Fortress Anchor

[ITD]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Interesting none of the tests posted above include a "digger" anchor. That is what i have used with excellent results and no chain required...

http://www.diggeranchor.com/


Dan

Cool anchor, who's the jerk who pulls the rope?

"Just a "jerk" on the rope when pulling up anchor....."

[jrc]

RG, The big difference is material. Most Danforth clone fluke anchors are steel and the Fortress anchors are aluminum.

Given that the primary holding power of fluke anchors is provided by the area of the fluke once dug in, the aluminum provides the same area with less weight.

They also tout ease of disassembly, adjustable fluke angle and sharper points as Fortress benefits.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by ITD

Cool anchor, who's the jerk who pulls the rope?

"Just a "jerk" on the rope when pulling up anchor....."

Excellent observation. Imagine you are at anchor in rough conditions (your engine has died) with a little wave action...and low and behold.. The bow of the boat comes up on a wave.... and JERKS the anchor....

YO Edith..make me another cocktail. NB

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

Excellent observation. Imagine you are at anchor in rough conditions (your engine has died) with a little wave action...and low and behold.. The bow of the boat comes up on a wave.... and JERKS the anchor....

YO Edith..make me another cocktail. NB

Just an fyi... the anchor does not work the way you think. Jerking on the rope or a wave cannot dislodge the anchor. You must be directly in line and over the anchor before you "jerk" the rope. It really does work well...really!!

Dan

[NoBozo]

I guess I should enlighten those who doubt...: A little inside information that has been available almost since the beginning on the Design of the Danforth Anchor.

The sucess of this anchor has been recognized over the many decades: The Area of the flukes: The Shape of the flukes: The Sharpness of the flukes....and last but not least..the Strength of the flukes.

MOST importantly the Angle between the shank and the flukes. I think the angle is 21 degrees. Change that angle..... and 70 years of Engineering goes out the window. The wanabees are trying to reinvent the wheel. NB

[NoBozo]

I thought I might point out a major difference between a Danforth "Hi-Tensile" and a Danforth "Standard" anchor. I apologize to those of you who are less technically inclined.

The flukes of the "Hi-Tensile" are "Drop Forged" steel. They are "Pounded" into shape with a very big hammer while hot...much like a Fine Sword is made. The flukes of the Danforth "Standard" are Stamped Steel and then bent to shape. I'm talking about the turned up ridge (backbone of the fluke) that stiffens the fluke and prevents the fluke from bending.

"Drop Forged" is FAR Superior to "Stamped Steel"..hence the extra cost.

The Pretenders are NOT Drop Forging their anchors because it is expensive. Aluminum anchors..??....well...it's your boat.

http://www.danforthanchors.com/

[NH_boater]

I selected the Fortress because of the strong reputation and for the ease of use at sandbars, a little lighter and easier to manage for my wife. She tends to drop and pull the anchor as I position the boat. I do have a larger, steel danforth aboard should I get caught in a storm that would require me to anchor for safety. That being said, the US Navy and US Coast Guard are using fortress anchors on many of their 40' patrol boats, after much testing.

I recognize the marketing aspect of the USN and USCG endorsements but their use seem to be quite real. I have heard of bent flukes after severe pulls but I suspect that these are extreme cases. Reaching 4-5000 lbs of pull is impressive for any anchor.

Quote from Navagear site: "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)."

I have only used the thing for an afternoon of tests but the thing was impressive, setting much faster and harder than my super hooker in mud and sand. In many sandy bottom tests, the fortress seems to blow away the hi tensile strength Danforth. Either would be 10x-100x overkill for my daily anchoring needs. I do, of course, want to ensure that I have adequate anchorage should an emergency arise.

[NoBozo]

Well Said NHB. My experience has been in salt water (Sail) over 30+ years. As I have said previously in this thread, opinions vary among those who boat seriously. I have cruised coastwise New England from Essex, CT to Bar Harbor, ME. I have also single handed from Newport to Bermuda and return in 1979 and 1981 in the Bermuda 1-2. NB

[NH_boater]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

Well Said NHB. My experience has been in salt water (Sail) over 30+ years. As I have said previously in this thread, opinions vary among those who boat seriously. I have cruised coastwise New England from Essex, CT to Bar Harbor, ME. I have also single handed from Newport to Bermuda and return in 1979 and 1981 in the Bermuda 1-2. NB

Wow, impressive for sure. I have always admired such experience, especially single-handed runs. Me, just banging around the lake.