[C320-list] Fortress anchor

Sat Apr 1 05:25:49 PST 2006

Rod:
    I don't have data comparing Bruce and Delta anchors and I bought the
Delta, almost by chance. I was in Houston (where I worked before retiring
last year) when it became clear that Ivan was going to hit somewhere near
Pensacola (where my boat was located). I drove to Pensacola, stopping at
several places in Louisanna shopping for a large anchor assuming that
anchors and chain would be in short supply in areas near the predicted
landfall. I finally found the Delta at a West Marine store in Biloxi, but
they did not have the chain I wanted. They called ahead and reserved the
full bucket of 5/16 chain at a West Marine store in Mobile, AL. The 63' of
chain alone might have held En Passant in a small gale, but as you said, the
anchor/chain combinations performed extraordinarily well during the
hurricane. I would describe the bottom where I anchored, not as mud, but as
industrial muck. En Passant remained at anchor for about a month before I
finally found a slip in a marina off Mobile Bay. The Danforth came up as an
encapsulated block of muck.
    For the sand, mud bottoms along the Panhandle of Florida, I'm a big fan
of Danforth anchors. I have a Fortress, but I have dug shallow ditches all
along the coast with the Fortress while "streaking" across anchorages. I use
the Delta as my primary anchor now, because it is easier to store on the bow
and the Danforth fits better in the bottom of the port locker. The Fortress
is in my garage, waiting for an appropriate garage sell.
    Dave

