Anchor size for a 306 Bimini/Canyon

[Legal Bill]

Hi Everyone. I have a 306 Bimini and my 14 pound Lewmar Delta galvanized anchor is in pretty bad shape. The galvanization is gone and I find I need to sand and paint it every season. If I'm going to get a new one, I'd like it to be larger, say a 22, but I'm a little concerned about what size will fit in the locker. I want to make sure that whatever I buy, the shank isn't so long that it hits the windlass before the flukes hit the receiver, or the the shank isn't so wide that hit jams in the opening before the flukes hit the receiver, or the point of the anchor hits the stainless steel bow plate before the flukes hit the receiver. Please let me know what you have that fits.

 

[seasick]

The paint issue is different than the weight issue. What is the problem with the weight?
If setting the anchor is the problem or getting the anchor to stay set, you may need a different style ( depends mostly on the sea bottom type) or you may need more chain which in a some ways is like a heavier anchor,
The 14 lb anchor should be sufficient for your hull length but again that can change depending on your anchoring needs ( day fishing, overnight, stormy weather etc.)

 

[Karen Ann IV]

I own a 306 canyon and your size anchor is adiquate. the paint issue is easy to solve. I bought a used stainless steel anchor for (i think) $200. It will last forever.

 

[Karen Ann IV]

I own a Canyon 306. your acchor size is fine. I bought a used stainless steel anchor for $200. It will outlast your boat.

 

[Fishtales]

The SS Delta Fast Set is a nice addition.
Got the Lewmar 22lb polished SS from Amazon Warehouse 2/22. From the pic it looked like SS but was advertised as a galvy model. Got it for 1/3 off the price of the galvy as the packaging was damaged?? When it came it was the shiny polished SS one. Score! Thanks Jeff!

 

[Legal Bill]

I fish. When I anchor, I'm usually in high current areas. I find the 14 requires a ton of scope and often doesn't hold.

 

[PointedRose]

I fish. When I anchor, I'm usually in high current areas. I find the 14 requires a ton of scope and often doesn't hold.

Key question is what type of bottom are you anchoring in

X2 for longer chain

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

My 2011 306 Canyon came with a ss anchor and ss chain but i have no idea of it's weight and im far from the boat.
I used the anchor once to wait two hours outside a marina as fuel dock was closed and anchor did not hold in 30ft of fine, hard sand with about 100ft scope and trying to dig it in pulling backwards but i had stiff wind.
As i have to do some work i will check this as i would like to have a working anchor even if i use it only 1% i go out.
I had a 15 lbs bruce on my BW 23 Outrage and it hold well and my guts tell me that i would choose at least 20 lbs for my canyon to be able to anchor safely on all kind of sea bed.

 

[drbatts]

You never mentioned conditions and bottom where you anchor which may change things. Go up to the 22 lbs. Delta. Thats What I have on my 305. You have a windless go with as much chain as you can.

 

[seasick]

If you fish in strong currents, assuming a sandy bottom, you need at least a scope of 7x. That said, if you don't have sufficient chain, your anchor may never set well. In general, adding chain to a setup that had insufficient chain will work out better than just adding a heavier anchor. A somewhat rule of thumb for chain is a minimum of 2/3 to 1x the length of the boat. More is always better but often not practical.
How do you determine how much rode is paid out? It is easy to over estimate how much rode is out without some sort of way to measure. What I do to estimate is look up the pay out rate of the windlass and use that to calculate how long in seconds it will take to let out enough line.
Also don't forget that you have to add your freeboard to your keel to sea floor measurement to estimate proper scope. That is important to take into account in shallower situations

