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I have seen several photos of Macs with larger anchors than would fit into the locker. If you have this set-up, do you store the chain and rode in the locker and re-fasten it whenever you use the anchor, or have you cut a notch into the locker lid to allow the chain to fit through when the lid is closed? Also, since the foredeck of the X is so small, how do people hang a large anchor in a way that won't block the locker lid, cover the bow light, etc.?

A very good question. Without an easy answer, or I would have done it already.

I'd like to use a Rocna or similar next-gen anchor, but all that fits in the locker is the Fortress FX-7 (aluminium version of a 9 lb or so Danforth). A bow roller would get in my way on the trailer (I think), as I use that bow ladder a lot, and the roller and anchor hanging off the bow I think would bite me in the shoulder.

The sidelights (bi-color bow) would have to be moved, either to the underside of the pulpit like the M's have (and they have a bi-color that's actually rated for sailboats, unlike the powerboat unit on the X), or separate side lights mounted to the hull. None of which is very tempting to me.

And as much as I like the next-gen anchors, I've been using a small Bruce knock-off I have to snub anchor sailing (which the X does in spades), off a stern cleat, and it digs in and holds better than the Fortress. I often have a heck of a time bringing that stern anchor up, and it's loaded with a big blob when it does come up. This is soft or medium mud, like in a pond. Or so my impression has been. And I had good service from the real Bruce my last boat had (11 kg anchor on a 12 kip 34 ft boat, which is small for a boat that size). So at least for my sailing waters, the Bruce style (which is very cheap by comparison to most other styles) has worked well. I'd use that 5 kg Bruce-type as my main anchor is there was a clean way to store it.

No help on the solution, but I thought highlighting some of the problems may be useful to you at least.

I just finished this project myself. Had a pair of Danforths the last few years since I bought the boat. I had one that just fit in the locker but was a pain to snake the anchor and chain under and then over the pulpit, then holding the chain off the rubrail. The downside of the fluke anchor and small size was unless it was a mud bottom it didn't did in. Plus for overnight I was never comfortable with the small anchor so I would pull out the bigger one (which didn't fit into the locker) which was a hassle and process.

So I purchased a 15lb Manson Supreme, a SeaDog medium bow roller, a 3.5" 1/4" pin to secure the anchor in the roller (had to drill a hole in the aft end of roller), a new 6" cleat (because adding the bow roller got in the way of original centerline bow cleat and would impede starboard docking), a pad eye (mounted in the aft end of anchor locker to secure bitter end of rode), a 12" x 6" of 1/4" aluminum for backing plates, and a pair of white nav lights.

The aft end of the anchor roller is seated just forward of the anchor locker, and with the Supreme in the roller, doesn't interfere with the trailer ladder. Given the rake of the bow of my X, it works great (no hitting the boat, not protruding abnormally far far). And because of roller blocking starboard view of original deck mounted nav light, I installed separate lights port and bow just below the black stripe on the hull. And for deck hardware

I used a hole saw (maybe an inch) to punch a hole in side of lid of anchor locker towards the front. Created just enough space for lid to close with chain. It chipped a little gelcoat and is very tight, so I expect to punch a hole through the top as well and put the smallest clam vent I can to cover it.

Anchored for the first time last weekend and it was a dream. HUGE improvement. Open the locker lid, pull the pin securing the anchor, and pay out rode. Tie off to new cleat (good lead angle from roller to new starboard bow cleat), done. No more anchoring yoga, and secure for lunch or for significant weather. And the Supreme bit amazingly well, rather than the time it takes for Danforth to set, and sometimes pulling out.

Whole project ended up being about $400 including equipment.

Got any pics?

Not on hand, but I'll shoot some and post.

Hi,
I found out soon after getting my 26X that I was not happy with a flat anchor, Fortress-type or knock-off. I bought a 10kg Bruce and love it. (22 pounds) I just throw it out and it sticks every time and holds in my local sand and mud well. It does not fit in the anchor locker, that is true, so I just wrap some chain up and over the lip, or if really rough or windy, I bungee the lid down onto the Bruce. At 4:37 in this video is a shot of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdxE0A6TdBk

I keep a Danforth in the anchor locker, and some chain (I don't remember how much), but I never use it. It is my backup anchor. I keep a 14lb Lewmar Delta with over thirty feet of chain in the V berth as my primary. I don't believe I have ever needed anything else.

