Choosing an Anchor for Your Boat 

I wish we would have watched this before choosing our anchor! In a couple weeks are posting our video about the time that we had to ABANDON the boat anchor! Sailing has been a huge learning curve so far as we start our journey around the world and videos like this are a great help!

I have had three sailboats, from 20 to 33 feet, in California. The anchorages I go to at Catalina Island are all nice mud/sand, so I love the Fortress or Guardian "Danforth" style anchors. I also use about twice the length of my boat in chain attached to a three-strand line. For the nice conditions at Catalina this is sweet. It holds great, doesn't swing much, and weighs little when you are trying to heave it all back on the boat and go home. Test show that the Fortress holds better than the Guardian. In my experience (looking at the anchors on SCUBA), it is the milling to sharpen the fluke that really makes the difference. According to the folks at Fortress/Guardian, this is the case. So I sharpened my Guardian anchors (by hand, with a file--pretty easy since they are aluminim) and they held great. Next time (and I am thinking of buying another boat) I would likely just spend the extra money and get the Fortress anchor, which is very pretty and already sharp. So, actually, the "Danforth" you have in your video looks unlikely to me, with those big, blunt ends that won't dig in like a nice sharp point. Good sailing! Russ

The holding power of the best of the featured anchors is about 5-8 times its own weight. The holding on new generation anchors ranges through to 40 times own weight (Rocna, Knox etc). That means about 6 times the holding to any you showed. Would be a more complete review with some of them included.

I keep a danforth\fluke hooked up to my anchor rode In the locker for emergency’s since it fits nicely in there. If I’m anchoring out for the night I change over to a 22lb delta plow for my 28 foot sailboat which I keep in the cockpit locker. Wish there was room to put in a bow roller but there isn’t so this will do until I upgrade to a larger boat.

👍Terrific info. Thank you. 💝

I can make this easy. Fortress in mud, spade (Rocna, Mantus, Manson Supreme) everywhere else.

You know, boat manufacturers might want to think about making anchor boxes that accommodate the appropriate anchor.

We have a Bruce for tidal anchoring and a massive fortress for storms.... there’s no perfect single design anchor in my opinion.

Not answered any question. Still unclear which one to purchase for Bayliner 2655

Rocna anchor? Mantus? Manson? Ultra anchor?

what is the best anchor for rocky bottoms like Lake Erie Michigan or any of the Michigan Lakes?

These videos give me strange fuzzy feelings, similar to nostalgia or deja Vu.

cqr swivel is so it sets, without the swivel. it won't. had to be added to the design. it has nothing to do with it after its set.

We have anchors that will work for most ANY watercraft.

So you are telling me size matters?

What would be most recommended for weedy bottoms?

Have you had a chance to see our how-to series on youtube yet? We have videos to help you choose anchors, rode, and fenders. Here is the anchor video: buff.ly/1rsWRmn

CQR original made in Scotland is the best for any situation, only using chain. 44 yeras sailing, never ever dragging. Second is the Bruce original made in England also with chain. My sugestion for a serious sailors, never mix chain and line, big mistake, always swivel.

Galvanized will put rust all over the front of your boat.

Use mother in law.....