Bruce Anchor - buy or not?

[ebb]

Goodwin is an engineer. He approaches comparing from a no nonsense point of view.
His RESET tests, recorded underwater with GoPro cameras, are the only consistent,
objectively evaluated, group anchor testing in existence.
As you may have noticed I've given him the benefit of doubt. His perfunctory deliberate
approach to testing is 'extreme', to put a word to it. His anchors are larger than what
we would use on Ariel's. But only a size larger than what we might choose for a storm
anchor. His marvelous ship is, imco, not really an issue, because he is performing
extreme resets and holding on extreme short scope. Can't imagine anything more useful
than this choice of comparison testing. When I've looked at past testing by anchor
vendors and manufacturers, Goodwin's method favors no type of anchor over another.

Banding words, could say his test grounds are an extreme normal. His methodology:
we want it extreme, because it represents the upper limit of what we can expect from
the anchor. We want to know how short a scope an anchor holds the boat.

Goodwin's testing would be more useful in more bottoms. But his choice of anchors is
tested in the same sand/mud/grassy bottom (rather than just mud, say) -- I'd argue
it is perfect testing ground. Some of his test's were done up in the San Juan's.

So we have to extrapolate/imagine what an anchor will do in pebble, shale, rock,
solid grass, kelp, hard sand, oozey muck.

Cruisers have liked Bruce because when dropped on its side it always digs in one of the
blunt tines. Only in softer bottoms will it turn (or not turn) and bury further. But if we
compare it with a sharp pointed single fluke TYPE anchor,. the single fluke will
penetrate more sea floors (like hard sand, grass, kelp, etc.)
The Bruce was designed as a huge mud anchor for oil rigs. Yacht sized it's barely OK.
It depends where you are or will be cruising. It depends. So, it may be perfect for you.
And if it is the one-piece genuine cast Spheroidal Iron Bruce, it will be fun to try.

I've discovered and Goodwin's testing has once & for all proven that a couple popular
single fluke rollbar anchors are dangerous to depend on. Dangerous to trust.

It's hard to believe that a Genuine Bruce is a precisely engineered anchor. That's why
ALL copies are lesser anchors. InMyConsiderableOpinion the two popular rollbar anchors
on chandlery shelves today cannot be depended on. Because Rocna and the Manson
Supreme are NOT ENGINEERED, Ebb categorizes them as whimsy anchors, from
individual designers, whose (lack of) DESIGN expertise is finally being called to attention.

A dependable new yacht anchor, imco, is the take-apart Mantus. BUT this anchor is,
imco, stupidly engineered for deck use, because of the funky way the fluke is assembled.
However, it's wide sharp pointed blade equates to 'extreme' holding power when set.
(This is conjecture, not tested by me, or found on any forum I've visited). Goodwin
approaches anchors from an engineer's point of view, yet allows the immeasurable
intuition its weight. I lean in that direction, he's not promoting anybody's hook
-- just being nasty. (for some reason, a good anchor does often look good, too)

Good luck! and I'm pretty sure good luck is what we all need when it comes to anchors.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````

TAKING ALL GOODWIN'S TESTS* INTO ACCOUNT:
Poiraud Spade, Alain Poiraud trained as a medical engineer and designed things like
heart valves., not sure of Spade's exact provenance: totally unique, the original still
inspires new anchors entering the market -- the original is the primary for LittleGull.

Looking at it from the computer monitor, it has a bunch of things I find problematic
with Spade inspired NewGens. EG, Rocna's BOWL shaped fluke is flawed. It picks up
and holds sand/mud/grassy seafloor which causes the anchor to drag out of set in
Goodwin's resets. Supreme also. The no-rollbar weighted tip Spade has a bowl
shaped fluke, a non-blade wedge entry into bottom, hollow fabricated shaft, too small
a fluke area -- things I used to believe unacceptable for an all purpose cruising anchor.
And there's that rather alarming wide open rear cavern of the wedge.
... ...But, found a deal -- now pack a 33lb galvy, & a same size 14.5lb aluminum Spade.
They both take apart, simply with a single pin!! which could be considered another
'negative' for ultimate strength -- shaft & fluke stronger when welded together.

Never the less, the anchor has an unassailable reputation with cruisers who have come
to accept the personality of the anchor, if not the genius of its nearly forgotten inventor.
Anchors are compromises. Spade for nearly 25 years has done well in many bottoms,
especially grass. And predictably better than any other Spade-inspired new-gen.

ANCHORS ARE COMPANIONS
Technically, these anchors are the most beautifully constructed, carefully finished works
of art you can find. All other competitors (including Bruce) seem clunky and crude....
To borrow a phrase from a newly released wine at 'my' vineyard: Could say.....IMCO:
Spade is an anchor of finesse and enduring elegance. Flowery but appropriate!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

* One good test is worth a thousand expert opinions. Wernher vonBraun