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Well, 7x scope is a bit exaggerated as difficult to do with chain and windlass due lack of space to store 200+ ft of chain and endless time to reel 200+ of chain back in.
I anchored many many times almost daily during my charter time, also many times at 200ft during fishing charter time and i know how much rode should be necessary to keep the boat in position. Some have a have a chain counter like i have others feed the line in the water using arm lengths or counting time using the windlass. Many options available.
I agree that enough chain is more important than anchor weight as the chain keep the first part of the rode flat/a little diagonally on sea bed and thats why all chain is best if feasible. Chain length or better chain weight and anchor rode go together and there are a few basically laws:
1° more current or wind = more rode length
2° more chain weight = less rode necessary
3° some sea beds need one kind of anchor while others another style anchor
4° if boat is left alone then safety margin should be doubled

@Legal Bill
For fishing in high current conditions and soft bottom i suggest the heaviest anchor you can fit and and at least 30ft of thick chain and then plenty of 12mm rope to adjust depending on current situation. For rock/wreck a grappling anchor with bendable tines and same, at least 30 ft of chain. Retrieving 6-900 ft of rope rode using a anchor ball works great! For drifting some use two double cinder blocks with a break-away rope to recover rope but not the cinder blocks who will become a artificial reef over the time.

Also
first you could re galvanize the anchor, but its too small
second, you may add lead weights to the anchor or a sliding weight to keep the line horizontal.

Chris

 

[DennisG01]

Bill, if you want to double check before you order to make 100% sure it will fit... look at the specs for the anchor brand/size you are considering and compare that to your existing anchor. Primarily the shank length and the plow length.

As noted, adding more chain is always a good idea and will help the anchor stay put. Not sure how much you have, currently?

When you say "a ton of scope"... what does that mean? In many cases, people overestimate how much they have out.

 

[Legal Bill]

I fish in the northeast and use the anchor in Buzzard's Bay, Vinyard Sound and Nantucket Sound. I'll need to measure it again but I know I have at least 20 feet of chain. It may be 30. The bottom can be rock, gravel, mud, or sand. Over the years I've only lost one Delta anchor in the rocks which is why I like them. Based on my experience I don't really think a 14 pound anchor makes a lot of sense for a 30 foot boat that is being used to fish in open waters. I guess we can argue the point, but most anchor tables I look at recommend a larger anchor for a 30 foot boat. The 14 is really at the end of its capabilities with a 30 foot boat. If I'm getting a new anchor, the only reason I would buy one that just barely meets the requirements would be because a larger anchor doesn't fit.

 

[DennisG01]

If it's 20', that's still pretty decent. 30' even better. Still can't go wrong with more, though! But 20' is good.

Keep in mind that the proper scope is more important than the anchor size -- to an extent, anyways... I mean if you threw a 200lb anchor down there...

The reason I mention that is that if you end up with a larger anchor, but still use the same scope for the same conditions, you're not going to see all that much of an improvement.

EDIT: But, yes, if you're going to get a new anchor, might as well get a bigger one.

 

[Legal Bill]

You never mentioned conditions and bottom where you anchor which may change things. Go up to the 22 lbs. Delta. Thats What I have on my 305. You have a windless go with as much chain as you can.

does your boat have the anchor locker or is it stored up on a pulpit?

 

[drbatts]

The anchor is stored on the pulpit.

 

[PointedRose]

I fish in the northeast and use the anchor in Buzzard's Bay, Vinyard Sound and Nantucket Sound. I'll need to measure it again but I know I have at least 20 feet of chain. It may be 30. The bottom can be rock, gravel, mud, or sand. Over the years I've only lost one Delta anchor in the rocks which is why I like them. Based on my experience I don't really think a 14 pound anchor makes a lot of sense for a 30 foot boat that is being used to fish in open waters. I guess we can argue the point, but most anchor tables I look at recommend a larger anchor for a 30 foot boat. The 14 is really at the end of its capabilities with a 30 foot boat. If I'm getting a new anchor, the only reason I would buy one that just barely meets the requirements would be because a larger anchor doesn't fit.

Right on. Most of the boating in my life has been in Buzzards bay (out of Rose Point in Wareham, hence the boat name…my sailboat is the Gusty Buzzard, anyways, now in S.F. - besides the point). Agree with your assessment overall.