Delta Plow selection help

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We recently upgraded from a 25' bowrider to our new to us Cruisers Yachts 3372. It came with a fluke style anchor and I'd like to swap it out for a Delta Plow. Lewmar/Delta's website recommends a 22 lb. anchor for boats 28'-42' and a 35 lb. anchor for boats 34'-48'. Our boat is 35'-6" LOA, and I'm leaning towards the 35 lb. anchor. Am I correct?

TIA,

Greg
 
at leat the 35 but since you probably have a widlass why not go up a size.
 
Greg-
I used a 22# delta plow on my Silverton for 5 years and it never once failed to set the first or second time, and NEVER dragged.
That said, I felt the 22 was minimal for the boat and upgraded to a 35. Makes me feel more secure when anchored in a blow.
I boat the upper Chesapeake and it looks like you might too.
 
I am a very happy and frequent Delta user. The 35 is fine for your boat; it always makes sense to go the larger size. We went to the 88 instead of the 70 which more than covered our size on their chart.
I have used it in a variety of places on the Chesapeake on both shores. I chose to use a Delta as my main anchor because we cruise in places where the tidal current is strong and switches direction 4 times a day. I mated it to the all cahin rode with a WASI Powerball and have had great results.

BUT, I have to ask, is the Chesapeake you will be anchoring? Because if so, the Danforth style (which I am guessing is what you mean by fluke) is a great choice for the Chessie. If I was going to spend all my time there, I'd switch back to my Danforth I keep as a spare, or spring for a Fortress or SuperMax. Personally I'd practice with your current anchor, adding chain if need be, before springing for a new one. Anchoring is at least 80% technique anyway.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
quote:
BUT, I have to ask, is the Chesapeake you will be anchoring? Because if so, the Danforth style (which I am guessing is what you mean by fluke) is a great choice for the Chessie. If I was going to spend all my time there, I'd switch back to my Danforth I keep as a spare, or spring for a Fortress or SuperMax. Personally I'd practice with your current anchor, adding chain if need be, before springing for a new one. Anchoring is at least 80% technique anyway.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport

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We're Upper Chesapeake boaters George (sand/mud/soft mud bottom). We used the danforth with our 25' bowrider with much success. Folks that we boat with (with boats the same size and a little larger than our 3372) recommended switching to the Delta Plow [?]. You make a good point about giving the danforth a try first though.

Greg
 
I switched to a plow midseason this year after dragging anchor in a weedy bottom bay. Never had an anchor drag before using danforth, they hold great in sand and mud. I would never go back to a danforth here though, too weedy of a lake. One benefit to the plow is they come up easier, but with a windlass I guess it does not matter. Can't wait to test that theory next season as I have never used one.
 
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

BUT, I have to ask, is the Chesapeake you will be anchoring? Because if so, the Danforth style (which I am guessing is what you mean by fluke) is a great choice for the Chessie. If I was going to spend all my time there, I'd switch back to my Danforth I keep as a spare, or spring for a Fortress or SuperMax. Personally I'd practice with your current anchor, adding chain if need be, before springing for a new one. Anchoring is at least 80% technique anyway.
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I fully agree with George. I use a Fortress with 75' of chain in the Chesapeake and it holds great in the mud. But I do switch to a Delta when we're in the Bahamas. The fluke-style, while great in mud, is horrible in sand/grass. Although I do have to admit I've never tried the Delta in the Chesapeake. I oversized it so much I have to launch it by hand. But I sleep very well with it :-)

As others have said, always up-size an anchor.
 
We used a 44 Delta on a 46 footer on the Bay for 5 years and it never failed us. I am a fan.
 
I have the 35 on my boat. It's big. I would think it perfect for yours. Make sure you have a windlass! Any bigger would not be worth the extra weight on the bow. But I also agree with trying out your current anchor. No need to spend the money if you find the current one works well...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Prospective

I have the 35 on my boat. It's big. I would think it perfect for yours. Make sure you have a windlass! Any bigger would not be worth the extra weight on the bow. But I also agree with trying out your current anchor. No need to spend the money if you find the current one works well...

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Weight is one reason I switch back to a Fortress when in the Chesapeake. Flukes hold fine here. Greg, try the anchor you have a few times. If it's sized right for the boat, you should be fine. If anything, add some chain if there isn't much on the existing rode.
 
Went from a 22lb danforth to 35 Delta. Never looked back... or dragged since.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Skeetobite

Went from a 22lb danforth to 35 Delta. Never looked back... or dragged since.

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Do you boat in the Chesapeake?

Though I haven't had issues with dragging, I have had to take some extra time in a few places there to get a confident set. As big a Delta fan as I am, the soupy mud of many parts of the Chessie lends itself better to a fluke (Danforth/Fortress type anchor) or scoop (SuperMax) than a plow.
 
Thanks for the replies/suggestions everyone. As suggested, I'm going to give the current danforth type anchor a try next season, as long as it is properly sized (I'm assuming that it is). I'm going to see if I can locate a model number on it or get some dimensions if need be. I'll post my findings to be sure it's properly sized.

Thanks again, Greg
 
the standard anchor that comes with many boats is usually too small for anything except a lunch hook. If you plan to anchor much get good ground tackle.
 
I have a slightly different opinion about the Delta Plow... in 2007, I lost my Danforth anchor coming up the ICW in SC (snagged it)... I purchased a Delta Plow in Charleston coming north and had repeated failures in getting it to set in the muddy bottom in SC and NC... I finally wound up staying in Marinas teh rest of the way home as I could not trust it... I finally returned it for credit...

In short, the nature of the bottom is the key to the anchor type needed... I now have a heavy claw anchor tied onto the anchor rode, and a Danforth stored as a backup/use when needed for conditions.

Jim
 
We had a delta plow as the primary on our boat and bought a larger Fortress FX55 as a secondary/storm anchor. Fortress works very well and can be stored in two pieces in the forward anchor locker. But we wanted to replace the plow as it peformed mediocre in the mud. After lots of homework we settled on a Rocna. Very similar to the Manson Supreme but has a similar shank to the Delta. So a larger Rocna fit the existing roller well and has been a nice improvement over the plow. Works great in mud and sand, much better than the plow. Only issue is sometimes mud will come up in the concave scoop so we use the anchor washdown.

-Rick

Viking Sport Cruiser 50 FY
"Silver Lining"
 
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