Before reading on, please take a moment to fill out our weekly survey so we can share your thoughts and experiences with the Cruising Compass family. Thanks.
Do you got up you mast to inspect and, if necessary, the rig and mast-head electronics, lights and wind instruments?
Many thanks to all readers who took the time to fill out last week’s survey on storm anchors. Of those who replied, 59% do carry a dedicated storm anchor. Of those with storm anchors, 53% carry a fluke-type, 26% carry a hooking-style and 21% carry both types. The most popular storm anchor, by far with 48% or respondents carrying one, is the Fortress fluke-type anchor. Tied for second place are: Bruce, Rocna, Spade, Bruce and Mantus. These brands each have smaller followings: galvanized fluke-type, plow and Delta.
Of those who do not carry a dedicated storm anchor, 24% say they plan to add one.
We asked readers without a storm anchor to comment on their storm anchoring tactics:
“Our main bower anchor is 2 sizes bigger than recommended (55kg) and has held us safely in hurricane force winds.”
“More chain!”
“My rocna is over sized. And 100 feet of chain with 250 feet of high stretch rode.”
“I always anchor assuming there will be a storm. I have an oversized Rocna as my primary anchor.’
“Double up. We put one on a length of chain in front of the primary anchor and put out more rode.”
“Put out 2 bow anchors in a Y formation. For hurricanes, I always go into the mangroves and use all anchors and lines to the roots if possible”
