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Author Topic:   Ground Tackle choices?

jameso posted 08-14-2001 04:19 PM ET (US)
I currently use a navy style 15 pound anchor with 6 feet of heavy chain. I also have a 15 pound mushroom from bass fishing days. Want a light anchor that can be used in sand i.e. Fl panhandle. My whaler is a 15 and there usually is very little current, I tend to stay in the sound or bays, and tides are real small couple of feet at most.
Soho posted 08-14-2001 04:42 PM ET (US)
I have used a Danforth, 8-10 lbs maybe, with about 10 feet of stainless chain with good success on a sandy bottom. I am usually lobster diving / spear fishing so I check the anchor set each time overboard and often I find that the extra weight of a good long length of chain makes a big difference as the anchor hardly has to work really. When the wind picks up the anchor starts to bite. The stainless chain was a great investment as it does not leave any rust stains etc and is easy on the hands in case I have my gloves off.
If the bottom has hard clay/coral/stone under it, I have found that the Danforth does not bite in that well.
Take it for what it is...free advice..
Ciao,
Ron
lhg posted 08-14-2001 04:46 PM ET (US)
For a lightweight anchor in sand, try either the Fortress or Danforth Hi-tensile.
where2 posted 08-14-2001 05:59 PM ET (US)
Being quite familiar with the Florida sand (all I've ever dealt), I would second the Danforth/Fortress/Guardian style of anchor. I know that the 5 pound Guardian has too long a shank to fit in the 15' Sport bow locker. My steel anchor is a danforth in the 5-7 pound range, used with 6' chain. Some day I'll cut down the shank of my Guardian 2" to allow it to fit in the bow locker.
The difference between a Guardian and a Fortress is that the Fortress doesn't come in less than an F-7 (7 pound equivalent), and Fortress is anodized (hence the higher price from the Guardian).
For what you described as your needs, you can probably just swap out the rode and chain from the Navy anchor onto a Danforth style and anchor up, assuming the rode and chain are in good shape.
triblet posted 08-14-2001 06:20 PM ET (US)
I'll second (third? fourth?) the choice of
the Danforth. I have a seven pound
Danforth HiTensile on my Montauk and it just
digs in. I usually go down the anchor line
when I dive, and if the wind's blowing, the
Danforth and about 8' of chain are under the
sand.
The Danforth works OK in rocks, though I try
not to anchor there due to the risk of
getting it stuck.
You do need to put a bit of resistance on the
line as it goes down so the anchor hits first.
If the chain and anchor get tangled up, it
will drag.
I have 10' of galvanized chain, one size
heavier than what the West Marine catalog
recommends for 17' boat.
I used have this really heavy mushroom. It
would drag. I was forever following the
anchor tracks in the sand to find the boat.
And it was a lot heavier to haul up.
(If any of you Bay Area guys wants it, it's
yours).
Fortress is anodized ALUMINUM. The Danforths
are galvanized steel. I'm not seeing
any significant rust on mine.
Chuck
Dick posted 08-14-2001 07:24 PM ET (US)
The Danforth Hi-Tensile is an outstanding anchor but I prefer the Fortress just because you get the holding power without the weight. I'd rather handle a 4# anchor than a 7# one.
Dick
JDH posted 08-15-2001 01:42 PM ET (US)
A buddy of mine sold me on the anchor bungee. I am headed out to look for one tonight.
His technique involves dropping the hook at least 50' out and motoring in. They get off the boat with 150' of line tied to the stern.
This way the boat stays in the water at low tide, drift can be controlled and the boat can be retrieved w/o getting wet (important in the PNW)
Any reccomendations on brands or other hints?
Bigshot posted 08-15-2001 02:10 PM ET (US)
Holy cow James, you must hate using an anchor! On my 15' I had a 4lb Danforth, actually a Hooker, 4' of chain and 3/8 line. When I sold the boat I threw the anchor on my Baja for a stern anchor. Now I usually use it for my main. I NEVER leave my boat unattended while anchored(except a swim,etc) so if it breaks loose, no big deal. It has never broken loose, even in heavy currents. My 17 has a 7lb danforth that came with it and it fits in the bow locker. If it did not fit I would buy another 4lb. For your FL use, a 2.5-4lb(whatever fits in the bow) w/chain would be fine on that 15', you will be amazed.
Dick posted 08-15-2001 06:04 PM ET (US)
JDH
The best one is "Anchor Buddy". List price is $29.95.
Dick
jimh posted 08-15-2001 10:26 PM ET (US)
The Danforth anchor (also known as the lightweight anchor) was developed during World War II for use in kedging amphibious landing craft off of sandy beaches.
The landing craft would run onto the beach, while deploying the Danforth anchor astern on the way in. Then they could winch themselves off the beach into deeper water.
With such a heritage the Danforth, not surprisingly, is an excellent anchor for recreational boating use in sandy bottoms.