What ever anchor you use, I believe you should have a good thirty feet of chain for those really rough, unexpected, caught with your pants down moments.

Ray

I had a sand anchor that just fit in the anchor locker, sick of drags I upgraded to a 20 pound plough and 60 feet of 8mm short link chain. I wanted that much chain because a) I leave the boat out there sometimes (like right now) and like to anchor then with chain only so no idiot can cut my line, and b) because we plan on going to the Great Barrier Reef known for coral bottoms and strong tides.

to cut a long story short, I had left her out there in 2-3 meters of water in sand/mud and one night I came home from work at 10 pm and put my high beam on at the ramp and found she had dragged 300 feet in a blow and was near another boat and near the main channel. I had to race home and get my kayak and head out there, I moved her right into the mangroves and put two anchors out!

I dont believe any anchor that fits in the locker is suitable for the boat...

Get big anchor and lots of chain!

Yep sometimes not matter how you try they just won't fit in that locker

https://goo.gl/photos/uwqViK3BcznoHXMz6

I dont believe any anchor that fits in the locker is suitable for the boat...

It all depends on the bottom your setting it in and how you set it. My danforth fits in there no problem and rarely lets go, even when anchored deep (200'+) in current. Seen lots of boats with oversized anchors just walk to the bow and throw everything straight down, walk away and grab a beer.

because we plan on going to the Great Barrier Reef known for coral bottoms and strong tides.

Me too..

Paul was there any reason you went to 8mm? I was going to get a 25kg drum of 6mm which gives about 30 metres for the same weight and cost, thinking being some of the islands have pretty deep anchorages and big tides keep my current 10 meter 8mm leader and use the 6mm instead of a rope rode. 6mm has a working load of 400kg and breaking load of 1200kg. Think I would pull the anchor roller out before the chain broke

Mac26Mpaul wrote: because we plan on going to the Great Barrier Reef

kadet wrote:Me too..

ME TOO... Well almost!!.... I'm aiming for Hervey Bay in Nov. 2017.... When are you guys looking to head North?

Here is how mine is set up until I get a different anchor and roller. I slide the pin in the anchor roller through a link and that holds it from coming out.

Neo wrote:

Mac26Mpaul wrote: because we plan on going to the Great Barrier Reef

kadet wrote:Me too..

ME TOO... Well almost!!.... I'm aiming for Hervey Bay in Nov. 2017.... When are you guys looking to head North?

Was looking at first 2 weeks of September but I might have to postpone till next year now due to some family issues Though all the mods to the boat are almost finished at least.

We just got back from a trip to the 1000 islands in Ontario. I had some anchoring problems with the danforth knockoff that came with the boat. We anchored out in a bay with two other boats in a very light west wind. I dropped the anchor in 10 ft of water into a mix of weeds and sand, and set it with the motor in reverse. Fine.

Well, we wake up to a 10 knot south wind gusting 20 with 1 to 2 ft waves, and during breakfast it becomes very apparent that we are slowly bearing down on the 40 ft. motor-yacht that was anchored to starboard last night. The anchor didn't reset after a 90 degree wind shift. I had the GPS set with a 100m drift alarm, but the motor-yacht had very little scope out so when we swung around he was uncomfortably close before the alarm sounded.

We keep that Danforth knockoff anchor in the locker because it just fits. If the anchor sits on the floor of the locker, and the rope is coiled on one side of it, then the chain can just be positioned in a way that allows the locker to close. Convenient, but obviously the anchor is insufficient for anything other than sand or mud.

I bought a Mantus 13 lb anchor with the intent of mounting it somehow on the bow. I haven't figured out how to do that yet so this thread is very interesting to me. I have looked into this product: http://www.mantusanchors.com/mantus-anchor-mate/ and Mantus has offered to let me try it and if it doesn't fit they will take it back. Based on the drawings on the website and some measurements, I don't think that it will fit on the stock 26X bow roller. But once it's in my hands, maybe a jury-rig will make itself apparent to me.

We had a visit from Chinook last week, and I noticed a Rocna plus another anchor mounted nicely on their bow. I shoulda snapped some detailed photos and asked some questions but there was other stuff on the agenda.