New to Cigerette
08-30-2016, 03:51 PM
#11
Forum Regulator
VIP Member
I've been running a Box Anchor since 2002 or so; all over the eastern part of the country. There is only 1 time I could not get it to set, and that was when there was a thick bed of hydrilla (sponge seaweed) all over the Potomac River. (It was really bad one year, about 3 feet thick.)
Of note: NO ONE was able to get their anchor of any type to set that aforementioned day.
Of note: NO ONE was able to get their anchor of any type to set that aforementioned day.
08-30-2016, 05:03 PM
#12
Registered
Apologies if I'm wrong, and no offense to anyone...but I'm betting heavily against box anchors except in very light, favorable conditions. Especially given they are advertising 2:1 scope! The physics don't look right at all. In tests of anchor holding power I don't think I've ever seen anyone bother considering a box anchor.
I admit not using one before. But I'm betting they grab quickly, but with MUCH less holding power than a properly set Danforth/plow/Northhill.
I'd bet the people who love box anchors are using them where there's not much pull on the boat. Which is fine. Good for a lunch hook if so. But I'd also keep a storm anchor with 150+ feet of rode on board for safety.
I also bet that some folks who like box anchors never knew just how much scope you often need to properly set a traditional anchor. People go into tight, crowded anchorages and try to set a Danforth with 2-3-4:1 scope. Good luck. They simply don't know otherwise, and it's not intuitive how much scope you really need to set anchors sometimes. To them, the box probably seems like a Godsend. But if they knew to pay out some significant scope with a traditional style, set it, and reduce scope after, they might change their minds and use the lighter Danforth/plow/Northhill.
As someone who's gone to sleep aboard in a dead calm, only to wake up with 25+ knots of wind, I have no interest in the box anchor. Glad I had a Danforth 12H and 20 feet of chain, with maybe 9:1 scope paid out.
All that said, if it's really rocky or grassy, a Danforth can be a b#### to set.
FWIW. Don't mean to step on any toes, just offering the best info I can to try to help folks.
I admit not using one before. But I'm betting they grab quickly, but with MUCH less holding power than a properly set Danforth/plow/Northhill.
I'd bet the people who love box anchors are using them where there's not much pull on the boat. Which is fine. Good for a lunch hook if so. But I'd also keep a storm anchor with 150+ feet of rode on board for safety.
I also bet that some folks who like box anchors never knew just how much scope you often need to properly set a traditional anchor. People go into tight, crowded anchorages and try to set a Danforth with 2-3-4:1 scope. Good luck. They simply don't know otherwise, and it's not intuitive how much scope you really need to set anchors sometimes. To them, the box probably seems like a Godsend. But if they knew to pay out some significant scope with a traditional style, set it, and reduce scope after, they might change their minds and use the lighter Danforth/plow/Northhill.
As someone who's gone to sleep aboard in a dead calm, only to wake up with 25+ knots of wind, I have no interest in the box anchor. Glad I had a Danforth 12H and 20 feet of chain, with maybe 9:1 scope paid out.
All that said, if it's really rocky or grassy, a Danforth can be a b#### to set.
FWIW. Don't mean to step on any toes, just offering the best info I can to try to help folks.
Last edited by Ghost24; 08-30-2016 at 05:06 PM.
08-30-2016, 07:41 PM
#13
Gold Member
Gold Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Crystal River Fl,USA
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes
on
7 Posts
I tried the stainless box anchor, and went back to a 6' coated chain and a fortress fx-11, all in a west marine mesh bag, that I can set on the dock and wash when I get docked. I have two on the boat. Fortress FX-9s on the Skater, with holes drilled in them.
08-30-2016, 08:24 PM
#14
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow. Wish I was home earlier to chime in on this anchor talk
I like the thought of the box anchor and will see if any of my friends have some more info.
On another note I've been boating for many years and do enjoy sleeping on the boat in many coves and harbors here on Long Island.
My magnum sedan had a stainless steel box mounted on the front deck. This is similar to what Ghost shows in a photo he posted. Attached I have a photo of mine for you to see.
