22-Foot Cape Dory Anchor Survey

[MHBsailor]

Calling all Cape Dory 22 and Typhoon Senior owners. I was wondering what you are using for an anchor and rode, what your anchoring situation is, and if you are happy with your present setup or would like to improve it? I would like to figure out whether to keep the existing (I'm guessing 14-lb) Danforth anchor and older (read stiffer) 300-feet of nylon rope and a couple of feet of what looks like 1/4-in chain that came with my CD 22D or upgrade to something more substantial? I also have a Rocna 9 (13 lbs) but I've heard they can take a set so well that they can be a bear to release. I don't anticipate the need to anchor in more than 30-feet or so of water (maybe 50 as an outlier) and typically in a protected harbor. However, there is always the potential for 25-30 kt winds overnight in my sailing area, with a change in wind direction thrown in for good measure. Perhaps I should keep both? Thanks!

JD

[wikakaru]

I use an 11 lb Lewmar Claw with umpteen or twenty-something feet of chain (how's that for precise?) and the rest nylon on my CD22. I anchored with that rig a few nights ago in Seal Bay, Vinalhaven Island, Maine. Despite only setting the anchor under sail and only having light winds, it was difficult to break the anchor free the next morning. It was a bit comical, actually, had anyone been around to watch the Admiral and I standing on the bow doing knee-bends in unison trying to get the bow to bob up and down enough to use the boat's buoyancy to break the anchor free.

I wouldn't go any smaller than the 11 lb Claw for that boat. I find the Claw's shape easier to handle than the Danforth, and of course Danforths don't do well resetting themselves after a wind shift. I'd rather have a little extra work to break the anchor loose than to worry about it dragging. I think your 13 lb Rocna would be a good anchor for your boat.

Smooth sailing,

--Jim

[Mbigos]

You have a great combo. Use it and enjoy.
The stiffness of old line sometimes can be helped by soaking it overnight in a 5 gal bucket with a mild solution of water and fabric softener. With 300', maybe a section at a time.

[Typhoon4Fun]

I have the same Rocna with ~20' of chain and nylon rode after that. We have never dragged it (at least far enough for me to notice) but typically only anchor in 10'-30' of water where we know there is mud or sand. Maybe two or three overnights with 15-20 kts of wind. I have always been able to pull it out of the mud - never had to power forward on it or anything.

[Keith]

I soaked all of my lines in a 55 gallon trash barrel this winter. I ran them through my hand squeezing out the water then let them soak some more after changing the water. I was amazed how much dirt came out of them and the smell that it produced. The rope manufacturers reccomend to use only water. My lines came out cleaner and softer.

Keith