So True! Lots of opinions. On our Slocum 43 Cutter we used a CQR primary and a Fortress secondary and carried two mall kedge anchors. We had an all chain rode and a serious windlass. I found the Fortress set better in the sand and mud we have locally, but could be hard to retrieve sometimes. The CQR set well in many different conditions, and was usually easier to retrieve. In five years it dragged on me three times. Never thought about a angle grinder! We always tied off the 'bitter end' with rope and a small fender, so if I ever needed to get off a Lee Shore in a hurry, or there was some emergency, I could quickly cut away the anchor and have a chance of recovering it later. Our Sea Ray 380DA came with a Quick set Delta Anchor (Rigid plow type that is weighted so can easily be released from the cockpit controls). We have about 50 Feet of chain, and then rope rode. The secondary anchor is a small fortress. The Sea Ray is fast and we have mostly hopped Harbors, and caught moorings. In two years we have only anchored three times. All three times we set first try with no drag. The last time was a Club Cruise to 'China Camp' (READ 'MUD', Muddy, grassy, gorpy, soft bottom, with a major current shift at the top and bottom of each tide). Three of our boats had equipment issues and could not get an anchor to stick. Our Delta set first try and I launched the dingy and ran around helping the boats having trouble. When we got everything sorted out I took our secondary anchor out with the dingy and set up a Bahamian style mooring. It was bowing 15 knots, in the anchorage, with about two knots of current switching 180 degrees over night to nearly 3 knots. I set both anchor, and depth alarms, but we barely moved. I started out with this boat thinking Delta anchors were worthless, and the Fortress back-up was way too small. Granted my experience anchoring power boats is pretty small, but so far I am very impressed with the ease of use and effectiveness of what came with the boat.
