Rocna Anchors Knowledge Base

The folks over at Rocna have created a new online resource, and it sort of straddles the line between anchoring reference guide and marketing vehicle.

I mean this in a good way, by the way. Marketing materials, at their best, inform the public about real-world problems, and then explain why the marketed product is an appropriate and effective solution.

Obviously, lots of marketing fails to deliver in one or more of these areas, by exaggerating or misrepresenting the problem, the product, or both! But Rocna’s new Knowledge Base, a kind of “Anchors and anchoring Wikipedia,” seems genuine. The Rocna folks obviously know a lot about anchors and anchoring.

Take, for example, the articles on scope versus catenary and windlasses. They are helpful and authoritative; genuine reference content. Of course, both mention the Rocna when an example of a good anchor is required. No stone (opportunity to plug Rocna) is left unturned, but that’s to be expected.

The article on the Spade anchor, however, is more like a list of flaws which the Rocna, naturally, overcomes. The article on the Buegel anchor tells us that “the Rocna is a far more sophisticated design”. Helpful information, no doubt, but clearly tending toward the marketing end of the spectrum.

Obviously, this is not the only resource anchor buyers should consult before making a decision. But they should consult it!

Longtime readers will remember that I was critical of some of Rocna’s online marketing efforts, but that later, I decided to purchase a Rocna anchor for my own boat. Let me say, for the record, that this Knowledge Base is an appropriate and powerful online marketing tool; good move, Rocna!

By the way, I have not had an opportunity to really “test” the Rocna, even anecdotally, but I’m happy with it so far. I spent one sleepless night ashore in Fisherman Bay last summer, when a bit of a front moved through, but in the morning the boat was right where I left it.