New Generation Anchor

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These new anchors by Spade have progressed beyond "prototype" stage when we first saw them, see
Cruisers and Sailing Forums Sword anchors

The prototypes appeared at boatshows from about Feb 2010.
imco there's no logic for these anchors to be produced - progressed is a non-operative word -
unless it's marketed for buyers to have something on their anchor rack that appears fashionable and modern - but cheap.
'Prototype' would refer to a newly invented anchor, but the Spade Spoon and Seablade are entirely derivitive.

SPOON
The Spoon is as FLAT AS A CREPE with an approx 22 degree up bend at the back of the blade.
As someone points out it has more Bugel/Wasi heritage than a Supreme. Suggest SPATULE as more appropriate pet name.

SEABLADE
The Seablade is actually SPOON shaped. If you held the fluke horizontal it would hold water (and mud.)
You can find better photos at: ancre seablade SB9 Sea Tech and Fun Europe. It looks like a welded together Spade ( and it has no under-structure like the original shank-to-fluke bolt together Spade) but comes with the stylish bow handle. One of the photos is a view of the Seablade from center back: maybe it's my glasses but looks to me like the shank has a crank in it already, like a chinesey Rocna. Looks like you buy it already pre-bent.
It's relationship to Rocna is more incidental than inspired. In keeping with the 'S' first letter theme, suggest renaming this one: mon SHOVEL'.

They are being robotically assembled in Tunesia where the now obsolete Oceane and Sword anchors were once made.
Don't know where hoopless Spades are manufactured, probably Tunesia. Spades are well thought of and have satisfied fans. Hard to get in the US.

There is a commercial spokesman on the Cruisers and Sailing forum (SA/USA) who says the Seablade & Spoon are now
"available to the weekend sailer and fisherman."
Guess he says that they aren't manufactured as full time anchors, only good for two days a week, and not the work week at that.

This is unique marketing hype. A fashionable looking anchor designed to be used as a lunch hook.
Materials ae not mentioned. NO RINA OR LLOYDS CERTIFICATION. Available in the 15 - 45lb range.

BALIVERNES !
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[continued from the last post on pg 9]
*Yachting and Boating World Forums - Rocna Anchors acquired by Canadian Metals Pacific - www.ybw.com/forums
You'll find it under 'Yachting Monthly's Scuttlebut'
see GrantKing post #977 for his response to an internal poster about what happened with his lawsuit. He was counter-sued & accused (by Bambury, in response to, I believe, Grant King instigating a legal claim for $80,000 to $90,000 owed to him by Holdfast) of stealing cash that was to be used to pay invoices from RINA. The bribery charge stems from the illogic that anyone instead of using a bank transfer would take CASH from N.Z. into China to pay (pay off?) RINA. RINA is an Italian certification service that bestows SHHP to anchors that pass their tests.
The implication of bribery is serious. It is not clear what actually happened. Not clear from Grant King what actually happened. Bambury's Rocna/ Holdfast Co. is now liquidated. GrantKing who was Bambury/Holdfast's China operations manager will not recover money owed.
Super High Holding Power is what every commercial anchor maker wants his anchors to have as a selling point. Obviously the maker has to pay the certifier for the classification service. Many anchors are not SHHP classified. And there are other certifiers like Lloyds.

My opinion is that there should be a special certification consolation category called SDLH for the specifation downgraded CMP/Rocna's now being sold fraudulantly with implied RINA SHHP certification on their site. A 25lb CMP/Rocna might be certified as a Super Duper Lunch Hook.

I believe that a third (or fourth party) has to unravel this briney tale of anchor huckstering. It's time.
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ROCNA home page
Just visited what appears to me, a long time non-visitor, Rocna's newly polished website. There, looking into Rocna's RINA claims, you discover they do claim to have 2008 SHHP for anchors from 121lb to 243lb. But NO RINA SHHP FOR THE WHOLE LOWER WEIGHT RANGE. They are "in the process of updating RINA for Rocna originals." The RINA certs they have dates from 2008 when China manufacturing began and New Zealand made anchors shut down. Certification would end after a certain specified time period - but no doubt become invaid any time materials and processes changed.

