I bought a 6kg Delta anchor this afternoon to replace our cheap 7kg CQR.
I did a test on wet and dry sand by dragging it by hand. I tried to keep the rope as horizontal as possible but probably not a great test. However it was true to its name and just ploughed a big ditch. Interestingly this is what yachting monthly found in 2006 with the Delta. Think we might get something else, don't want to drag on a lee shore up the coast.

I use a Delta all the time, haven't dragged yet. I suggest you might be better to test it by using a proper amount of chain for your sizeat the relevant depth and then try and pull it. Mine just goes deeper and deeper until it disappears into the bottom and at that stage the chain follows it and then seems to acts as the anchor point because it is also down in the sand. At WOT in reverse it doesnt budge and then once it's set we dont move.

Sat out 40kn winds that were whipping us around in all sorts of directions not a meter of movement.

YMMV but I saw dry sand and damp sand. Once you add chain and water...?

Lloyd's have it at hhp same as sarca.
www.mysailing.com.au/news/anchors-the-never-ending-story

I used a 25kg delta in sand on a 12 tonnes boat with 40m of 3/8 chain in about 5 meters of water and found it worked well. But in mud with a tidal run, dragged all over the place. Ended up buying a Rocna. Full Stop. Never dragged since and sets straight away.

Hi, what is the purpose of "wrap, white colour" on the shank?. For your next test try to drag it without wraper and when water is no less than 0,5 m over your testing ground for no less than 3 hrs. Your test results will be diferent. It is comon to anchor in submerged sand. Im very or even more than satisfied with my Delta. All The Best with your gaining confidence in Delta.

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keensailor said..
I bought a 6kg Delta anchor this afternoon to replace our cheap 7kg CQR.

Define "cheap 7kg CQR". Is it a genuine CQR anchor or fabricated copy??

I assume you are talking about a plough type anchor. If it is a genuine CQR or Manson anchor it will have a forged steel shank and very accurately formed flutes that ensure a balanced dig of the anchor in the sea bed.

They have been the standard for many years and are still relevant.

Quality and cheap have no place in the same sentence except this one.

Spend first class on your boat and your business first and then you will not need to go cheap on anything else.

Our current anchor is a fabricated copy of a CQR

The white wrap around the shank in the photo is how the anchor came from the shop. Probably best to have removed that in hind sight for the test, it may have prevented shank from burying itself.

The angle of pull for this anchor is crucial. They need the correct scope. So as suggested try it in shallow water with the chain so that the shank is dragging along the sand. I think your confidence will improve.

Fwiw we started with 10m of chain for a nigh on 8m boat. Don't skimp on the chain.

Plow anchors plow, no news there. Adding about 8 metres of chain and pulling from further away will get the shank down a bit but it will still plow just need more power. Borrow someones Rocna or Spade or Ultra and do a comparison and put the video up on Youtube.

If you get a chance head to a boat show where the Ultra Anchor guys are they have this set up with just about every type of anchor known to man!!
Well worth having a play and you'll see the Delta is good but the Ultra is bloody amazing!!!

I have a 16kg Delta this is oversize for a 10m boat, which I use with 35m of 8mm chain plus 50m of nylon as back up.

I was happy with it's performance until it dragged about 75mts during an overnight anchorage when a 20-25 kt wind change came thru. I was anchored in 5m of water and had all 35mts of chain out.

The wind caused a .5 swell to come into the anchorage and I think the pitching of the boat caused the anchor to break the sandy bottom and then drag before it reset.

So after that experience I think there are better anchors available than the Delta.

I'm picking up a 9kg Rocna Vulcan tomorrow.
Would have been happy to go with a Manson Supreme at half the price but it was going to be 16 kg for my boat.
I don't think I can make my test anymore sophisticated but I will try the same thing just for interests sake.

Plenty of anchor tests on youtube where you can make up your own mind about what you are seeing and then agree or disagree with the results

Mine dragged two nights ago.

ITS A HOME BUILT MODEL BASED ON THE DESIGN.

IT WASN'T A ORGINAL DELTA ANCHOR.
Surf was good....I was in a hurry get a few b4 dark...I didn't set it properly.

I think most anchor failure is more a case of user error than anything to do with design or construction

There is no point arguing about which anchor is better as they are very specific to the type of bottom etc.

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rumblefish said..
If you get a chance head to a boat show where the Ultra Anchor guys are they have this set up with just about every type of anchor known to man!!
Well worth having a play and you'll see the Delta is good but the Ultra is bloody amazing!!!

Hi, there is no delta anchor in this clip. Deltas have no pivot on the shank symilar to CQR. do we talk about delta or Im blind?

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rumblefish said..
If you get a chance head to a boat show where the Ultra Anchor guys are they have this set up with just about every type of anchor known to man!!
Well worth having a play and you'll see the Delta is good but the Ultra is bloody amazing!!!

That is a good video but there is a difference with wet sand. The Ultra will still leave all the plows for dead but the video does not show the real advantage of Ultras and Spade anchors have with their weighted tips and hollow shanks. Toss an Ultra and chain over the side in shallow clear water and watch the anchor land perfectly every time. Sharp point and sharp edge dig the anchor straight in with just the boat drifting back on the rope.

The Rocna Vulcan dug straight in and buried itself quickly. I couldn't budge it. Pretty impressed.

Pretty much what you would expect if you copy the best anchor. Full marks to Rocna for making the shank solid and not hollow to keep the costs down to affordable levels. Keep it stowed in your anchor locker when not in use it will last longer. Holiday makers tend to take attractive items around here.

We can add to the mix the "Anchor Angel". At one time I sailed a 39ft boat in NZ and when anchoring the first time found a 12" high heavy cone of S/s with a pully on its pointy end and line also attached to its pointy end in the anchor locker.

The locals told me it was an "Anchor Angel". When anchoring step #1 was drop anchor off bow. Drift back until it holds and digs in as best as possible. ie. Feel the line as it drags along the bottom the normal way. Then step #2 put the anchor angel off the bow and let it slide down the anchor line swinging on its pully until it hits bottom.

The theory being that it holds down the end of the chain to reduce dragging. I found it worked great.

We spent one night anchored in a tiny sand bottomed bay of a small island (not our first choice) with maybe 1m waves and a 40kt breeze (as per NZ) and didnt drag one inch.