Even More Anchor Testing

 The long version (over 40 pages) will, I believe, be in Practical Sailor.

 I built a 9-pound version, suitable for my F-24 MKI. Today I tested it in sand and mud, and it exceeded expectations. It easily held the same 500 pounds in the ooze/mud that 35- 45-pound anchors have in prior testing. It set every time, it reset every time, and came up pretty clean.

 It fills my need, replacing an Excel and Northill.

 

 Alloy Excel #1 on the left, 9-pound Chesapeake anchor on the right. All it cost was some welding rod, since I have a lot of scrap.

  

 Rolling in. In practice, it always lands right side up, just because of the balance. But I tipped it a few times, just to be sure.

 

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I coated mine with industrial polyurethane. I parkerized first, then two coats, then post cured at 170F for 8 hours. It's holding up well and makes the anchor slippery. But galvinizing would be better, I just didn't have nearly enough to make the minimum (my 9 pounds vs. 600 pounds of new anchors minimum).

 

 Baltimore Galvinizing. $0.50/pound for prep if rusty (like old chain) $0.50/pound for galvanizing, $300 minimum. A couple of anchors and a few hundred feet of chain will get you there. https://www.baltimoregalv.com/