I cannot find what they mean by "Rocna originals" unless they INTEND to go back to "rolled steel plate shank to rolled steel plate fluke." The smaller CMP/Rocna anchors are all made with chinese cast iron flukes - which CMP/Rocna says they will continue. Did not see an explaination of what is meant by originals. They do say that "mechanical testing" was done by RINA in Shanghai dated 5/25/2011.* BUT it is not clear just what anchors (of what date) were tested - OR what is meant by "mechanical testing". I'd guess "original Rocna's" wants the buzz phrase to be mis-interpreted to mean original New Zealand Rocna's made by New Zealanders in New Zealand. Remember also that Bis 80 type steel for the shank was original to the original N.Z. Ronca. [Cast iron flukes are cast iron, but if they intend to be original, cast iron flukes could be seen as cast iron intending to be rolled steel.] CMP/Rocna may be trying to say they are getting the cast fluke anchors certified SHHP - by somebody.

Did not see hype on the site as to what anchor metal specs are now being marketed by CMP/Rocna.
But they clearly know that if they mention SHHP enough times fools will simply associate the acronym with all CMP/Rocna anchors.
It's easy to see how uninformed buyers will be impressed and sucked-in visiting the website. And easy as well to see that CMP owns the subterfuge. It's possible that CMP/Rocna is trying to say they are not going to get RINA SHHP cerification for the cast fluke range of anchors. So what does it matter?
Buyer beware. ROCNA HAS NO RINA CERTIFICATION FOR SHHP IN SMALL TO MEDIUM YACHT SIZE RANGE ANCHORS.

I hope interested sailors keep on this case.
It is time now for boat owners worldwide to lobby for a new big time, real time, unbiased comparison test between all popular anchors.

Bye. Sincerely intend to leave this subject fester and let it be. Done for now!
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*A picture of this certification document appears on P.Smith's website. The 'Applicant is Canada Metals (Pacific) Limited.' The 'Manufacturer is Shanghai Pangtong Business Enterprise Development Co, Ltd.' Given the strange 'current' date for 'approval' (5/25/2011 valid until 5/24/2016) which certainly appears way out of sync with the certification process stated in the document of anchors seabed tested at Auchland N.Z. 12/3/2008, that is for anchors with >rolled steel shanks welded to rolled steel blades< that subsequently had 'mechanical tests' at Shanghai 1/18-19/2011..... IMCO the document is counterfeit. Or procured fraudulently by Canada Metal (Pacific) Limited as stated on the 'Approval Certificate' dated as in the second sentence above. without actual testing by RINA.
It may be that RINA actually has rescinded all their Rocna Certifications and this is a fake interim document until CMP Global buys some sort of certification to boost sales. There is no proof for this, except what I've downloaded. 'Applicable Anchor Weights are for 4.1kg range to 110.0 kg'. Those are the common yacht anchors chandleries stock and catalog, that we all are talking about here. Except those anchors NOW for sale are NOT the anchors described in this certification. 'Approved Drawings (NOT shown) are dated 6/26/2009, 3/17/2010.' The paragraph on top of the 'applicable anchor weights' specifies that "Fabricated SHHP anchors with rolled steel plate shank welded to rolled steel plate fluke..." are what the approval certificate is specifically for,
IN MY OPINION THIS IS A POORLY ALTERED CUT-AND-PASTE FRAUD, PROBABLY PECULIAR TO THE P.SMITH SITE. THE ONLY REASON FOR BEING THERE IS AS A RUSE TO CONVINCE UNWARY VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE THAT ROCNA ANCHORS HAVE RINA SHHP CERTIFICATION. NOT SO. The hype on the website says the anchors are "SHHP type". BUT THEY ARE NOT TESTED BY RINA.
NOT A SINGLE CHINA ROCNA HAS SHHP APPROVAL CERTIFICATION - ESPECIALLY FROM RINA.
There can be no other explanation for this document to exist and apparently validated by a RINA rep whose name is on the document.