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Anchors: Polished Stainless or Manganese?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by CaptEvan, Jun 7, 2009.

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  1. CaptEvan, Jun 7, 2009
    #1
    CaptEvan

    CaptEvan Senior Member

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    Had an interesting comparison via delivering 2 identical boats, 2 weeks apart, from the Great Lakes down the rivers to the Gulf. In the narrow creek hole-up just south of Cape Girardeau, MO, set anchor with the first, a Delta 44# Fast Set Manganese, in a minute. Back at the same location, with non-weather in between, an equal size polished Stainless Delta took 3 passes of 50 yards to give a hint of hold, which we took with a watch and the dead calm conditions and forecast.

    I had heard of nice and pretty polished SS anchors not doing their intended job. Was my experience case-in-fact compared to yours?

    I realize this may not apply to the real yacht boys where 44 lbs. is the weight of the windlass gear lube on their vessels.:eek:

    Evan
  2. Pascal, Jun 7, 2009
    #2
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    you may have just been lucky the first time around. I dont' have a lot of experience with deltas but they dont' seem to be doing good in very soft. mud. Once, on a boat with a delta 88, i coudn't get a set in a spot where i never have issues with my own FX55. Moved 100' away and the delta set fine. I guess there was a pool of soft mud the delta didn't like... maybe you encountered the same thing and were jsut off from teh first location?

    My only experience with a nice and shiny and pretty and glitzy SS anchor was removing one to store it away as a back up, in favor of a much larger anchor...
  3. K1W1, Jun 8, 2009
    #3
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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  4. CaptEvan, Jun 8, 2009
    #4
    CaptEvan

    CaptEvan Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    If you saw the anchorage, you would understand my point. There is no choice but the center, give or take 5 feet, and it is not a soft, mucky bottom. The only thing I can think of is a hard-pan clay bottom where the first anchor caught debris, except we had to wash clay off it coming up.

    I have just heard other bits and pieces that the high polished ones will not bite as well, at least in the smaller sizes.

    Thanks K1W1, interesting article, and not asleep yet.