I’m a big fan of the Fortress anchors. Having said that, though, I don’t own one! I keep intending to purchase one as a secondary; the light weight and compact size (disassembled) make it an obvious choice for my C-Dory 22. But for a variety of reasons, very few Salish Sea cruisers use Danforth-style anchors as primaries, and I have yet to experience the need for a second anchor; my little Rocna just buries itself in the mud, and it’s all I can do to pull it free in the morning.

Anyway, on to the press release. I’ll see if I can dig up a translation of the anchor test report mentioned below.

For centuries it has been widely believed that a boat anchor had to be very heavy and made of steel in order to perform well. Voiles et Voiliers, a leading boating magazine in France, recently put this age-old theory to the test by conducting an extensive pull comparison between 12 different anchor models.

Included in this evaluation were a wide variety of traditional and cutting-edge steel anchors, along with a few relatively new aluminum models. The performance of each anchor was observed on the sea bottom by an underwater film crew, and the holding power was carefully measured and recorded aboard the testing vessel.

The Voiles et Voiliers crew was stunned by the performance of the aluminum Fortress model FX-37. This anchor held over 7,200 lbs., which was 3,000 lbs. greater than the second best anchor in the test. Just as astonishing was the fact that the 22 lb. Fortress FX-37 was 30% lighter in weight. The crew determined that its holding power was similar to what would be needed by a 40′ yacht during a hurricane.

Brian Sheehan, spokesman for Fortress Marine Anchors, commented, "We were not too surprised by these test results, particularly since we have an old, damaged FX-37 model in our lobby that was returned by a customer after Hurricane Andrew. This FX-37 held a 42′ Silverton in 140+ knot winds that lasted several hours. Now that was really surprising."

The Fortress FX-37 has been used as the primary anchor for many years aboard the US Coast Guard’s 40′ range of patrol boats. Most recently, it was selected for the brand new 45′ Response Boat Medium (RB-M).

The FX-37 from Fortress Anchors retails for approximately $500.

Bob over at Boat Bits tells of his satisfaction with the Northill folding anchor:

Sadly, these are no longer made anymore, but if you ever come across one at a nautical flea market my advice is snap it up as they are one of the best anchors ever made!

The Northill broke the mold as the first anchor that used clever design in place of brute weight.

See, the Northill folding anchor was originally designed as a lightweight anchor for seaplanes, where weight reduction is even more critical than it is aboard small boats.

Following up on Bob’s piece, I spotted an interesting anchor website that appears to be a “labor of love” on the part of a recreational mariner named Richard. The images above are from his page about the Northill, where he also has a reproduction of an old advertisement from a 1940 issue of Flight magazine.

Richard’s Anchors R Us page, which does not sell anchors at all, appears to be a valuable resource for those trying to select an anchor.

Or even for those of us who just want to learn more about old anchors like the Northill.

You know, I actually want this! I’m not just being silly, either. My slip on Lake Union is tucked between a houseboat and a boat house, and it’s DARK. At night, I barely have enough light to see where I’m going. What I need is a motion-sensor-controlled underwater lighting system that would turn on when a boat approaches, helping me see what I’m doing.

Anyway, here’s the press release:

Docking at night combined with improper lighting can be dangerous. Adding safety and colored beauty to waterfront property, Aqualuma underwater lighting offers its high-output LED Dock/Marina Light, improving visibility of the surrounding waters.

The light’s unique, curved-face design illuminates the waters around docks, pilings, seawalls and jetties. Late-night fishing is also more enjoyable since underwater lighting attracts a wide variety of fish for the avid angler.

Incredibly durable, its six LEDs are protected in a high-tech polymer housing. The Dock/Marina Light draws less than 1.3 amps at 12V DC and emits virtually no heat. With no bonding required or metal under the water, corrosion is eliminated. It comes with 16.2′ of tinned cable.

A fiberglass mounting post, injection-molded, reinforced bracket and stainless steel mounting pins are included. Easy cleaning is enabled by the pivot bracket.

The light is available in Ultra Blue, Ultra Green and Brilliant White. With a recent price reduction and a two-year warranty, Aqualuma’s Marina/Dock Light costs $777.18. Piggyback units are available for $642.18.

