Noah's Ark Crown Anchor?

[DanishBagger]

First of all, I want to apologise, because this is propably in the wrong place, but I have no idea where to ask a question about anchors. So, in advance, I'm sorry about that.

Anyway, I stumbled upon this "modern" admiralty anchor, called the Ark Crown Anchor.

www.noahs-ark-anchors.com

Despite the site being a pain in the butt to read (there's bolded, underlined words, words in ''' and so forth, but he says it because it's also used for educational purposes, so please ignore that), I really like the design of it, and apparently the stock can fold, meaning I might be able to get it under the floorboards.

My question is, what do you think of this type of anchor, especially for a small boat, weighing around 500kgs?


I like that it's both old-fashioned, yet modern (and it goes under the floorboards!)

Andre

[marshmat]

Doesn't look much different from the traditional 'admiralty' conventional-stock anchor to me. It would probably have similar performance and be suitable for similar conditions. Probably a reasonably versatile anchor, but I suspect less holding power than a Delta or CQR of equivalent weight. Also, I'm generally leery of companies who boast a Web site that screws up basic conventions of layout and readability... kind of makes you wonder what else they might screw up.
(Stockless anchors, of course, have no place on small boats... they're for when you need to haul it up into a hawsepipe, and have the winch capacity to do so.)

[DanishBagger]

Wait, when you say "stockless", do you mean like a cqr, a bruce and that sort, or?

It's just - let's say I buy the above, or a "real" fisherman's (with a tad bigger flukes), are you saying that would be better than, say, a danforth, bruce, or what have we?

Yikes, all of a sudden I'm super-confused ...

Okay, let's say I get a 5kg Bruce instead - you're saying it has better holding power, but you advice against it. - is that because there's not enough weight on a leaded anchor line? And if I had chain it would be too heavy on a little boat?


Edited, after second thoughts ...

[marshmat]

CQR, Bruce, etc. all have a stock- it just looks a bit different. "Stockless" (at least around here, might be different across the pond) refers to the 'navy' type used on battleships, freighters, etc- just a pair of big flukes, with the chain attached where the flukes meet. They need to be really heavy in order to dig in far enough to hold, hence why they don't work on smaller craft. What works best- fisherman's, traditional, bruce, cqr, delta, whatever- depends mainly on what makes up the sea bottom in your usual cruising grounds.

[DanishBagger]

Ah, finally I got you - I have seen those anchors - I didn't know they were called "stockless". Phew, thank a bunch

I wouldn't want one of those anchors - again, thanks!

I guess you're right about the noah-site, though. I guess I'll continue looking for "normal" fisherman's and/or some other nice anchor.

Thanks for your advice, and patience

[safewalrus]

CQR and Bruce have stocks? Yeah right (old Naval saying "and my c**** a bloater)........were oh wise and clever person? Please enlighten me (the old walrus is a bit thick!)

As to Noahs effort; I DO like his large flukes, they look bloody useful, but the gimmicky stock a few inches away? looks more like a grapple to me, useful for creeping for bottom lines - crab pots, lost anchor lines etc but then yer big flukes would dig in and cancel that out! May as well shove a chain up the a*** of a hedgehog and chuck that over! No, for me the original 'fishermans' has been around a long time and has evolved to that shape etc for a reason, and withstood the test of time - why reinvent the wheel?

This is my opinion only (backed up by a small amount of experience!)!

How's about using a killick?

[marshmat]

Originally Posted by safewalrus

CQR and Bruce have stocks?

This is a CQR:
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/boate...LEWcqr-anc.gif
And this is a Bruce:
http://www.bruceanchor.co.uk/images/Cast.gif
Both have a stock. At least, by the definitions we use around here, they do.