On 4/1/06, Rod Boer <rod.boer1 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> I am not disputing that the Delta anchor is not  a good anchor.  My #35
> Delta anchor does okay in the Chesapeake if I have a decent amount of
> chain.
> However, in my experience on the Chesapeake, where there is lots of mud,
> the
> original 25# Danforth with 7 ft of chain out performed it and in one
> particular area on the Chesapeake where boats tend raft up, I have seen
> the
> Deltas dragging while the Bruce knockoff's stayed put.  It sounds as if
> you
> picked the appropriate anchor for the conditions where you anchor and it
> performed extraordinarily well during the hurricane.
>
> Rod Boer
> Odyssey, #688
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Sparks" <dlsparks at gmail.com>
> To: "C320-List" < C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 8:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fortress anchor
>
>
> >A testimony for the Delta follows (apologies to those who read this
> shortly
> > after Hurricane Ivan).
> >    Hurricane Ivan made landfall just to the east of Pensacola as a
> > Category
> > 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph ( Ivan had been a Category 5
> > earlier but weakened as it neared shore). I took my boat out of her slip
>
> > at
> > a marina just off Pensacola Bay because I thought it was too exposed. I
> > took
> > her up the most protected bayou available and set two anchors in about 8
> > ft.
> > of water near high tide. I set a Delta FS 35 lb. anchor with 63 ft. of
> > 5/16
> > PC-chain and 150 ft. of 5/8" line as my primary storm anchor. I was
> unable
> > to use all 150 ft of rode because of other boats. I probably had 120 ft.
> > out.  I used my largest Danforth with about 20-30 feet of chain as a
> > second
> > anchor. I set them at about a 30 deg angle, not the recommended 45 deg
> > angle, because in the past I've always caught one of the lines on my
> wing
> > keel when the wind shifts as the storm passes, if I use the 45 deg
> angle.
> > I
> > secured the anchor lines directly to the bow cleats without using the
> bow
> > roller (the cleats are not offset on the Catalilna). I used commercially
> > available chafing gear that fits over the lines and tied a boat cushion
> > between the cleat and the bow roller to protect the line when the boats
> > did
> > some extreme swings. I  also tied the lines to the base of the mast in
> > case
> > the bow cleats gave way (they did not). All canvas was removed. I left
> the
> > main furled inside the mast, but used heavy line to secure the clew to
> the
> > mast. Also, in addition to locking the main "unfurling" line, I tied it
> > off
> > to the winch. I did not have time to remove the mast or boom, but I tied
>
> > the
> > boom to both stern cleats, to minimize motion.
> >    My boat was still where I anchored it after Ivan passed. Only 3 of
> the
> > 30-40 boats anchored in the bayou were still there after the storm.
> > Neither
> > line was caught on the wing keel. When I was able to get aboard, the
> bilge
> > was dry and the batteries were almost fully charged. The interior was
> dry,
> > although the things I did not have time to remove were tossed around,
> > including a heavy tool box. I think I took some water in the port
> locker,
> > but not much. Things were damp in there. There was some chafe of the
> > lines,
> > near the cleat, but it was not severe. I had to remove a lot of
> > seaweed/debris from around the cleat and anchor line to check the chafe.
> >       The Navy airstation, about 2-3 miles west of where I anchored
> > recorded 120 mph ground level winds that destroyed their wind instrument
>
> > near landfall. The airport, several miles east of where I anchored
> > recorded
> > 110 mph ground level winds that destroyed their wind instruments two
> hours
> > before landfall. I'm not sure about storm surge, but some of the
> floating
> > docks near where I was anchored floated off the tall pilings. I estimate
> > that would only happen with a 12-15 ft surge.
> >    My boat survived with no damage, but my marina was destroyed, as were
> > most of the other marinas in the area.
> >            David Sparks
> >            En Passant, C320 # 933
> > p.s. I now use the Delta as my primary anchor, with a shorter chain and
> > 1/2"
> > nylon line and have been very pleased with it.
> >
> > On 3/31/06, Rod Boer <rod.boer1 at verizon.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> Scott,
> >>
> >> I have the same issue with the Fortress.  It doesn't seem to set well
> on
> >> the
> >> Chesapeake.  I use it as a second anchor.  My primary anchor is a Delta
> >> but
> >> if I had to do it over again I would get a Bruce.  I often anchor with
> >> boats
> >> that have a Bruce and regardless what the data indicates, they seem to
> >> set
> >>
> >> easily and stay put.
> >>
> >> Rod Boer
> >> Odyssey, 688
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Scott Thompson" <sthompson at toad.net>
> >> To: "C320-List" < C320-List at catalina320.com >
> >> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 12:02 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fortress anchor
> >>
> >>
> >> >I would not use a Fortress.  I bought one a few years ago and am very
> >> > disappointed.  I have two issues with it:  (1)  Does not fit the bow
> >> > roller well; (2)  Does not set well in the bottoms I typically
> >> > encounter
> >> > in the Chesapeake Bay (sand/mud, with some shell or grass
> >> > occasionally).
> >>
> >> >  I think the latter is because it is very light.  I've switched back
> to
> >> > my Danforth clone.
> >> >
> >> > Scott Thompson
> >> > Surprise, 653
> >> >
> >> > Lachance, Michael B (ISD, IT) wrote:
> >> >> I need to upgrade ground tackle. What is the proper size Fortress
> >> anchor
> >> >> for a Catalina 320?
> >> >> Mike LaChance
> >> >> Seychell, #141
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> *************************************************************************
> >> >> This communication, including attachments, is
> >> >> for the exclusive use of addressee and may contain proprietary,
> >> >> confidential and/or privileged information.  If you are not the
> >> intended
> >> >> recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, dissemination or
> distribution
> >> is
> >> >> strictly prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please
> >> >> notify
> >> >> the sender immediately by return e-mail, delete this communication
> and
> >> >> destroy all copies.
> >> >>
> >>
> *************************************************************************
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> !!- _______________________________________
> >> >> !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
> >> >> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
> >> >> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
> >> >> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > !!- _______________________________________
> >> > !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
> >> > !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
> >> > !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
> >> > !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join
> >>
> >>
> >> !!- _______________________________________
> >> !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
> >> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
> >> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
> >> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > David Sparks
> > dlsparks at gmail.com
> > www.dbsparks.com
> > !!- _______________________________________
> > !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
> > !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
> > !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
> > !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join
>
>
> !!- _______________________________________
> !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list
> !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives
> !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change
> !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join
>


--
David Sparks
dlsparks at gmail.com
www.dbsparks.com