6 Captains On: Why I Love My Anchor for PNW Cruising

Anchoring is a must if you’re cruising the Pacific Northwest. Especially if you venture north into Desolation Sound and beyond, where marinas are fewer and farther apart.

We asked six captains from our club what anchor they use and why they love it. Here’s what they told us:  

CQR Anchors

Fred Kaufhold, Dreamweaver, Mariner 35

We use a 45# CQR on our 35’ trawler for our general-purpose bow anchor.  I don’t know that it is any better or worse than any other anchor choice.  It is what we have used on all our sail and power boats while cruising in Europe, the Med, and both coasts of the US for the last forty-five years.  It seems to hold reasonably well on all bottoms, although it takes a little patience in eel grass or kelp.  So far, it has kept us off the lee shore and clear of the rocks.

Jim Niehaus, Discovery, Northeast Motorsail 42

Discovery’s CQR and 300’ of chain secures us to the bottom under most conditions we encounter.The real reason we love our anchor is that it allows us to anchor out and enjoy the peace and quiet, hunting and gathering, kayaking and waking up to totems.

Ultra Anchors

Bonni and Norm Nutter, New Adventure, Pacific Mariner 65

We have an Ultra (plow) anchor.  We love it because it holds extremely well.  We prefer to anchor out most of the time.  We have been in 40 knot winds at anchor and have never pulled free.
Bonni is The Galley Gal

Mary and Jerome Robbins, Prime Time, Bayliner 47

We had seen demonstrations of the Ultra Anchor while attending various boat shows over the years. We planned on doing more anchoring and wanted an anchor we could trust. While attending the Seattle Boat Show in 2014 we made our purchase.

The Ultra anchor does not require any experience to use, as it immediately sets. It buries itself deeper,  holds excellently under increasing wind conditions, and does not require a second anchor due to its high holding power. Even under changing wind directions, it does not come loose.

On one occasion, we were entering Deer Harbor on Orcas Island with forty-five mile-an-hour winds coming from the south.  Without warning, both engines on our boat stopped dead, and the wind took over pushing us into an area where there were lots of boats anchored and on mooring buoys. I ran to the bow and let down the Ultra anchor as fast as I could. When the anchor hit bottom, it immediately set and pulled our boat to an abrupt halt about 10 feet short of hitting an anchored boat. I was so relieved to have an anchor do what it was supposed to do in this critical situation.  Once the engine problem was solved the anchor was retrieved with ease.

Manson Supreme Anchors

Dave Wilshin, L’Esprit, Ocean Alexander 44

We have a Manson Supreme. It always digs in if I give it a little time to settle before backing down. It would rather dig in than drag. I’ve always been able to pull it straight up, even when there were times it seemed to have been quite fouled (Squirrel Cove, BC; Tolstoi Bay, Alaska). It has served us well in muddy, weedy, and rocky anchorages.  We safely weathered a gale on Dundas Island (and no Brundidge is not bomb proof).

I also use a Wasi Powerball Swivel, which needs oiling from time to time.  I connect the anchor to three extra-large chain links, which I connect to the Wasi Powerball, which I then connect to my standard chain.

Rocna Anchors

Dennis Thornton, Tonic, Riviera 40

Love my Rocna 25 kg anchor because it has never let me down.  I’ve used a CQR, then a Delta and last, the current Rocna.  Each has been good, but the Rocna sets the fastest and seems to grab harder than the others.   Of course, 350’ of 5/16 chain when attached to each help.  No rope ever, if I can’t get stuck down with 350’ of chain I’ll just have to drive in circles.

I want to know more about your club.