Anchors

[sixrods]

I need to buy a new anchor for my Dory boat which is 15ft long x 6ft wide.
I fish mainly in the Solent and would like to know what the best type of anchor is to get, a Grapnel or a Danforth ?
I previously had a Danforth but I like the look of a Grapnel because it folds up, but I am unsure if it will be ok for my boat in the Solent.
Any advise would be very much appreciated.

[Richieawt]

Grapnels are rubbish, they dont have alot of holding power and will spin your warp up if you dont put some sort of swivel on the rope to chain connection.

IMO the bruce type are the best, with that size boat you would probably get away with a 5kg but i would possibly look at the 7.5kg to cope with the solent tide run.
Danforths are pretty good and our old 1 did a good job, the fishermans type are pretty good aswell

[backdraft]

as above dont go for a grapnel total waste of time. go for the 7.5 bruce.

[Pete B]

I agree as above concerning the grapnels - speed boat anchors in my book. It maybe worth keeping one onboard made from the mild steel bar they use on trench shuttering, 3 lengths and weld the shank up. Use them on rough ground and they'll bend straight when motored out if stuck. Thats my plan for this years breaming.

We fish the Solent to, I think theres for and against for all patterns. Not being able to trip the danforth puts me off but they work well. We had a plough type last and that worked well (a little too well in the end...oops) Plenty of chain whatever your final choice.

[scotty]

i use a 5kg bruce on my 16ft boat and it works fine

[Salar]

A 7.5Kg Bruce will hold a 25 foot boat! You only need a 5Kg Bruce but have at least 5 metres of chain before the rope.

[Richieawt]

we drilled a hole in the end of our danforth so it tripped, worked fine ;D

Weve go a 10kg bruce onboard now, now worries of dragging ;D(except for the bloody overfalls )

[Pete B]

richieawt said:

we drilled a hole in the end of our danforth so it tripped, worked fine ;D

Yeh, donkey years ago I drilled a hole in the plate at the bottom of a danforth and added a shackle and I cant ever remember it failing.
I can see that the chain running down the shank would stop it working one way but I can't ever remember it causing a problem?

Its a pity that there could'nt be an allowance made for the thickness of a length of chain to each blade because I personally reckon that the danforth is a good pattern for the Solent.

[dave phillips]

i done the same with my danforth never let me down

[Richieawt]

I just made sure there was enough slack chain between so if it got caught on the fluke then it still could extend to grip in.

[monkeynuts]

grapples are a great back up but thats it as thay spin and fing every posable snag down there

danforths and ploughs are the nuts in the solent. iv got a 6kg danforth with 20 foot of chain on a 17 foot shetland and it dont let go unless asked by the engine and iv also set a trip.
iv also had a 5 kg plough which was great too, if you want it its off egypt point...lol cos i did not set a trip ...oopppss
id think the weight of your boat you willl only need 4-5 kg with 15-18 foot of decent chain(if bouying the anchor up make sure the chain wieghs more than the anchor )

[sixrods]

Thank you to all who have replied to my post the advice is invaluable.
I am going to get a 4-5kg Danforth with 5m of chain.
Cheers Keith