Ask the experts
Q Our Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33 has a 20kg Bruce bow anchor with 60m of chain, and stored below as a spare we have a 15kg CQR anchor with chain and rope. This summer we’re planning to cruise around Sweden including passing through the Göta Canal.
From the pilot books it is clear a stern anchor will be required that must be good for both sand and rocky ground. From a practical viewpoint the anchor must be relatively easy to handle and ready to hand. For this reason I think the 15kg CQR is not suitable.
What type of anchor would you recommend (aluminium Fortress or new generation Spade?) and crucially what size? If there were to be a strong wind the CQR could be used as an addition. Thanks for a great magazine. Stew Proud, by email
ANCHOR EXPERT ALEX BLACKWELL REPLIES: Anchors are a boat’s best and most valuable insurance policy, but are sadly very often overlooked. Having taken a good look at your boat’s bow configuration, any one of the new generation scoop type anchors without a roll bar would be an excellent choice as your primary bower. This could be the new Vulcan (by Rocna), which is specifically designed for powerboats, the Spade or the Ultra; all are excellent in most bottoms. We have used all three extensively.
The Vulcan might fit your boat best, but that is hard to see with just a photo. It may be necessary to slightly modify your bow roller. Based on the size and weight of your boat, 20kg should suffice, though the advice is always to go one size bigger; perhaps 25kg.
You could then use your Bruce as a stern anchor (you’ll be happier with a scoop-type anchor on your bow). Its 20kg is not overly heavy, so deploying and retrieving it on a rope rode should not be a problem. In most circumstances we’d suggest a Fortress as a stern anchor as these anchors are lightweight and easy to deploy. The Fortress sets well in softer bottoms and holds very well. For your boat I’d suggest an FX-16, which weighs 10kg. You might consider acquiring one and keeping it aboard. Disassembled they take up little space.
As to your CQR… We have relegated our CQR to being a lawn ornament. Since then it has not dragged once, even in the biggest gales.