Danforth vs claw anchor

C

CaptCrunch

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Hi everyone, can anyone explain the difference or advantages to either anchor. Looking to replace the anchor on my new to me boat as it appears undersized.
 
What kind of bottom do you do most of your anchoring in?

I prefer the newer spade style anchors myself. Like "The Spade", "Rocna", Manson "Supreme", etc. That style seems to always place the highest in any anchor test in many different bottom types. And after years of personal and professional use, if I had only one style of anchor to choose, I would choose a spade. If I was only going to be anchoring in sand I might consider a large Danforth/Fortress. The claw, or Bruce knockoff, would be at the bottom of my list in any case.

On the other hand, Pascal will be along shortly to tell you that the claw, or Bruce knockoff, is THE great all around anchor. :-)
 
Thank you Bill! Indeed... I love my cheap Bruce knock off aka claw :)

A quality danforth has very good holding power but I find that they don't always reset on a wind or current change as they often clog with mud and weed..

I ve been using a claw for 5 years on the boat I run... Originally I put a 110lbs version which would run out of holding power at about 35 to 40 kts. 3 years ago I replaced it with the next size up, 176 lbs and it has held me up to 60kts... (70' enclosed flybridge boat = high wind age)

I have used it just about everywhere from the cape cod area all the way down to the Bahamas, in all kind of bottoms. We anchor a lot, probably an average of 10 to 15 times a month and I think it failed to set on first attempt just twice in the past 3 years. It is literally drop, set, check and forget it.

That said, I think there is no such thing as a bad anchor... Yes, some anchors don't do well in some bottom, for instance a delta in soft mud doesn't have much holding power but usually the problem is not the anchor, it is the retarded captain who is incapable of multiplying the depth by 6 or 7...

And with the claw costing a fraction of them fancy rocnahs, spades etc... I know Bill will be along shortly to tell you picking an anchor based on price isn't a great idea :) and he will be right, but in the case of the claw the cost if just an extra bonus
 
I used a Manson Supreme on my Carver. Every kind of bottom imaginable. Never failed to set and hold. Never failed to reset in a reversing current.

Bob
 
I used danforths for years around LI. They didn't like grass and hard packed shells. Then there was the time that a big clam got stuck in the slot and stopped the Danforth from setting.

So a Danforth will work but there are better solutions today.
 
I just put a 66 lb claw on my 37 carver. I anchored at capers island, with 25 mph gusts full tidal flow, mud and sand bottom. Stayed 3 nights, six tide changes no issue. We felt very safe and what suprised me was the ease of recovery, came right up no issue. MY vote is CLAW.
 
An example of a bad anchor is an FX aluminum in hard packed sand with grass. I use a delta and so far so good. It's a 55lb on a 43 motoryacht.
 
Check out the rocnas...I'm about to replace the too small delta that came with the boat for a rocna. there's a demo on a beach that's very interesting.
 
I too have had a clam or two wedged in my Fortress anchor over the years (usually a cherrystone). Of course after I removed it and set my anchor I ate them. :)
 
It's mostly sand or muck here in NJ. I use an oversized (if there is such a thing) Danforth anchor. I think equally as important as the anchor is the chain. I have 50' of chain behind the Danforth. I have never had the anchor break free. The biggest problem I have is retrieving the anchor because it wants to retain large sections of the bottom that held the boat in place.
Bill
 
Want my delta after I get the larger rocna? will fit your boat...
 
My boat came with a claw anchor and all chain it has not failed me as of yet I love it! On my last boat I replace me anchor with a Delta and it was pretty good as well but the claw is top on my list. keep in mind what Bill said having a decent amount of chain is just as important!
 
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