CQR, Kingston, or Sascot Plough

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Touche, Norman. I still think that something that costs "x" pounds in Britain "ought" to cost "x" dollars in the United States!

Now, allow me to display my anorakish tendency:

The Northill anchor was, I believe, developed for seaplanes, in the USA, and is by all accounts an excellent yacht anchor, but it is no longer made, simply because Danforth bought out the patent.

The CQR on the other hand was not made for seaplanes; it was developed as a yacht anchor, by Professor Sir Geoffrey Taylor, FRS, whose biography, here:

http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~histo ry/Mathematicians/Taylor_Geoffrey.html

is worth reading. It completely fails to mention his invention of the CQR, or his membership of the Royal Cruising Club, athough his obituary in the Times (link from the main webpage) does mention his invention of a "ploughshare - like" anchor and correctly says that this was used to moor the Mulberry Harbour caissons in Normandy in 1944.

The widespread belief that the CQR was used as a seaplane anchor arises, I think, from confusion with the Northill, and also in part because another celebrated item of British yachting
equipment, the Baby Blake WC, was indeed fitted to Sunderland flying boats in WW2 (they made special aluminium version!)

Anyway, to get back to the point, Professor Taylor invented the CQR because he was fed up with handling the Fisherman on his 19 ton cutter, and I have a copy of the original article that he wrote about it in the Yachting Monthly.

Given the phenomenal mathematical distinction of its inventor, one of the great applied mathematicians of thepast century, it seems to me that the CQR is precisely the right shape, and that a copy might not be.

But I just enjoy thinking about Professor Taylor, sent to the Royal Aircraft Establishment to improve the manufacture of aircraft propeller shafts in WW1, and finding it necessary to learn to fly, and to parachute, in order to do so, whenever I pick up a CQR!

There can surely be no other item of yacht equipment with so distinguished a progenitor!

[ 05-12-2004, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[Scott Rosen]

Stu,

I remember reading some articles about how the imitation CQR's don't set or hold as well.

But look at it this way. Say a CQR costs you a couple of hundred bucks more than the imitation. Even if you're really strapped for cash, it's worth it. An anchor is probably the most important piece of safety equipment on board (except the skipper's brain), and the entire vessel and her crew's life may be lost because an anchor doesn't set and hold. It's cheap insurance. What's your boat and your life worth?

Having said that, I'd note that Fortress has been rated as having the best holding power, bar none. It's a lot lighter than a CQR for the holding power, and it's also a lot less expensive.

[Scott Rosen]

Stu,

I remember reading some articles about how the imitation CQR's don't set or hold as well.

But look at it this way. Say a CQR costs you a couple of hundred bucks more than the imitation. Even if you're really strapped for cash, it's worth it. An anchor is probably the most important piece of safety equipment on board (except the skipper's brain), and the entire vessel and her crew's life may be lost because an anchor doesn't set and hold. It's cheap insurance. What's your boat and your life worth?

Having said that, I'd note that Fortress has been rated as having the best holding power, bar none. It's a lot lighter than a CQR for the holding power, and it's also a lot less expensive.

[Scott Rosen]

Stu,

I remember reading some articles about how the imitation CQR's don't set or hold as well.

But look at it this way. Say a CQR costs you a couple of hundred bucks more than the imitation. Even if you're really strapped for cash, it's worth it. An anchor is probably the most important piece of safety equipment on board (except the skipper's brain), and the entire vessel and her crew's life may be lost because an anchor doesn't set and hold. It's cheap insurance. What's your boat and your life worth?

Having said that, I'd note that Fortress has been rated as having the best holding power, bar none. It's a lot lighter than a CQR for the holding power, and it's also a lot less expensive.

[Stu Fyfe]

Scott,
That's a very convincing way of putting it. I see your point. The Fortress is rated higher than the CQR?
Fortress
CQR

[ 05-12-2004, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: Stu Fyfe ]

[Stu Fyfe]

Scott,
That's a very convincing way of putting it. I see your point. The Fortress is rated higher than the CQR?
Fortress
CQR

[ 05-12-2004, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: Stu Fyfe ]

[Stu Fyfe]

Scott,
That's a very convincing way of putting it. I see your point. The Fortress is rated higher than the CQR?
Fortress
CQR

[ 05-12-2004, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: Stu Fyfe ]

[Venchka]

and...

Hamilton Marine stocks C.Q.R., Fortress, Kingston yachtsman & plows for less than West marine.

Based on what has been said above, I think a strong case could be made for a Fortress, C.Q.R. and yachtsman aboard the same boat.

[Venchka]

and...

Hamilton Marine stocks C.Q.R., Fortress, Kingston yachtsman & plows for less than West marine.

Based on what has been said above, I think a strong case could be made for a Fortress, C.Q.R. and yachtsman aboard the same boat.

