Scientific evidence requires a solid knowledge of the scientific method. Mostly which lacks in any of the testing I've seen so far. I repect Evan S but the PS piece was IMH one of the worst on anchor testing. To say that WestMarine and the cruising rags have no vested interest smacks on the ludicrist. Westmarine will is in the business to sell anchors. Ironically, the place I first observed the pic of the Ronca digging in and the CQR plowing was in the video at West Marine and the employee and I laughed at how obvious the different sand conditions were. They could have dropped the anchor 2 meters apart and pulled and then it would at least have been better! But they moved the test to an area which got the results they were looking for!

Science randomizes tests and uses multiple tests. If you are looking for any reliability then one needs a min of 10 test / item. That is a min! One basically gets you nothing and one isn't even less reliable then multiple anecdotal evidence.

I agree if you want to test anchors and find out the factors that effect holding then fluke area would be valuable to get some data on, that and balance even too.

But since no one really wants a truely "scientific" test except cruisers and sailors, and since the cost need to be born by someone I doubt we'll ever have one. That said, I do like an anchor that will keep burying. I think the roll bar will stop the bury as much as anything. I'm willing to maybe try another anchor; am currently thinking of the supreme (which I know has a roll bar) and the Spade.

I take it by your anchor selections you never really have any heavy grass to anchor in. You have all anchors for sand/ mud bottoms. Maybe light gravel marl mixes. I'm glad you're satisfied with your choices. I keep an open mind and am not implying by that statement you don't. I believe that Craig has some data on how their anchor set with out the roll bar as when they or he was fist designing it; IMHO he had to play with different configuaration so see what worked best and then one would need to compare those results to a baseline which certainly would be the same sized anchor without a roll bar.

Fair Winds