Poll: better anchor for soft mud

[Skysurfer2010]

I have a box anchor which has been ok but not great in soft mud of the Delaware River. Considering an fx7 or possibly a mantus if it will fit in the bow anchor locker of a 2020 242se.

 

[jEt_jAk]

I have used the fx7 and the mantus and the mantus blows it away in every scenario I have tried.

 

[Skysurfer2010]

I have used the fx7 and the mantus and the mantus blows it away in every scenario I have tried.

Have you compared in soft mud? I spent a couple hours reading last night and it sounds like fx7 gets the better reviews specifically for soft mud. All other applications it sounds like the mantus is better.

Plus I'm not sure the mantus will fit into the anchor locker without modifying the boat.

 

[Dean P]

Have you compared in soft mud? I spent a couple hours reading last night and it sounds like fx7 gets the better reviews specifically for soft mud. All other applications it sounds like the mantus is better.

Plus I'm not sure the mantus will fit into the anchor locker without modifying the boat.

I've been using Fortress anchors for 30 years with no issues. Just make sure you have min 6' chain. I recently switched the chain to coated chain so there is no rust spots and does not scratch the boat.

 

[jEt_jAk]

I am not sure if the mud was soft or not but I can say that I had a lot of issues with the FX-7 and holding overall. Probably a bit heavier would work better though. The mantus probably won’t fit in the anchor locker. It doesn’t fit in mine.

 

[F.M.]

We pretty much only have soft mud here in North Alabama. We use Richter anchors with 5-6ft of chain and only a 2 or 3 to 1 rope ratio, and never drift. On days with no wind, we often use 1 anchor for 2 boats.

 

[Matt Phillips]

I had a small custom-made box on my 23 footer and never had an issue with it in sane, mud, waves, or current. The custom wouldn't fit in the locker of my 242, so I went with the collapsing small box. I found over the first couple of years, that if there was any wind or wave action, it would slip.

My working theory over that season was that even with a 2:1 or 3:1 scope, the rode would pull tight and the wave action of the boat would life the arm up on the box and dislodge it. Rather than go spent $100+ on another anchor and then try to figure out how to wedge it into the anchor locker, last year I got about 8 feet of chain and put that on the set up. The idea was that this chain would be heavy enough that even with a 2:1 scope, any wave action by the boat would be absorbed by the chain and not disturb the box anchor.

It worked like a charm every time last season and I don't recall it slipping once.

So for the cost of $20 in chain and an extra shackle, you might give that a try and see how it does on a trip before investing in a completely new anchor.

 

[Skysurfer2010]

Yeah that might be a good option. Especially since I just found out the box anchor will fit in the new yams anchor box.

 

[Matt Phillips]

Yep, a small folded box anchor will fit perfect in there. Go to Home Depot and get a piece of rebar, cut it to fit the width of the anchor locker supports, paint it (I put spray-on bed liner on it) so it won't rust, slip the rebar through the folded anchor and then the bottom of the anchor will fit into the little notch at the bottom of the anchor locker. I can't take credit for that simple idea as someone else on the board had it first. This will keep the anchor firmly in pace and not bounce it around int he locker and cause spider cracks. I don't recall the exact way, but there is one-two ways you can fold the box so it won't fit in the anchor locker. play around with it and it'll fit.

Also, while you're working on your anchor and line this season, get some painters tape and a sharpie. Mask off a 1" stripe on the anchor line at 10 feet. Fill in the stripe with your sharpie. Then do 2 stripes at 20', 3 @ 30'. At 60', go back to single stripe and then 2 @70. That way when you want a 2:1 scope in say 15' of water, your anchor crew will know to let out a little more than 3 stripes. There's never any second guessing on the amount of line out. I find in fresh water I need to refresh the stripes about every two season.

 

[Skysurfer2010]

Thanks, already the plan! ?

And I have knots in my anchor line every 10 feet so I can count how much rode I let out.