[Rhodes22-list] An Interesting Experiment With A Fortress FX-7

Mon May 24 14:13:29 EDT 2004

Rob,

I use an FX-7.  It is adequate to the task.

I have attached  a few pictures of this anchor when it was new.

Dick
On Mon, 24 May 2004 11:52:35 -0400 "Rob Lowe" <rlowe at vt.edu> writes:
> Rodger,
> Any thoughts on the FX-7 vs. the FX-11 (which Mark has)?  What depth 
> water
> do use usually anchoring in?  Thanks - rob
> 
> Rob Lowe
> S/V Getaway
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402 at centurytel.net>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 11:33 AM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] An Interesting Experiment With A Fortress 
> FX-7
> 
> 
> > Mary Lou & Doug,
> >
> > The primary anchor on board Dynamic Equilibrium is a Fortress 
> FX-7.  As
> you
> > may be aware, the Fortress anchor is made from machined aluminum 
> alloy,
> not
> > cast or forged steel as most other anchors are.  The machining 
> process
> tends
> > to give the Fortress anchor much more square & therefore sharper 
> ("sharp"
> in
> > the sense of a square ice skate blade) edges.  You may also be 
> aware that
> > the flukes of a Fortress anchor can be set at two different 
> angles.  The
> > "standard" angle is 37 deg and the other angle is 45 deg.  The 
> Fortress
> > literature recommends the 45 deg fluke angle for increased holding 
> power
> in
> > very soft mud bottoms & it works very well for that purpose.  
> However, by
> > accident last year, I found that the 45 deg angle also gave the 
> Fortress
> > anchor a greatly increased ability to hook on rocks and penetrate 
> weedy
> > bottoms.  I called the NAV-X Corporation, told them of my 
> observations, &
> > they were very excited.  They said no one had ever tried the 45 
> deg fluke
> > angle for these types of bottoms.   They were going to conduct 
> their own
> > tests.
> >
> > Anyway, I have found that the Fortress anchor with the flukes at 
> the 45
> deg
> > angle & set on a very long scope of say > 10:1 will penetrate a 
> sea weed
> bed
> > &/or tends to get hooked on a partially submerged rock very 
> effectively.
> It
> > helps to "power set" the anchor by backing down at full reverse 
> throttle
> for
> > several seconds.  I use 22 feet of 1/4" chain & 3/8" three strand 
> nylon
> > anchor rode.  Note, if you use the Fortress anchor (or any 
> Danforth-style
> > anchor) with the flukes set at the standard 37 deg angle; then, 
> the anchor
> > behaves more like a "mowing machine".  The flukes will simply 
> shear off
> > weeds & become entangled in them until the anchor resembles a ball 
> of
> grass
> > bouncing along the bottom.
> >
> > This is pretty exciting stuff because there aren't that many 
> anchors out
> > there that work reasonably well in weeds or rocks.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mary Lou Troy" <mltroy at verizon.net>
> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 8:30 AM
> > Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Ground Tackle
> >
> >
> > > Doug,
> > > One of the keys to getting a Danforth to set correctly is making 
> sure
> that
> > > it lands properly on the bottom. I have heard tales (no 
> personal
> > > experience) of Fortresses sailing over the bottom while they are 
> being
> set
> > > - something about the area of the flukes to weight ratio.
> > >
> > > We keep our Danforth in a mesh bag in the lazarrette rather than 
> on the
> > > bow. The rode is carefully flaked in followed by the chain and 
> then the
> > > anchor so all is ready to go on a moments notice. We use the 
> v-berth for
> > > storage and store the second anchor forward in its own bag. We 
> decided
> > > shortly after we got the boat that we didn't like the idea of 
> storing
> the
> > > rode in the tray in the v-berth. Didn't like the idea of 
> introducing all
> > > that excess moisture (and muddy smell) to the interior. When we 
> hauled
> > > anchor last weekend after the storm, not only was the anchor 
> loaded with
> > > mud but the chain was extremely muddy for about half its length. 
