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

Mon May 24 18:05:47 EDT 2004

Rob,

Of course, with anchors, the bigger the better.  However, having said that,
my FX-7 has been big enough to hold Dynamic Equilibrium on the hook.

Here on Sanford Lake, the most common species of weeds are Eurasion Milfoil
and Duckweed.  Both of these weeds anchor in the bottom & send a long stalk
up to the surface.  Because of the tannin and sediment in the water,
sunlight doesn't penetrate to the bottom in sufficient strength below about
5-6 feet & these weeds can't get started in deeper water than that.  So,
when I spoke of anchoring in a weed bed at >10:1 scope, I was refering to
about 5 feet of depth.  If you use < 10:1 scope, the anchor seems to have a
more difficult time penetrating the weed bed & it tends to get fouled with
weeds before it digs into the bottom.

Roger Pihlaja
S/VV Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Lowe" <rlowe at vt.edu>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] An Interesting Experiment With A Fortress FX-7

> 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
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>