[Venchka]

and...

Hamilton Marine stocks C.Q.R., Fortress, Kingston yachtsman & plows for less than West marine.

Based on what has been said above, I think a strong case could be made for a Fortress, C.Q.R. and yachtsman aboard the same boat.

[Ian McColgin]

The Fortress, like the original Danforth, holds quite well in its conditions - better on some bottoms than the CQR.

However, the CQR resets far far far better if there's a serious wind or current shift and will penetrate hard clay and grassy bottoms that the danforth types can't get a grip on.

I do have a nice big danforth, but I have a lot of anchors anyway. The four I keep most at hand are all CQR's.

Were I to have only two anchors, they would both be CQR. Were I to have only one, it would be a biggish CQR.

Lots of folk advocate a 'lunch hook' as well as a 'bower anchor.' Seems silly to me. It's not really that much harder to pluck (for my size boat) a 65# anchor than a 45#. Say you've a smaller boat and the choises are 20# and 35#. What's the big deal? Don't get the smallest anchor that will hold. Get the biggest anchor you can handle. Then sleep well.

[Ian McColgin]

The Fortress, like the original Danforth, holds quite well in its conditions - better on some bottoms than the CQR.

However, the CQR resets far far far better if there's a serious wind or current shift and will penetrate hard clay and grassy bottoms that the danforth types can't get a grip on.

I do have a nice big danforth, but I have a lot of anchors anyway. The four I keep most at hand are all CQR's.

Were I to have only two anchors, they would both be CQR. Were I to have only one, it would be a biggish CQR.

Lots of folk advocate a 'lunch hook' as well as a 'bower anchor.' Seems silly to me. It's not really that much harder to pluck (for my size boat) a 65# anchor than a 45#. Say you've a smaller boat and the choises are 20# and 35#. What's the big deal? Don't get the smallest anchor that will hold. Get the biggest anchor you can handle. Then sleep well.

[Ian McColgin]

The Fortress, like the original Danforth, holds quite well in its conditions - better on some bottoms than the CQR.

However, the CQR resets far far far better if there's a serious wind or current shift and will penetrate hard clay and grassy bottoms that the danforth types can't get a grip on.

I do have a nice big danforth, but I have a lot of anchors anyway. The four I keep most at hand are all CQR's.

Were I to have only two anchors, they would both be CQR. Were I to have only one, it would be a biggish CQR.

Lots of folk advocate a 'lunch hook' as well as a 'bower anchor.' Seems silly to me. It's not really that much harder to pluck (for my size boat) a 65# anchor than a 45#. Say you've a smaller boat and the choises are 20# and 35#. What's the big deal? Don't get the smallest anchor that will hold. Get the biggest anchor you can handle. Then sleep well.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

There is another point about the CQR; one that I found out the hard way.

It is quite possible to snag a CQR, a Fisherman or a Danforth/Fortess type on a ground chain, if you anchor anywhere where there are, or were, moorings.

The difference is what you do about it. With a Danforth or Fortress the chain gets snagged and gripped ever tighter between flukes and shank, whilst a Fisherman just hooks it.

In either case, you are stuffed.

A CQR, on the other hand, can be freed.

You need a sort length of chain - about a foot or so. With this you need a shackle that will pass through it and a length of line.

Shackle the short length of chain to itself to make a loop encircling the anchor rode. Bend the line to this loop. Haul taut on the anchor rode so that it is "up and down", and drop the loop down the rode.

Withn any reasonable luck, the chain loop will slide down the rode and as far as the ploughshare part of the anchor, which it cannot pass over.

Now slacken the rode, as abruptly as possible, so you get a pile of chain next to or even on top of the CQR. Haul taut on the line bent to the loop.

Up comes the CQR. Magio!

I have had to do this trick, which is in Hiscock's book, a couple of times, and it really works! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-14-2004, 05:51 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

There is another point about the CQR; one that I found out the hard way.

It is quite possible to snag a CQR, a Fisherman or a Danforth/Fortess type on a ground chain, if you anchor anywhere where there are, or were, moorings.

The difference is what you do about it. With a Danforth or Fortress the chain gets snagged and gripped ever tighter between flukes and shank, whilst a Fisherman just hooks it.

In either case, you are stuffed.

A CQR, on the other hand, can be freed.

You need a sort length of chain - about a foot or so. With this you need a shackle that will pass through it and a length of line.

Shackle the short length of chain to itself to make a loop encircling the anchor rode. Bend the line to this loop. Haul taut on the anchor rode so that it is "up and down", and drop the loop down the rode.

Withn any reasonable luck, the chain loop will slide down the rode and as far as the ploughshare part of the anchor, which it cannot pass over.

Now slacken the rode, as abruptly as possible, so you get a pile of chain next to or even on top of the CQR. Haul taut on the line bent to the loop.

