generally on Cayuga Lake I will be taking lunch breaks etc.the
lake is 45 miles long and about 2 wide-most of my sailing. deep in the middle -up to about 500 feet deep shoreline runs about 10 to 20 feet then drops down fast-gorge type glacial lake -one of the finger lakes in upstate ny.( I also intend to take the boat to Ontario at some point)The bottom is gravel,rocks with some muddy silty areas. The boat draws 16 inches with the retractable board up,about 4feet 10 inches with it down. wind and waves are very variable with sudden changes due to the topography.It can go from calm  to 3 to 4feet waves in minutes

Thanks

Ed

[Mas]

Hey Ed, now that i know where you are calling home, I'm not sure a Danforth type would work so well. They are not known for rocky bottom holding. Not many do but here is where the newer designs such as the Rocnas and Manson's may shine. It's just that roll bar that can kill it's use on some boats, thus the Vulcan design from Rocna. We are using an older CQR as the primary on our PSC31, again because she came with it and it works. Will get a Vulcan when on sale. It's lighter and we are now older!

Beautiful area you have up there! We call the Chesapeake our home cruising grounds.

[Ed Epstein]

Hi Mas-I visit HavredGrace to sail on the Bay-(am taking ASA 104 there in June and have previously taken 103 and 105 there. The Chesapeake is great. Ed

[Tim Gardner]

Ed, I grew up on Cayuga Lake.  The north end is a mud / clay bottom.  A 10 # mushroom anchor will work for a legacy there. The part from Levanna to long point state park the same.  South of there, there aren't many cove anchorages. So a longer chain heavy grapple will be needed. IMHO.
TG

[Ed Epstein]

Thanks! I have the boat at Myer's Point right now-Your help is appreciated.
( I live on Owasco Lake but have found Cayuga much better for sailing_)just acquired a #10 Mushroom.
Ed