Anchoring is like politics and religion. You really want to be careful who you broach the subject with. Your friends will die to protect their beliefs, no matter how wrong they are. You should never participate in any online discussion in any of the forums with anchoring as the subject. I always do all three things, that’s how I know.
If you think I’m going to tell you which anchor to buy, you’re wrong. Just buy one at least one size bigger than the manufacturer’s biggest recommendation if you want to sleep well. Most people are really happy with their new generation anchors: ie Rocna, Manson Supreme, Mantus, and other similar anchors that are available in the US. Most people are cruising with older generation anchors. CQR, Bruce, Danforth and Delta being the most common anchors hanging on the bows of 25- 60 foot boats on the Pacific Coast of North America. They are also pretty happy with their anchors. If I buy a new anchor, that is when a bag of money drops on our deck and I buy a new anchor, I’m buying a Mantus. I don’t want to argue so I’m not telling you why but my mind is made up.
If you read our post Duct Tape On The Rocks, you’ll know that they ended up on the beach because their rode failed, not their anchor. They were not the first nor the last boat on that beach this year. None of them had their anchor drag. None of them experienced unusual weather. All three had their rodes fail. All three had 50 feet of chain and 3/4″ three strand nylon rope. All three were cut on a rock or some other bottom obstruction. I have determined that in the La Cruz de Huanacaxtle anchorage, that is not how to anchor your boat.