New Generation Anchor

[ebb]

is a new anchor similar to the Mocna and Manson Supreme.
http://mantusanchors.com

Have not seen this anchor in person, so any observations are entirely from diagrams & pics.
Offered in nine weights from 8lbs to 125lbs.

Dr. Gregory Kutsen's invention has a skinny Mocna style dogleg shank attached to a non-bowled fluke
that looks longer and narrower in photos than it's cousin. And may bear inspirational resemblance to the rapid response preying mantis.

The MANTUS blade is an eqilateral triangle bent up twice (rather than once in the middle like Mocna)
at about 45degrees into three nearly equal narrow triangles.
There is no hollow, no bent up pieces at the back of the blade to prevent the anchor from burying. THAT is, like the Supreme, a design plus.
Have to agree this anchor probably won't plow or drag. There are demos of jeep beach pulls that are impressive, until we remember this is the sort of thing that other anchor makers also resort to. Same 'demos' - predictable results. The hype on the site ignores impressive documented in water pull tests with other established 'new gen' anchors. The videos also forget to demo what the big ole handle is all about.

What is new about "A Revolution In Technology" Mantus is that not only does the shank, where it meets the fluke, have a welded-on cleat ("boot") with tabs for four bolts which clamps the shank and blade together.....
but the anchor's main feature is a way wide roll bar (19" wide on a 25lb*) that also is removable ! by a couple bolts thru prominent tabs on the back corners of the fluke.
Don't know, but imco the roll bar terminations look rather awkward. As does the welded tab and bolt connection.
[It can't be any more unsettling than looking at my Supreme and thinking the boat will hang solely on a weld between the shank and fluke on that one!]
Mantus can be taken completely apart, thereby making it very stowable. Suppose this is its 'revolutionary technology.'
*(roll bar on the Manson Supreme 25lb is 14" wide, side to side. Supreme total length is under 25". Total length Mantus 25lb estimate at 36")


Couple observations:
The product is described as "formed out of high quality steel plate."
Which - after all we have been through with Mocna in 2012 - no serious new anchor can get away with mushy language like that.
UNFORTUNATE. If nothing else, these words will keep me from seriously considering Mantus as a cruising anchor. Chinese Mocna might complain that the Mantus is a 'direct copy' on that point!.

Assembly pieces are all hot dipped galvanized. Nothing wrong with that, but there are a number of small pieces (including crushable lock washers) to quality control.
Shank looks skinny in proportion to the fluke, looks like it could bend - especially if it sets deep as advertised, and get yanked at an angle. Since the steel alloy is unknown, and under water pull tests don't exist, this is an aesthetic opinion. The shank ought to be a guaranteed-not-to-bend alloy like Bis 80 that Manson Supreme uses.. So far, no third party certification.

Topping it off, imco, it looks like two bolts are missing in the fluke to shank coupling pattern at the back of the shank. (see the pbase dotcom blueline below.) From my perpective there should be two bolts at the back, one on each side (2), and one at the front - five bolts arranged around the whole joint would look safer, appropriate.
Argue that the present pattern of bolts puts them in tension (when under strain) while arranging the bolts equally around the shank would out them in sheer.
Imco, my primary Manson Supreme has the most sophisticated and sharpest arrow-point** of all single-flutes. Haven't seen a live Mantus.

The anchor looks hungry and gawky....
BUT If the Mantus came out equal with its cousins in serious comparison tests - then imco its best attribute is that
as a heavy duty, over weight, 35-45lb super hook it would be carried disassembled in the bilge of a cruising A/C.

Leave the hoop off when assembling, save embarrasment in the marina.
The anchor might even dive better thru thick grass or hard sand with less impedimenta on the back of the fluke - not that it seems to have that problem.

If we pay attention to the demo video.... we notice a Supreme.... and then a Mocna
come skidding by the viewer ON THEIR SIDES in the jeep pull, obviously not digging into packed beach sand.
Maybe it's the wide stance of the Mantus roll bar - wider than the blade of the anchor - BUT bolted to those prominent protuberances,
it probably is, imco, one of those projections (rather than the dramatic hoop) that trips the anchor up onto to its point and gets it to dive. Behind a jeep.
There are to be found, on the Mantus site, underwater comparisons. Not exactly as clear as the water - but, with assuming, the Mantus looks impressive. The video's are accompanied by the most annoying loud guitar loops I've ever heard. Is the noise meant to dull the brain?

In my opinion this 'new generation anchor' needs to morph into a second generation. Worth a look....
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EDIT 1/1/13 - Didn't do my homework on this newbie, and just discovered discussions on cruisersforum and sailnet. Both are visited by Greg Kutsen.
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*Looks like the Mantus has been around at least 9 months. Good comparison photo with a Mocna: http:www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/145170189.jpg
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**For a view of the 25# Manson Supreme: http://www.azuremarine.com/store/det...ct_id=MAN:S25G