> We were
> > > able to get most of the mud off the anchor by dunking but the 
> bag kept
> the
> > > muddy chain contained until we could get back to the dock and a 
> hose.
> > We've
> > > been considering some sort of washdown set-up.
> > >
> > > As we've been mulling over our second anchor situation, we've 
> considered
> a
> > > Bruce - lots of holding power for the size and it looks like we 
> could
> stow
> > > one in the mesh bag but they aren't as good in mud as the 
> Danforth so no
> > > decision yet. I'd like to hear from other Chesapeake Rhodies 
> about their
> > > anchoring experiences. Uh...Don? Are we getting together this 
> weekend?
> > >
> > > Mary Lou
> > > 1991 Rhodes 22 Fretless
> > > Swan Creek, MD / Ft. Washington, PA
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > At 06:50 AM 5/24/2004 -0400, you wrote:
> > > >Thanks for the data, Mary Lou.  15' of chain seemed about 
> right, so
> your
> > > >experience with 14' is reassuring.
> > > >
> > > >I was thinking of upgrading the anchor and keeping Stan's.  I 
> am
> looking
> > at
> > > >the Fortress line of adjustable Danforth-type anchors, but need 
> to do
> > more
> > > >research.  With a new "slightly used" boat coming in, I have to 
> address
> > > >other needs first.
> > > >
> > > >Fair winds!
> > > >
> > > >--Doug
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> > > >[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Mary 
> Lou Troy
> > > >Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 4:00 PM
> > > >To: The Rhodes 22 mail list--
> > > >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Ground Tackle
> > > >
> > > >Doug,
> > > >I think your 3/8 in rode and 1/4 in. chain are sufficient. 
> We've
> anchored
> > > >for years with a 9 lb Danforth and only 6 ft. of chain. The 
> only time
> it
> > > >didn't hold was with a 5 Rhodes raftup but that wasn't intended 
> to be
> > > >overnight.
> > > >
> > > >That said, we've always thought we didn't have enough chain so 
> we just
> > > >swapped it out a couple of weeks ago for 14 ft. of chain and
> immediately
> > > >had it tested last weekend. We were anchored up in Swan Creek 
> overnight
> > > >with the Danforth well set with a 7:1 scope. There was a 
> t-storm
> > > >overnight  - with winds said to be 30 knots/gusts higher (by 
> others in
> > the
> > > >anchorage with wind instruments). The winds were from a 
> different
> > direction
> > > >than the windds when we set the anchor (maybe 90 to 120 
> degrees
> > different).
> > > >We had the pop top enclosure and the bimini up and sailed all 
> over the
> > > >place but the anchor held just fine. We had the outboard 
> started as a
> > > >precaution because there were quite a few very large boats 
> boats and
> > > >raftups nearby but we didn't need it. It was wild for 35 
> minutes or so
> > and
> > > >just very windy for another 15.
> > > >
> > > >I do think the 9 lb Danforth is a little light but we've had 
> such good
> > luck
> > > >with it and and I am so familiar with how it sets that I am 
> reluctant
> to
> > > >change. We have the 13 lb. Danforth that came with the boat as 
> a
> back-up.
> > > >It also has 3/8 in. rode and 16 ft. of 1/4 inch chain. There 
> are a lot
> of
> > > >people who don't like Danforths but in the Chesapeake mud ours 
> always
> > sets
> > > >and has held through wind and current shifts. We keep talking 
> about a
> > > >second anchor of another type but just haven't figured out the 
> storage
> > > >logistics.
> > > >
> > > >Mary Lou
> > > >1991 R22 Fretless
> > > >Swan Creek, MD / Ft. Washington, PA
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >__________________________________________________
> > > >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> 
> __________________________________________________
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> 
> 

CPT Richard F. Sheehan
218 Pier D
Naples, FL 34112
239-793-0053
dickshee at juno.com
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