Up comes the CQR. Magio!

I have had to do this trick, which is in Hiscock's book, a couple of times, and it really works! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-14-2004, 05:51 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

There is another point about the CQR; one that I found out the hard way.

It is quite possible to snag a CQR, a Fisherman or a Danforth/Fortess type on a ground chain, if you anchor anywhere where there are, or were, moorings.

The difference is what you do about it. With a Danforth or Fortress the chain gets snagged and gripped ever tighter between flukes and shank, whilst a Fisherman just hooks it.

In either case, you are stuffed.

A CQR, on the other hand, can be freed.

You need a sort length of chain - about a foot or so. With this you need a shackle that will pass through it and a length of line.

Shackle the short length of chain to itself to make a loop encircling the anchor rode. Bend the line to this loop. Haul taut on the anchor rode so that it is "up and down", and drop the loop down the rode.

Withn any reasonable luck, the chain loop will slide down the rode and as far as the ploughshare part of the anchor, which it cannot pass over.

Now slacken the rode, as abruptly as possible, so you get a pile of chain next to or even on top of the CQR. Haul taut on the line bent to the loop.

Up comes the CQR. Magio!

I have had to do this trick, which is in Hiscock's book, a couple of times, and it really works! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-14-2004, 05:51 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[Wilson Fitt]

Out first anchor is a 45# CQR set on 3/8 BBB chain usually to 3 or 4 times the water depth. This has never let us down once set. We have had trouble setting in thin sand over a coral base, in boulders on a tide scrubbed bottom and in thin ooze. The solution in the last case was to let the anchor sit for awhile until it sank to firmer stuff, then it was OK, but what an unholy mess on the chain when it came back up. I would be quick to go to a 65# CQR if one came along at a good price.

I wouldn't take an off brand version, but I'm pretty conservative about these things. Once we chartered a boat (a "Boxcar 50") in the USVI with a no-name plough that was a pitiful thing. The only redeeming virtue was an electric windlass that made it easy to haul back up for the umpteenth reset.

Our standard second anchor is a 45# yachtsman in which I have great faith, but it is hard to manage without dinging the topsides. We also have a 75# yachtsman and have used it on several occasions for the big blow, and a little 22# Danforth for kedging off etc. I have always had very good luck with Danforths, again always the real thing.

One of the learned authors on boats and gear said that, in matters relating to ground tackle, you can tell you are starting down the right path when the folks in the marina point and laugh at how obviously overweight your gear is.

[Wilson Fitt]

Out first anchor is a 45# CQR set on 3/8 BBB chain usually to 3 or 4 times the water depth. This has never let us down once set. We have had trouble setting in thin sand over a coral base, in boulders on a tide scrubbed bottom and in thin ooze. The solution in the last case was to let the anchor sit for awhile until it sank to firmer stuff, then it was OK, but what an unholy mess on the chain when it came back up. I would be quick to go to a 65# CQR if one came along at a good price.

I wouldn't take an off brand version, but I'm pretty conservative about these things. Once we chartered a boat (a "Boxcar 50") in the USVI with a no-name plough that was a pitiful thing. The only redeeming virtue was an electric windlass that made it easy to haul back up for the umpteenth reset.

Our standard second anchor is a 45# yachtsman in which I have great faith, but it is hard to manage without dinging the topsides. We also have a 75# yachtsman and have used it on several occasions for the big blow, and a little 22# Danforth for kedging off etc. I have always had very good luck with Danforths, again always the real thing.

One of the learned authors on boats and gear said that, in matters relating to ground tackle, you can tell you are starting down the right path when the folks in the marina point and laugh at how obviously overweight your gear is.

[Wilson Fitt]

Out first anchor is a 45# CQR set on 3/8 BBB chain usually to 3 or 4 times the water depth. This has never let us down once set. We have had trouble setting in thin sand over a coral base, in boulders on a tide scrubbed bottom and in thin ooze. The solution in the last case was to let the anchor sit for awhile until it sank to firmer stuff, then it was OK, but what an unholy mess on the chain when it came back up. I would be quick to go to a 65# CQR if one came along at a good price.

I wouldn't take an off brand version, but I'm pretty conservative about these things. Once we chartered a boat (a "Boxcar 50") in the USVI with a no-name plough that was a pitiful thing. The only redeeming virtue was an electric windlass that made it easy to haul back up for the umpteenth reset.

Our standard second anchor is a 45# yachtsman in which I have great faith, but it is hard to manage without dinging the topsides. We also have a 75# yachtsman and have used it on several occasions for the big blow, and a little 22# Danforth for kedging off etc. I have always had very good luck with Danforths, again always the real thing.

One of the learned authors on boats and gear said that, in matters relating to ground tackle, you can tell you are starting down the right path when the folks in the marina point and laugh at how obviously overweight your gear is.