is there a difference b/w bruce and bruce like anchor???

[RonE]

Well i finished my installation of my CR-1 windline anchor roller, looks real nice thanks to Ron Hill for the informative write up and photos.
Curious,
I am searching thru the internet looking both used and new #33 bruce anchors, i am seeing a huge price variation, does bruce still exist. And if not which is the best bruce like anchor.
Thanks Ron

[Stu Jackson]

Bruce stopped making anchors for recreational boats a number of years ago.  Lewmar now makes the Bruce knockoffs.

Any reason you're not considering a new gen anchor?

[RonE]

Hey Stu,
Which anchor do you carry...
Ron

[RonE]

Wow!  Lots of opinions, just browsed for a while, old school, new generation, next generation anchors... I will have to read and listen a bit more..
Ron

[Stu Jackson]

Ron,

We carry a Rocna 10 (22#).  You should look in the "101 Topics" which include this

Anchoring 101  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2705.0.html

We used to carry a Bruce.  Not the knockoff.

The anchor system sizing thread in that 101 thread is also helpful to make the correct decisions on your anchor and rode component sizing.

The "trick" is simple:  What's your boat worth to you?

While the Bruce was a trusted anchor in it's day, and is still used in large (huge?) sizes for oil rigs, the new gen anchors are far superior, like it really warms my heart when my anchor catches every single time and pulls me off the bow when it sets!  And I anchor out every week.

With your new roller you should have no issue with any reasonable sized anchor related to correctly setting on your roller and not hitting the bow.

Happy hunting.

[ghebbns]

Stu,

What size and length chain do you use with your Rocna?

Thanks,

Greg

[tonywright]

You should read MaineSail on Rocna. I did. I bought a Manson Supreme. Now supremely happy!

BTW I understand that they don't make the Bruce's like they used to, either.

[waterdog]

Opinions are sometimes helpful and often entertaining, but often hard to sort through when you want to make a decision.   The beauty of what Mainesail does is he forms opinions based upon years of experience and objective test data that he works damn hard to present in the clearest terms for the benefit of all of us.  Watch his videos on anchors and you will never weight all the opinions equally again.  

[mainesail]

BTW I understand that they don't make the Bruce's like they used to, either.

This is an understatement. The original Bruce was heat treated cast steel. Very, very strong! When the patent ran out everyone and their brother made a race to the bottom to build the cheapest knock of they could including Chinese made CAST IRON versions and numerous cast tell versions that were never heat treated. Bruce refused to cheapen the product to compete (eg: Rocna) and instead chose to simply take the anchor off the market.

There are also vast differences in geometry and none of the copies are exactly like the original Bruce. The Manson Ray is perhaps the best copy but very, very, very expensive.

The original Bruce was about the best of the "old gen" crowd but did require a larger sizing than other anchors in the weight class. For a C-34 I would not use anything smaller than a Bruce 44 though I know some have used the 33.

We used a Bruce 33 on a C-30 and dragged in 55 knots. It dragged steadily while it remained set. We had to throw out to Fortress to stop dragging. In the morning the Bruce was a full arms length buried into the mud bottom but had dragged about 300 yards. It never un-set, this is good, but simply lacked the holding power for a C-30 in 55 knots.

You may also want to look into the Manson Supreme or the Mantus. Anchors are really not something you buy on price, you want to buy on performance..

[Ron Hill]

Ron E : To answer your question.  Who know what the real metallurgy and quality assurance is of anchor made in China?  You get what you pay for!!

Take Mainsail's advice and purchase a good anchor based on performance. 
An anchor is not something that you purchase every few years!!  A few thoughts

[Stu Jackson]

Stu,

What size and length chain do you use with your Rocna?

Greg, it is discussed in the anchor system sizing link, IIRC.  35 feet of 1/4".  But you have to read that link to understand how I sized my SYSTEM as compared to, say, Steve (waterdog) and how he did his, and completely different than most folks back east.

[Ron Hill]

Stu : Just mentioned a mouthful!!  "You have to read that link to understand how I sized my SYSTEM as compared to, say, Steve (waterdog) and how he did his, and completely different than most folks back east "
Yes, the information is out there, but you have to read so you can understand it. 

My thoughts

[mainesail]

As I mentioned many "knock-off" Bruce "style" anchors are quite poorly executed. The original shape of the Bruce was exhaustively tested, tweaked, re-tested etc. etc.. The shank angles, fluke shape, surface area, wing angles etc. are all they way they are on a Bruce because they spent the time to make sure it worked as best it could. The shape, angles, surface area, steel used, shank lengths etc., on an original Bruce, are not a mistake they are by design....

It is no wonder Bruce pulled in their shingle so they were not put in the same rubbish pile as some of the cheap copies.

While some are better than others most are pretty horrific in their "copy" of a Bruce in all aspects from materials to angles to surface area.. A look-a-like is just that..

Shank angle (WOW)


Wing angle, height, shape, leading edge etc..


Surface area, shank length, wing width,  wing angles etc. etc. etc...


Why would anyone "copy" an good anchor design then mess it up sooooo badly? Oh yeah so they can sell if for $99.00, build it in China, and sell it to unsuspecting and "trusting" boat owners...

[Stu Jackson]

Here are some pictures of the new gen anchors on C34s

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4457.0.html

A search on "Rocna" will bring up many more discussions.

I think Maine Sail's last post says it all.  Copies are not exactly what the original originally was.  

This continues here:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7464.0.html