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Author Topic:   anchor choice for 16 foot hull?

Eric posted 11-03-2002 11:58 PM ET (US)
I use my boat for some offshore fishing. While here on the west central coast of FL that means that I would rarely be over 75 feet of water, I still want the added safety of good ground tackle. I also travel to areas where the water is much deeper.
The narrow anchor locker in the early hull (only 9 1/2 inches wide) makes storage of an anchor something of a squeeze (literally). I've got 300 feet of 3/8 inch rode, and 8 feet of 3/8 inch chain. At that point, the locker is almost full. I have managed to fit a small danforth in there by carefully laying in the anchor line (isn't that called faking the line?), but I bent one of the flukes the other day pulling the anchor free from a reef, and want to replace it. This anchor has a stock length of only 12 inches, but it's still really hard to fit into the well with the chain and rode.
I have a Guardian G7, which is a really nice aluminum anchor, the cheaper version of the Fortress FX7. The problem is that the stock length (18 inches) is much too long to fit in the locker even if there's nothing else in there.
They do make a smaller guardian, unfortunately the stock length is still 16 inches.
Now I know that some of the owners of this hull have dealt with this problem by cutting the ends off of the stock, but I wonder how that would affect the performance of the design. With the aluminum anchor that I have, you would need to cut off 6 inches from the stock, or 4 inches if I bought the smaller one. That seems like a lot, and these are expensive anchors to mess up in an experiment.
Another option is stowing the anchor somewhere else, but I don't have a bow rail,and I worry about tripping when following a big fish around the bow. I don't need more stuff laying in the boat. It's crowded enough in it when I get all my tackle and ice chest in it. I'm also contemplating an anchor ball to pull the anchor when in deeper water, but I can fasten that to the console or something. How have other members dealt with this?
kingfish posted 11-04-2002 08:44 AM ET (US)
Typically 6# to 8# Danforth or Danforth-style anchors are rated for boats up to 22' and 24' (though I use a 14# for my Outrage 22'); Those are the smaller traditional fluked anchors, but I don't know their dimensions. Unless You have already used an aluminum anchor and like it, I'd think twice about the usage you are suggesting, as they will "sail" in conditions of current or boat windage when you are trying to set them, the deeper you are setting, the further they can sail.
Bill C posted 11-04-2002 09:54 AM ET (US)
I have the same guardian anchor though rarely use it. DO NOT modify the stock as you may have a problem getting a proper set when you most need it. As the bottom in our area of the Florida west coast is mostly sand I use a 12# mushroom on six feet of chain. Have never had a problem even in moderate current and/or wind conditions with the mushroom. Hard bottom or heavy weather is a different story. Very easy to handle and stow. The Danforth type is a backup for nasty conditions. I have seen modified pole holders used to stow a Danforth shank down. I have rails on my 15" Super Sport Limited and will be installing 2 1/4 PVC pipe up forward and at the helm to keep the anchor handy. Used the same setup on my last sailboat. I cut a slit the length of the pipe wide enough to slide the chain down, mounted it on the bow rail and support and it worked great. The Guardian barely fits in the forward locker. I have never found any need to anchor in 75" of water. Even fishing on a wreck or reef. If I drift just fire up the iron wind and get back in position. If you're drifting to fast probably shouldn't be out there. If you don't mind drilling holes mount an anchor holder (available at West/Boat US)on the gunnell out of the way.

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Author	Topic: anchor choice for 16 foot hull?
Eric	posted 11-03-2002 11:58 PM ET (US) I use my boat for some offshore fishing. While here on the west central coast of FL that means that I would rarely be over 75 feet of water, I still want the added safety of good ground tackle. I also travel to areas where the water is much deeper. The narrow anchor locker in the early hull (only 9 1/2 inches wide) makes storage of an anchor something of a squeeze (literally). I've got 300 feet of 3/8 inch rode, and 8 feet of 3/8 inch chain. At that point, the locker is almost full. I have managed to fit a small danforth in there by carefully laying in the anchor line (isn't that called faking the line?), but I bent one of the flukes the other day pulling the anchor free from a reef, and want to replace it. This anchor has a stock length of only 12 inches, but it's still really hard to fit into the well with the chain and rode. I have a Guardian G7, which is a really nice aluminum anchor, the cheaper version of the Fortress FX7. The problem is that the stock length (18 inches) is much too long to fit in the locker even if there's nothing else in there. They do make a smaller guardian, unfortunately the stock length is still 16 inches. Now I know that some of the owners of this hull have dealt with this problem by cutting the ends off of the stock, but I wonder how that would affect the performance of the design. With the aluminum anchor that I have, you would need to cut off 6 inches from the stock, or 4 inches if I bought the smaller one. That seems like a lot, and these are expensive anchors to mess up in an experiment. Another option is stowing the anchor somewhere else, but I don't have a bow rail,and I worry about tripping when following a big fish around the bow. I don't need more stuff laying in the boat. It's crowded enough in it when I get all my tackle and ice chest in it. I'm also contemplating an anchor ball to pull the anchor when in deeper water, but I can fasten that to the console or something. How have other members dealt with this?
kingfish	posted 11-04-2002 08:44 AM ET (US) Typically 6# to 8# Danforth or Danforth-style anchors are rated for boats up to 22' and 24' (though I use a 14# for my Outrage 22'); Those are the smaller traditional fluked anchors, but I don't know their dimensions. Unless You have already used an aluminum anchor and like it, I'd think twice about the usage you are suggesting, as they will "sail" in conditions of current or boat windage when you are trying to set them, the deeper you are setting, the further they can sail.
Bill C	posted 11-04-2002 09:54 AM ET (US) I have the same guardian anchor though rarely use it. DO NOT modify the stock as you may have a problem getting a proper set when you most need it. As the bottom in our area of the Florida west coast is mostly sand I use a 12# mushroom on six feet of chain. Have never had a problem even in moderate current and/or wind conditions with the mushroom. Hard bottom or heavy weather is a different story. Very easy to handle and stow. The Danforth type is a backup for nasty conditions. I have seen modified pole holders used to stow a Danforth shank down. I have rails on my 15" Super Sport Limited and will be installing 2 1/4 PVC pipe up forward and at the helm to keep the anchor handy. Used the same setup on my last sailboat. I cut a slit the length of the pipe wide enough to slide the chain down, mounted it on the bow rail and support and it worked great. The Guardian barely fits in the forward locker. I have never found any need to anchor in 75" of water. Even fishing on a wreck or reef. If I drift just fire up the iron wind and get back in position. If you're drifting to fast probably shouldn't be out there. If you don't mind drilling holes mount an anchor holder (available at West/Boat US)on the gunnell out of the way.