I know this is nothing new but just giving some Insite to what might be best.
The thing I found most convenient with the sedan was my wife would have no problem hoping up on the deck and pulling the anchor as I set up where to drop it in. And better yet she would easily go and pull it up as I maneuvered the boat to make the pull out easier for her. Never have to rinse the anchor for she would just dip it in the water a few times and put it back in the box. And better yet have your woman do this and it's pretty hot to watch as well. Lol.
I like the thought of the box anchor and will see if any of my friends have some more info.
On another note I've been boating for many years and do enjoy sleeping on the boat in many coves and harbors here on Long Island.
My magnum sedan had a stainless steel box mounted on the front deck. This is similar to what Ghost shows in a photo he posted. Attached I have a photo of mine for you to see.
I know this is nothing new but just giving some Insite to what might be best.
The thing I found most convenient with the sedan was my wife would have no problem hoping up on the deck and pulling the anchor as I set up where to drop it in. And better yet she would easily go and pull it up as I maneuvered the boat to make the pull out easier for her. Never have to rinse the anchor for she would just dip it in the water a few times and put it back in the box. And better yet have your woman do this and it's pretty hot to watch as well. Lol.
Last edited by jtilt; 08-30-2016 at 08:29 PM.
08-30-2016, 08:58 PM
#15
Registered
My Cig is the same setup as the Mag, they just installed the Mag anchor hatch/bracket turned 90 degrees, so it fan fore/aft instead of side to side. Same custom anchor hanging in it. Mine is 44 years old now, still in use. Might re-galvanize it in another decade or two...
08-30-2016, 09:49 PM
#16
Gold Member
Gold Member
Box anchor does not respond well to linear pull, which is why the front of the anchor dug in, and the rear didn't set. Add pull from an angle (as you would experience in water) and the rear flukes will set along with the front. In the advertisement, the gent tugging the Danforth type anchor is applying a more linear pull, which actually helped the anchor to plow in. In water, the pull will not be coming from the same linear direction, so the result will not likely be the same. Summarize it as "a prejudiced method of testing" if you like...
Yeah, I did manage to figure that out, it is an advertisement!
So the box anchor is designed to use with a lot less scope and little or no chain. My danforth holds very well but it is very heavy and has over 30' of chain on it, not user friendly. My boat is a cc but I still can't bring myself to add a bow roller/anchor chute (or even a winch) and hang it off the front so I have to heave it up manually.
I rarely anchor in more than 5' of water, sounds like a box anchor without chain would do nicely as long as I dont give it too much rope and "linear pull".
Thank-you for the explanation and the 'counter argument' to their ad.
RR
08-30-2016, 11:02 PM
#17
Registered
RR, FWIW, sounds like your challenge is all that chain. Which I know from experience is a real pain. I lived with 20' of 1/4 in and a 12lb and soon bought a smaller rig for everything but bad weather and overnighting.
I'll offer a friendly alternative, as the box anchors are heavy. Keep your Danforth rig as you have it, for a storm anchor, (assuming it's big enough).
Grab a Danforth 5H as your lunch hook, with maybe 4 feet of high-tensile 1/4" galvanized chain. Or even the vinyl-clad pre-cut chain, in 5/16, if you want to lay it down on the deck. With maybe 80 or 100 feet of 3/8" nylon 3-strand.
http://www.danforthanchors.com/hitensile.html
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?...76127&id=32561
Anchor and chain together will weigh 8 lbs and be super easy to handle. The equivalent box anchor weighs 19 lbs and I bet the 5H will have as much if not a good bit more holding power.
http://www.slideanchor.com/slide-anc...ations_137.htm
FWIW,
Mike
I'll offer a friendly alternative, as the box anchors are heavy. Keep your Danforth rig as you have it, for a storm anchor, (assuming it's big enough).