I try not to get too excited about products I haven’t seen in person. But long-time readers will remember my attempt to overhaul my (dead) Sprint 400 windlass. Replacement was the only option, it turned out, so I covered the hole in my foredeck and went cruising.

That was last August, and I’m embarrassed to say that the foredeck still has that funny piece of plastic bolted to it. Imagine my delight to discover a compact, high-quality windlass with all the features I want.

Let’s see what the press release tells us…

Now, boaters can enjoy the water more and spend less time figuring out their marine equipment. Rated as the number one automatic rope/chain windlass in its class by an independent test report, Maxwell America’s Freedom Series offers simple mounting, saving boaters time and money.

Featuring easy two piece installation, the Freedom Series allows users to retrofit without disassembly of the windlass. The topworks can be fully dismantled by utilizing the handle provided and a screwdriver. No special tools are required.

Editor’s note: This is a HUGE benefit to me. Take a look at my attempts to overhaul the old one (here and here). Boaters need to face the fact that it’s a windlass, and you’ll need to get inside it some day.

A unique spacer tube design allows installation through almost any deck thickness. Alternative gearbox/motor positions accommodate virtually all mounting situations.

(more…)

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.

[This information provided by the manufacturer. —Tim]

After extensive research and development, Quick introduces its latest vertical anchor windlasses, the state-of-the-art Aleph and Dylan.  Designed for the harsh marine environment, these windlasses are constructed from heavy-duty materials for trouble-free operation in the most demanding situations.

For boats 22′ to 49′ in length, the innovative Aleph is manufactured from aluminum anodized in hard oxide.  Unlike common types of anodization, this method provides a hard oxide layer up to 50 micron thick.  This high-thickness increases surface area hardness and resistance to corrosion and abrasion while also providing a longer service life.

(more…)

Am I the only one who’s afraid Time Out is going to gently roll off of those inflatable pontoons the next time a big storm hits the area? I guess I’ve played with too many floppy swimming pool “air mattress” toys.

But if it works as advertised, this could be a real benefit to some boat owners. Here’s a portion of the press release:

(more…)

I wrote about many of the odd-looking next-generation anchors some time ago, and there’s another new anchor on the scene:
 

It’s the Ancora Latina “Raya”, and it appears to be yet another concave spade-type design. The manufacturer claims that it has been designed for use in the “extreme” mooring conditions of the Antarctic, the Patagonia Channels, and Tierra del Fuego.

I’ve never cruised there, so I’m not sure what the specific anchoring challenges are. Anybody who does know, please add a comment to enlighten the rest of us.

Ancora Latina also produces a collapsible version of the Raya called the Tempest. What caught my eye is the simple connection between the fluke and the shank. No fasteners, no tools, and, according to the manufacturer, no chance of separation while in use:

Of course, I’ll be very interested in seeing the results of another comprehensive anchor test.

The cap plate I fabricated to cover the hole left from my old bit-the-dust Sprint 400 anchor windlass worked out great. To recap, I was reluctant to go cruising with blue duct tape all over the foredeck:

So with a little help from a member of the crew, I got all the tape removed, and replaced it with my temporary cap plate. I think it looks about 1000% better than duct tape!
 

But then, once I got the anchor mounted, without the windlass taking up the slack, I realized that the inboard end of the anchor is going to bang, bang, bang against the foredeck each time I go over a wave. That is not acceptable.

(more…)

For those keeping score at home, earlier entries are here and here. With some help from a friend, I got my Simpson-Lawrence (Lewmar) Sprint 400 anchor windlass removed from the foredeck of Two Lucky Fish. It wasn’t as difficult as I’d feared it would be, but it was very helpful having another set of hands along.

If nothing else, somebody could take pictures of me working!

Once the windlass was removed, it was time to clean up the deck. To start with, I removed as much of the old bedding compound as I could using “mechanical” means. The best tool, it turned out, was an improvised tool: a sheet of some scrap plastic I had picked up at TAP Plastics for another project. I’d brought this along to cushion the foredeck while we used  various levers and a small pry-bar to gently lift up the windlass body WITHOUT damaging the surface of the deck. It worked well in that role, and then came in handy again for the clean up, too:

(more…)