I have never
liked tandem anchors, because with a change in direction, the lead
anchor always rolls out and becomes pinned on its back, a position from which it often cannot recover. All of the manufacturers, other than Rocna,
agree. So how did the idea become popularized?
Some time ago I was reading a 1930s sailing book, pre-CQR and
pre-Danforth, and they showed a tandem anchor set up. They liked it for
mud, not rocks. And their reasoning made perfect sense for the time, because...
- The anchors were both traditional fisherman style. There was no back to roll over onto. If it rolls, it is ready to dig again.
- A fisherman is poor in mud but good in rocks.
- A fisherman doesn't really bury well, so the negative impact of secondary rode tension is small.
- V-arrangements are fatal with fisherman's anchors; you will foul for sure. So this is the only logical 2-anchor rig.
So in-line tandems were traditionally used with fisherman's- or yachtsman's-style anchors... but are wrong with
today's less symmetrical anchors.
I wonder if it would work with twin Northills? I'm
temped to get another one, just to see. I'll have to watch E-Bay, just because I like to expereiment.
Note 3-2020. I did test this with a Northill. As per other trials, the secondary buried and the Northill was suspended above the bottom. Useless. As with all in-line tandems, it probably works on hardpan.
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