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Author	Topic: Ground Tackle choices?
jameso	posted 08-14-2001 04:19 PM ET (US) I currently use a navy style 15 pound anchor with 6 feet of heavy chain. I also have a 15 pound mushroom from bass fishing days. Want a light anchor that can be used in sand i.e. Fl panhandle. My whaler is a 15 and there usually is very little current, I tend to stay in the sound or bays, and tides are real small couple of feet at most.
Soho	posted 08-14-2001 04:42 PM ET (US) I have used a Danforth, 8-10 lbs maybe, with about 10 feet of stainless chain with good success on a sandy bottom. I am usually lobster diving / spear fishing so I check the anchor set each time overboard and often I find that the extra weight of a good long length of chain makes a big difference as the anchor hardly has to work really. When the wind picks up the anchor starts to bite. The stainless chain was a great investment as it does not leave any rust stains etc and is easy on the hands in case I have my gloves off. If the bottom has hard clay/coral/stone under it, I have found that the Danforth does not bite in that well. Take it for what it is...free advice.. Ciao, Ron
lhg	posted 08-14-2001 04:46 PM ET (US) For a lightweight anchor in sand, try either the Fortress or Danforth Hi-tensile.
where2	posted 08-14-2001 05:59 PM ET (US) Being quite familiar with the Florida sand (all I've ever dealt), I would second the Danforth/Fortress/Guardian style of anchor. I know that the 5 pound Guardian has too long a shank to fit in the 15' Sport bow locker. My steel anchor is a danforth in the 5-7 pound range, used with 6' chain. Some day I'll cut down the shank of my Guardian 2" to allow it to fit in the bow locker. The difference between a Guardian and a Fortress is that the Fortress doesn't come in less than an F-7 (7 pound equivalent), and Fortress is anodized (hence the higher price from the Guardian). For what you described as your needs, you can probably just swap out the rode and chain from the Navy anchor onto a Danforth style and anchor up, assuming the rode and chain are in good shape.
triblet	posted 08-14-2001 06:20 PM ET (US) I'll second (third? fourth?) the choice of the Danforth. I have a seven pound Danforth HiTensile on my Montauk and it just digs in. I usually go down the anchor line when I dive, and if the wind's blowing, the Danforth and about 8' of chain are under the sand. The Danforth works OK in rocks, though I try not to anchor there due to the risk of getting it stuck. You do need to put a bit of resistance on the line as it goes down so the anchor hits first. If the chain and anchor get tangled up, it will drag. I have 10' of galvanized chain, one size heavier than what the West Marine catalog recommends for 17' boat. I used have this really heavy mushroom. It would drag. I was forever following the anchor tracks in the sand to find the boat. And it was a lot heavier to haul up. (If any of you Bay Area guys wants it, it's yours). Fortress is anodized ALUMINUM. The Danforths are galvanized steel. I'm not seeing any significant rust on mine. Chuck
Dick	posted 08-14-2001 07:24 PM ET (US) The Danforth Hi-Tensile is an outstanding anchor but I prefer the Fortress just because you get the holding power without the weight. I'd rather handle a 4# anchor than a 7# one. Dick
JDH	posted 08-15-2001 01:42 PM ET (US) A buddy of mine sold me on the anchor bungee. I am headed out to look for one tonight. His technique involves dropping the hook at least 50' out and motoring in. They get off the boat with 150' of line tied to the stern. This way the boat stays in the water at low tide, drift can be controlled and the boat can be retrieved w/o getting wet (important in the PNW) Any reccomendations on brands or other hints?
Bigshot	posted 08-15-2001 02:10 PM ET (US) Holy cow James, you must hate using an anchor! On my 15' I had a 4lb Danforth, actually a Hooker, 4' of chain and 3/8 line. When I sold the boat I threw the anchor on my Baja for a stern anchor. Now I usually use it for my main. I NEVER leave my boat unattended while anchored(except a swim,etc) so if it breaks loose, no big deal. It has never broken loose, even in heavy currents. My 17 has a 7lb danforth that came with it and it fits in the bow locker. If it did not fit I would buy another 4lb. For your FL use, a 2.5-4lb(whatever fits in the bow) w/chain would be fine on that 15', you will be amazed.
Dick	posted 08-15-2001 06:04 PM ET (US) JDH The best one is "Anchor Buddy". List price is $29.95. Dick
jimh	posted 08-15-2001 10:26 PM ET (US) The Danforth anchor (also known as the lightweight anchor) was developed during World War II for use in kedging amphibious landing craft off of sandy beaches. The landing craft would run onto the beach, while deploying the Danforth anchor astern on the way in. Then they could winch themselves off the beach into deeper water. With such a heritage the Danforth, not surprisingly, is an excellent anchor for recreational boating use in sandy bottoms.