I would say that, generally, you should have the biggest (the best holding) anchor you can afford (and this includes both your wallet and back capacity).
However, an option might be to use a much smaller anchor for your day-to-day use (a better “lunch hook”) and have the “good one” available for the conditions that require extra holding power. This way, you save your back on a daily basis, but still have the “good anchor” in your back pocket (lazarette?). Of course, this has a few drawbacks, as well – you need two anchors which adds weight and cost, you need to move around that anchors depending on the requirements and this might include the chain, and you may end up getting surprised by the changed conditions. On a larger boat (i.e. large and heavy anchor) a windlass might be a better solution. Just my two cents Marek 1994 C270 Legato Ottawa ON From: Dave S via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Friday, August 27, 2021 6:50 AM To: C&c Stus List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Dave S <syerd...@gmail.com> Subject: Stus-List Bruce anchors again - and chain So, after the recent discussion on anchors I too grabbed 15kg genuine Bruce on Kijiji for use on my 33-2, which currently has 50' HT chain (3/8| I believe) and a 10kg bruce, a setup that has never failed me. This anchor and chain weighs around 100lb. I bought the second Bruce as a backup for cruising as \i have none, and I have no windlass. The 15kg bruce is of course 50% larger than the 10kg but it feels around 3X as awkward on the foredeck, though it does fil and just as well. My sense though is that it, along with the 50' of chain, will be extremely secure once set but at or a bit beyond my comfort level for hand retrieval. If I reduced the chain to 40' from 50, the anchor and chain would again weigh around 100lb. Retrieval becomes progressively easier with progressively less chain. So, with the weight constraint of hand retrieval, Anchor size vs chain quantity becomes a tradeoff.. (clearly this makes a powerful case for super high holding power anchors) For optimal holding power, how much or how little chain is optimal? There are likely diminishing returns in this formula but where? Thanks for any input or musings! Dave Windstar, 33-2
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