North Star Anchors?

[RickS]

They are selling Bruce knockoffs for an extremely reasonable price. Anyone have any first hand experience with them? Is this one of those "you gets what you pays for" situations, or are they really able to offer a high quality anchor at lower prices due to cost cutting in areas other than product quality? I see no reference to the forging style used to produce this anchor - probably not drop forged? Is this the catch, and if so does this really matter?

Thanks for any input.

Regards,

Rick



rsoucy@synopsys.com

[randy]

I have no clue concerning the anchor in question.
But when it comes to anchors I like to get the best I can afford and heaviest I can haul up. The anchor is not the place to try and save a few dollars. Our 25D had two Bruce's a 22lb and a 16.5lb. Nothing I've found makes me feel better than having the Bruce set when a storm hits the anchorage. Then again I have been deposited on the beach by less than stellar anchors, danforths!

randy 25D Seraph #161

They are selling Bruce knockoffs for an extremely reasonable price. Anyone have any first hand experience with them? Is this one of those "you gets what you pays for" situations, or are they really able to offer a high quality anchor at lower prices due to cost cutting in areas other than product quality? I see no reference to the forging style used to produce this anchor - probably not drop forged? Is this the catch, and if so does this really matter?

Thanks for any input.

Regards,

Rick

rtbates@austin.rr.com

[Neil Gordon]

They are selling Bruce knockoffs for an extremely reasonable price. Anyone have any first hand experience with them?

It's a year later. Anyone have any experience with Bruce knockoffs?

[Maine Sail]

among other issues. I saw a guy last summer who had a "wing" broken off a Bruce imitation. I think the best knock off's are made by Manta & even the Manta is not an exact copy. I compared a Bruce 22, a Manta 22 and a Claw 22 side by side at Hamilton Marine and the angles are completely different on the Manta and the Claw. Even lining up two Claw's of the same size you will find both anchors to be different. The Bruce is tried and true and although the Bruce has limited holding power it sets the first time 98% of the time and that could be due to the shank angles, fluke angles and curves.. I'd go Bruce! Ask your self how much your boat is worth & if it's worth being cheap???

[Joe Myerson]

Last winter I bought a 22# claw, which I set up as my primary anchor (25 feet of chain woven into 320 feet of 1/2-inch 3-stranded rode).

I used it several times, once in 20-30 knots and once when the wind veered about 90 degrees overnight. In both cases, it held well.

The first time was in a muddy bottom, the second was in sand.

This isn't a scientific test by any means, but, FWIW, I believe that this Bruce knock-off is a good anchor at a reasonable price.

That's my $0.02 worth.

--Joe

[Neil Gordon]

Ask your self how much your boat is worth & if it's worth being cheap???

Practical Sailor published a value guide for anchors for soft mud, with a $200 cutoff. While this wasn't a comprehensive test and they didn't test the Northstar knockoff of the Bruce, they did test 18 anchors. Their best choice was the Lewmar Claw, at $79.

The test for for holding, but nowhere in the article did they warn about substandard products except to say that the knockoffs would likely not last as long. Knowing PS, I'm pretty sure that would refer to the quality of galvanizing rather than the notion that they'd be dangerous.

[Joe Myerson]

n/m

[chasn_sunset]

For what it'sworth, I bought a Northstar 16.5 b for my boat for $70 with shipping. I took it in to Westmarine and compared the two side by side, they are vertually identical in materials, shape and fluke angles. Northstar warranties their anchors 100%. I can't attest to performance but I think it wil do well as primary ground tackle with 25' chain and 200' of 1/2" 3-strand nylon....

[winthrop fisher]

Hi... i have two bruce anchors and they are just fine, they came with one that is 1/4 of the price years ago and its a softer metal and i tried that one and it works just like the other bruce. so i don't see why that one would be any different then the others...winthrop

[Neil Gordon]

Last month, PS evaluated inexpensive (under $200) mud anchors. This month, they did the expensive ones.

The interesting comparison is that while holding power differs by style, it's not related to price. They didn't test for breaking strength, as they tested holding power in soft mud. What surprises me (on a quick reading) is that they didn't connect the two articles or make any comment at all about whether price matters.

I'd appreciate any first hand accounts of anchors actually breaking, bending or whatever.

[Sandy D.]

North Star is still selling very reasonably priced anchors on ebay.

Anybody have any up to date experience/opinions?

Thanks,
Sandy

[barfwinkle]

How fortuitous.

I have been monitoring ebay for this very thing. There is a place, if reputable, that has 5 kor 6 original Bruces for sale. There are numerous North Stars.

I also did a bit of reading and if you go to the Bruce Anchor web site, it clearly states that Bruce Anchor is no longer in the Recreational Marine Anchor business.

I would really like to have a 16.5 bruce, so I guess I'll just keep an eye on ebay to see when a bruce pops up.

Turkey Mornay for dinner!

[rtbates]

How fortuitous.

I have been monitoring ebay for this very thing. There is a place, if reputable, that has 5 kor 6 original Bruces for sale. There are numerous North Stars.

I also did a bit of reading and if you go to the Bruce Anchor web site, it clearly states that Bruce Anchor is no longer in the Recreational Marine Anchor business.

I would really like to have a 16.5 bruce, so I guess I'll just keep an eye on ebay to see when a bruce pops up.

Turkey Mornay for dinner!

Bill:

I have both a 16.5 and a 22lb Bruce and the 22 fits the 25D bow roller much better than the 16.5...The 22's flukes straddle the bow perfectly while the 16.5's being not as wide don't..