[SamSam]

Originally Posted by DanishBagger

My question is, what do you think of this type of anchor, especially for a small boat, weighing around 500kgs?
Andre

I think putting it out will be one thing, but at 1000# plus, getting it back in the boat is going to be a bitch! Sam

[DanishBagger]

Originally Posted by SamSam

I think putting it out will be one thing, but at 1000# plus, getting it back in the boat is going to be a bitch! Sam

LOL, Sam - yes, not quite proper grammar in that sentence

[Guillermo]

Andre,
Maybe you'll find interesting the search on anchors and anchoring tackles I did for Banjers. You'll find it at: http://banjer37msclub.tripod.com/workshop.htm
Look there for "Anchoring".
Cheers.

[DanishBagger]

Originally Posted by Guillermo

Andre,
Maybe you'll find interesting the search on anchors and anchoring tackles I did for Banjers. You'll find it at: http://banjer37msclub.tripod.com/workshop.htm
Look there for "Anchoring".
Cheers.

Cool, thanks - Loads on information there - super thanks!

I received a reply from the manufacturer of the Ark-anchor - and, although I always like an enthustiastic manufacturer with the time for his customers, I found him a tiny tad too intense (I like a measured dose of alliterations).

I send him an email, asking for a manufacturer in Europe etc - this is my pretty informal mail, as I tend to do when writing mails:

Originally Posted by Mail to manufaturer

Hi,
I stumbled upon your site because I looked for a stainless admiralty anchor. And although I think that it's a bit annoying to "read", with 'all' those 'things' cluttering the site, I guess it's okay since you use it for educational purposes as well.

Anyway, I wonder if there is some place in Europe that sells your anchors?

Another thing: where is the stock positioned on your smaller anchors (one picture shows it at the top, and another one way down towards the flukes)?

Are all your anchors "foldable" (I mean, the "cross-bar" can be pulled out and lie against the anchor)?

Also (yes, not a good wat to begin a sentence, I know), my boat is only a mere 5 metres long, and weighs around 500kgs, so I assume somewhere around 5kgs would be appropriate?

Anyway,

I really hope you have someone around here that pushes your anchors, but if not, how much would you gather it would cost to ship 5kgs to Denmark?

Sincerely,

Andre

Yes, you guessed it, from Denmark :-)

And this is what I got in return:

Originally Posted by response from the father

Hello Andre, my son Timothy has forwarded your letter as he is presently moving house. His mother 'Inge' is also from Danish stock but her father Jorgen Larsen moved to Tanzania in about 1935. His wife 'Esther' has recently had her 100th birthday!

The smaller anchors less than 8kg have a permanently welded crossbar. At present we do not have any supplier outside Australia and freight is prohibitive. Airmail freight for a 5 kg anchor is $ 315 AUD, - - - I am unable to obtain sea freight quote to Denmark until next Wednesday at it is still holiday time here.

I feel that the best solution is for me to mail you a set of 'basic' drawings so that you can have an anchor made locally in Denmark. A 5 kg one should be enough. If you wish for this please make a 30 AUD payment (includes postage) on line at:

< http://www.noahs-ark-anchors.com/content/payment.htm

Andre - I have just placed the below today on our web site under anchor 'specifications' section:

NOTE - As these anchors are presently only manufactured in Australia, there is the difficulty of high freight charges to overseas purchasers. We have thus decided to make fabrication plans available at a reasonable cost to you so that you may undertake to have an anchor manufactured at your local workshop. Details of on line purchase will be placed here when ready and this notice deleted

Once we have had the plans drawings completed and also the new DXF files for computer laser cutting we will also be offering Franchises to any person seeking to manufacture and market theses anchors in their country. These drawings should be available mid May.

We will be offering all sizes over 8 kg with top situated folding crossbar.

As for your < I think that it's a bit annoying to "read", with 'all' those 'things' cluttering the site, > I can only say that no person is forced to read anything, and there is so much adversity around today that we seek to bring a little enlightenment to those that enter our web site.

So Andre, maybe you could find us a someone seeking to buy a Franchise in Denmark ? We would give you a commission of 15% of price paid.

Sincerely - Terence Malaher

Ok, nice enough, and pretty expensive to be shipped to Denmark, but way too intense.

But, anyways, thank you, Guillermo