Anchor locker lid

[Mac26Mpaul]

My boat came with a sand anchor that just fit in the locker and 6 meters of 8mm chain. I had at least 6 drags and I had set the anchor with the motor on 'most' of those 6 drags. The last one I was only in 2 meters of water on a muddy sand bottom and looked out the window to see I was dragging (admit I did not set it with the motor that time but I did pay the rode out hand over hand and it was dug in, and I did not just drop it all). I bolted up the companion way and got the motor going, I was just about to drag onto an oyster lease. That was the last straw and I then bought the plough.

Then I left the boat out the front of where I live for a few days (set with the motor), and it dragged, and thats when I got another 10 meters of chain.

As I said, it has dragged again with all the chain and the plough, and that was deffinately set with the motor before I left it - but it was one hull of a blow!

I would not trust any danforth anchor that fits in that locker...

Kadet, I didnt really think about it, I just had 8mm already and ordered another 10 meters of 8mm to join to it.

I dont know when the Whitsundays trip is happening but its not going to be for a few years unfortunately.

Kadet, did you end up doing that trip outside, or is that the plan when you go to Hervey bay?

[Tomfoolery]

I would not trust any danforth anchor that fits in that locker...

That right there is the crux of the biscuit. And the M's locker is larger than the X's, from what I've heard. As well regarded (by some, at least) the Danforth and aluminium Fortress anchors are, they're just too small for these boats for my taste. And if I need to hang a larger one somewhere, I'll hang a plow (plough) or next-gen scoop with hoop. Or even a Bruce knock-off, which has always worked in the areas I sail, even when 'undersized', regardless of the results of so many magazine anchor tests. Probably has a lot to do with bottoms conditions here.

Having said that, I've had OK luck with my FX-7 in easy conditions (lunch hook, basically), but I wouldn't trust it in a blow, regardless of bottom type. Just not enough fluke, and they're notorious for breaking loose and skipping when wind or current flips.

[Wind Chime]

Here's are set up.
We cut a hole in the front of the anchor locker to pull chain rode through. Put a ss clamshell ovr to cover hole.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1828

[Highlander]

I,m pretty happy with my set-up anchor winch switch @ cockpit
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 399c6e.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 3c2e31.jpg

my double roller anchor system
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 73d89f.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... ef2cd0.jpg

J

[kadet]

Kadet, did you end up doing that trip outside, or is that the plan when you go to Hervey bay?

It was planned for this September but I have to delay it now due to some family issues. Though the boat is now ready with all the mods in place

[Neo]

Don't forget to write up a Captains Log

BTW ... What do you think of these Super Sarca 3 Anchors?

[Catigale]

A one inch hole saw in the front lets my chain rode feed from the locker and stay attached to my Bullwaga up front.

We don't let it feed through this hole, we open the locker to handle the ground tackle.

Its a rode locker, not an anchor locker. Any anchor that fits in there is too small for these high windage, dancing boats.

..except of course..... (teaser)

[kadet]

Don't forget to write up a Captains Log

BTW ... What do you think of these Super Sarca 3 Anchors?

...

Marginal at best they are for a Boat Length of 6.5 - 8.5M I went for a Lewmar 10KG delta for a Boat Length of 9.2-12.2m it is always recommended to go up a size. Especially on a they sail a lot at anchor and have a lot of free-board in a blow. I dragged an 8kg danforth in a fast tidal rip, luckily anchor alarm went off as I was drifting toward the shipping channel in the middle of the night

[dustoff]

My Fortress FX-11 is fantastic in mud, pretty good in sand, terrible in vegetation, and will potentially bend the flukes in rocks. For the Chesapeake, it works great as a primary anchor (its mostly muddy bottom), and it fits inside the M locker with 30 ft of chain and 120 feet of rope rode. I like it for its lightness, because I don't have a windlass. I carry a backup Rocna in a plastic box under the starboard bow cushion with the same amount of chain and rode.
The fortress has held me in mud in a couple of thunderstorm blows that I couldn't run away from without any problem, but it definitely is not an all purpose anchor. I think the best practice is to have two different style of anchors.
The Rocna or a Manson will work in most conditions, and is probably the closest to an all purpose anchor, but it is heavy and obviously can't fit into the locker. I suppose I could keep it on the stock roller with a SS strap, and put a padlock on the chain to deter theft, but I prefer to have the bow clean.
Also having a pretty little 22lb rocna anchor sitting on the bow roller, secured with a little padlock, might be more apt to disappear, and stowing it below is a chore.

When anchored for long while, I fly a small piece of sail I scavenged from a Hobie jib reversed on the topping lift. Long edge (about 6 ft long) clips onto the topping lift, with the clew tied back to the boom and hoisted with the main halyard. I learned this from some other sailors and seen it in a couple of magazines. It really helps prevent the dramatic sailing around on anchor that the Macgregors are prone to because of all the freeboard.

[hschumac]

Finally got around to posting a visual of my new anchoring setup: https://youtu.be/L3XKaPcsfhs