5m boat dragging anchor
About 12 months ago I replaced a sand anchor after losing one and have had nothing but trouble since, from anchoring in 2m in the protection of cockburn sound fishing for kgw or out to the high teens for pinkies in the swell, the anchor drags 95% of the time and only seems to grab when it catches onto some broken ground. When I replaced the anchor I also upgraded the chain as previously I had 2 lengths of 8mm chain joined with a shackle and pulling the shackle through the bow roller was doing my head in so swapped out for a single length of chain instead.
The set up is 5m of 10mm chain to a 10lb/4.5kg sand/danforth style anchor. The boat is a 5.2m ali side console, completely open boat, no structure for the wind to catch on.
Is this set up adequate for this size boat? The anchor is a generic sand anchor from Road Tech Marine. Inspecting the anchor on the front lawn I noticed the main shaft has a lot of side to side movement, I'm almost under the assumption that the main shaft has so much side to side play that the anchor may be "barrel rolling" as the shaft gets pulled to the side.
I'm prepared to replace with a new one, just after some first hand experience from anyone with 5-6m boats.
Cheers
Jim
Posts: 1346
Date Joined: 05/05/06
I use a sand anchor and
I use a sand anchor and about 6m of chain with a reef anchor 'd' shackled half way up the chain. For sand or light reef anchoring and have stayed put every time for the last few years. Touch wood havent lost anything yet.
Bend over
wifecallsmegrumpy
Posts: 154
Date Joined: 09/01/12
The setup should be fine,
The setup should be fine, particularly if you let out enough rode. Its a bit cold to get in and see it in action so why not see if you can borrow an anchor from someone local to try before you replace it. I am a bit surprised that it doesn't catch even with play in the main shaft as pulling it directly back should still set it.
marble
Posts: 779
Date Joined: 03/09/09
Get a Sarca I reckon
Get a Sarca I reckon
PMY 25 Centre Console DF300 Suzuki
tot
Posts: 1168
Date Joined: 31/01/10
agree
Number 2 Sarca for the win
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fuzzy79
Posts: 129
Date Joined: 31/07/10
Another vote for the sarca.
Another vote for the sarca. I have never dragged anchor using a sarca on the 5.2m genesis which has a big sail area (canopy)
Daniel Westerduin
Posts: 437
Date Joined: 30/10/06
I have a 4.8m fibreglass
I have a 4.8m fibreglass boat and use a sand anchor some of the time. My anchor is 13lbs if I remember correctly without checking plus a decent amount of chain. It sometimes drags but usually it's because I haven't let out enough rope. Once the anchor hits the bottom you still have to let out quite a bit more.If too short it pulls up and out. There is a recommended ratio of 5/1 -7/1 not that many people let that much out. So in 10m you would need 50-70m of rope out etc to be as safe as possible. Now I personally have anchored out in 40m-70m and let out most of my rope which is approx 110m.(Way less than recommended) It holds sometimes and sometimes let's go. It depends on how rough, windy, how big the swell is. I also sometimes use a reef anchor and if the rope length is relatively short the reef anchor prongs straighten out really quickly and I start drifting away. If I put out a lot of rope it doesn't happen so much.
squidvicious1
Posts: 826
Date Joined: 22/07/10
anoher vote for a sarca.
anoher vote for a sarca.
sunshine
Posts: 2642
Date Joined: 03/03/09
And yet another Sarca lover
But i agree with others that rope length can be critical
CD
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 06/12/16
I’ve had the same issue
Hey mate,
I've had the exact same issue with generic danforth anchors. I'd guess that the one you have has short, wide flukes and only small bars out the end. I had one of those and found that it never sets unless the sand is super soft. It just seems to slightly dig in on one fluke then just rotates up and turns the anchor on its side, never grabbing. I got a new one with wider bars out the sides (to stop it tipping on its side) and longer narrower flukes and it has never let go.
Hope that helps.