Anchors

[wallsendpaul]

What type and weight do you lads use? Was thinking of 7kg for my 15.5ft boat. Also what type of rope is ok, ployprop is very cheap or would you reccommend nylon? Thanks in advance.

[mark]

7kg should be fine for a 15footer - as long as you've a decent length of chain as well

my personal preference is for a bruce type anchor, but keep a danforth on board as well. both 7.5kg with 10metres of 6mm chain on a 16 foot boat, gonna add another 10metres of chain soon

The bruce seems to hold better on rough/mixed ground but was dragging like buggery in the strong wind on sunday (hence gonna get some more chain) anchored off herd sands for the QE2 coming in, but I couldn't be bothered switching to the danforth

the length of rope depends how deep you plan to anchor - 3 times the depth as a general rule of thumb. I bought a 220metre roll of 12mm multiplait poly for 30 quid so stuffed the whole lot in the anchor locker. wouldn't want anything thinner than 10mm, not for the lack of strength, but it knacks to haul in smaller ropes

[davem2005]

Paul,
I use a 2 kilo bruce or a 6kg danforth on this coast with an 8mm polyprop rope and approx 18' of 8mm chain.

Never had a problem with the rope cutting into my hands cos I have never pulled it up ...thats what crew are for

I mainly use a bouy and alderney ring to retrieve the anchor.

For the west coast I change to a 10kg bruce due to the depth and this can give at times when wind is with tide.

For many years I used a grappel made from some 1" 1/4 steam pipe filled with concrete and some 8mm rebar welded on the end. No chain and cheep and expendable. ironically I never lost it and still have it rusting away at the back of the shed.

Cheers
dave