Yes the anchor test is very similar to many that I have seen, there is also a big difference from power setting your anchor as to having a continuous static pull to determine max holding power.
As an example, when static testing anchors they will dig in until clogged, you will see evidence of this on all the graphs, maximum holding power then it falls away, whilst the anchor is continued to be dragged over its given test distance its holding power again peaks, falls away,( clogging ) what this does is show how much of a problem clogging can be for a given anchor design when testing, I say testing as in normal deploying clogging may not be an issue in producing holding power.
Another stand out problem when testing that can cloud the results, if the anchor is dropped side on to a hole or deep crevice, even if it’s a roll bar design that somehow lands upside down in a situation like this can drag upside down when statically pulled, its roll bar can act like a rudder burying its roll bar and stay upside down for quite a distance until it drags out of the impression, where as when you just lay your anchor its orientation can be corrected simply by the boat movement.
I notice many of you would like to see anchors behaving in change of tide, well in a change of tide most picture their anchor pulling around and out, this is rare, what actually happens with the older style anchors if they do pull out and not reset it is because of wear, a major part of the problem and most times the culprit, I have tried to film this and found it not only extremely dangerous but you cannot see anything anyway worth filming because of sand, mud and the like being stirred up, unfortunately in strong wind or change of tide is when anchors let go.
From what I have seen is most anchors simply just don’t pull out whilst circling in a change of wind or tide, it does happen but is rare, breaking out is mainly caused from anchoring in thick weed or on bedrock, also bad over setting practice can create a weed ball-clogging preventing the anchor from properly taking hold, drifting direct ally over the anchor and flipping it is more of a common problem to drifting, especially in oozy mud.
Many of our old anchor designs suffered from very broad blunt toes, if you couple this with wear, when flipped they just struggled to reset in any strong wind, but beware with some roll bar anchors thinking you will solve the problem, Remember this- all anchors can drag upside down given the right circumstances, some roll bar types will be holding a fluke full of mud and when flipped sink upside down full of sticky mud, end result you will drag, depending on how strong the wind is you may just continue to creep without knowing why, the bigger- higher profile of the roll bar- there is a benefit , it will sink deeper and you will drag slower, (Remedy to right the anchor) pick up reverse and give it a burst.
· Interesting Rocna has the lowest holding power of roll bar designs in this test, if anyone is thinking of condemning its performance take a look a closer look, it’ has the smallest roll bar of all, this small role bar when statically pulled clog’s easily and could roll to one side under continuous drag, this is not a true demonstration of Rocnas performance, if it was they would be returning them in droves.
All in all from what I have seen in Brian’s testing it is very similar holding power results as to what our testing Authorities ROBERTSONS have produced, I think Brian has done a great job and if there is any reflection as to the performance of good or bad for whatever reason they are the results, if anchor designers fail to show or give confidence to the customer by way of design, strength or demonstration so be it. What it does show is what each design can offer you under a grueling test, you can make a comparison, it’s there for all to see,
Regards
Rex
