I'm about to get a new anchor for my boat. The bow anchor storage compartment is 20" wide. I was thinking of getting a Fortress or Guardian anchor after hearing many good things about them, but I don't think one will fit in my locker. I currently have a fluke anchor with a slip ring, and while overnighting over the weekend came unset twice, it might have been that I didn't have enough line out though. Any advice on what to get, or stick with what I have?

How big is your anchor locker? Do you have a bow roller?

I wish I had a bow roller. Anchor locker is about 20" wide, and 20" or so deep, but the shank on the anchor would be going down into the anchor rode.

I can barely get my fortress in my anchor locker. It's a strugle and if I don't have the right angle, or the line shifts in the wrong direction, it's VERY difficult to get it out.

My solution.... I keep the anchor line & chain, and a small extra anchor in the anchor locker, and I secure the fortress in another storage location.

My fortress won't fit in my anchor locker, but I keep a fluke for those short times on the hook. If I need the fortress I will put it together as it is my second anchor.

I got an XYZ anchor. Love it and it fits in the anchor locker since it has a short shank.

Wow those XYZs sure cost alot. Is the fortress worth the struggle with the anchor locker?

1) Anchor style selection depends on the bottom condition you anchor in.

2) Always get an anchor sized as a "lunch hook" or a "storm anchor" depending on which way you want to use it.

3) Always get as much chain as you can man-handle, at least some heavy chain weight about as long as the lenght of the boat when its stretched out straight. Usually, a boat with a heavy anchor rode will want to try out (to see if it makes a performance difference that is important to the boat owner) both with all that weight all the way up in the bow and then all that weight in the stern.

Your boat and your boat's equipment both need to please you.

The Fortress FX-7 should fit in my anchor locker, just barely. I'm thinking it would be wise to get the FX-11, just for the added storm capability. My boat is a 22.5' cuddy. General opinions?

What does their size chart say?

Go two sizes or more bigger if you do not know the bottom type for your cruising grounds.

You must weight down the "designed to be very light weight" anchors to get them to hold best by using heavy chain and then the anchor line up to the boat.

Suggests the FX-7 for up to a 27' boat, but the anchor is only 4lbs.

I've only got 4ft of chain right now. I'll be picking up 10 feet while I'm at lowes, and might try that with my current anchor before I buy a fortress?

I personally think the only advantage to the fortress over a steel anchor the same size/shape is weight. As seabuddy says, the lower weight may actually reduce the effectiveness slightly.

Like others, I carry a smaller anchor for regular use - 8 lb fluke type which will hold my 24 foot boat most of the time. It just fits in the anchor locker.

When I really want to dig in, or it's really windy, I also have a 14lb steel fluke anchor on board - which works well also.

Anchoring correctly was one of those things that didn't come naturally for me - I can't tell you how many times I embarrassed myself and floated away from an anchor spot. The trick is the chain - a good length of chain will make all the difference in the world.