Grab a Danforth 5H as your lunch hook, with maybe 4 feet of high-tensile 1/4" galvanized chain. Or even the vinyl-clad pre-cut chain, in 5/16, if you want to lay it down on the deck. With maybe 80 or 100 feet of 3/8" nylon 3-strand.
http://www.danforthanchors.com/hitensile.html
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?...76127&id=32561
Anchor and chain together will weigh 8 lbs and be super easy to handle. The equivalent box anchor weighs 19 lbs and I bet the 5H will have as much if not a good bit more holding power.
http://www.slideanchor.com/slide-anc...ations_137.htm
FWIW,
Mike
Last edited by Ghost24; 08-30-2016 at 11:04 PM.
08-30-2016, 11:45 PM
#18
Gold Member
Gold Member
I think you're right Ghost. My current anchor is a 12lb, (I think) but add the chain, it's hard work to bring it up over the bow of the boat without belting anything on the rub rail or the deck. I like having loads of holding power if needed but for the nice days, I think I'll buy a 5lb with 10' of modest chain and 50' of rope. Splice a loop in the end, throw it off the side and drop the loop around one of the front cleats. I've got room to stow it under the bow seats.
I have never seen a box anchor in my part of the world and importing heavy objects is a nuisance, looks like I'll stick with the old fashioned pick! Thanks.
RR
I have never seen a box anchor in my part of the world and importing heavy objects is a nuisance, looks like I'll stick with the old fashioned pick! Thanks.
RR
Last edited by rak rua; 08-30-2016 at 11:47 PM.
08-31-2016, 04:40 PM
#19
VIP Member
VIP Member
One Cig owner to another: this sounds like a serious PITA if you like to anchor a fair amount. I would actually consider springing for some glasswork to put an anchor hatch and locker up on the bow.
Failing that, you could (some will squirm and cry blasphemy, but a boat has to be usable) mount a roller on the bow with a plow anchor, with hardware to dog it down and a hawse-hole to run the anchor rode belowdecks. I think that would be more usable and better looking than putting anchor chocks on the bow and mounting a Danforth-style anchor flat on the bow. Years back, I bought a Nova Marine with a roller and a plow anchor on the bow--worked great and very convenient. Looked fine. On a Cafe Racer, not as good but you'd get away with it. Lots of folks are figuring out it's a good way to go.
Failing all of that, if you're stuck with an anchor living under the stern seat, I'd buy an aluminum Fortress that at least takes the curse out of schlepping it around all the time.. Which you'll be doing if you have to keep it way back there. Honestly, there's no GOOD way to deal with it unless it lives in or on the bow. If there's room to do a proper locker up there, I'd spend the $$ and do the project in the Winter.
My Cig 24 is MUCH smaller than your Cafe Racer, and it'd STILL be a horrible PITA without the anchor locker up front. You can see the SS lid of mine in the pic below. (For a custom modified Danforth that they used in a few Cigs and Magnum 27s.)
Failing that, you could (some will squirm and cry blasphemy, but a boat has to be usable) mount a roller on the bow with a plow anchor, with hardware to dog it down and a hawse-hole to run the anchor rode belowdecks. I think that would be more usable and better looking than putting anchor chocks on the bow and mounting a Danforth-style anchor flat on the bow. Years back, I bought a Nova Marine with a roller and a plow anchor on the bow--worked great and very convenient. Looked fine. On a Cafe Racer, not as good but you'd get away with it. Lots of folks are figuring out it's a good way to go.
Failing all of that, if you're stuck with an anchor living under the stern seat, I'd buy an aluminum Fortress that at least takes the curse out of schlepping it around all the time.. Which you'll be doing if you have to keep it way back there. Honestly, there's no GOOD way to deal with it unless it lives in or on the bow. If there's room to do a proper locker up there, I'd spend the $$ and do the project in the Winter.
My Cig 24 is MUCH smaller than your Cafe Racer, and it'd STILL be a horrible PITA without the anchor locker up front. You can see the SS lid of mine in the pic below. (For a custom modified Danforth that they used in a few Cigs and Magnum 27s.)
09-06-2016, 01:38 PM
#20
Registered
I anchor out a lot and also wish it was an easier process. Just saw this flush mounted bow anchor on a Sonic concept, now thats pretty cool.
Last edited by blown; 09-06-2016 at 09:12 PM.
