Ultra Anchor Testing. Anchor Test Video #75.

[@makhoe1]

Came here from Sailing Fair Isle. You, Sir, are doing God's work.

[@SpearItAnimal]

Ultra is BY FAR the best anchor we've ever owned. We've had 3 other top brands and our ultra grabs and holds like no other. It was a NOTICEABLE difference and we have yet to drag and loose sleep since the upgrade. GET THE SHACKLE, it's stronger than any chain you attach it too.

[@MindBodySoulOk]

Wow, it came on a crate. My 40lb anchor came wrapped in cellophane with a sticker on it.

[@atxsailor452]

To bad they didn’t send you a swivel to use for testing. I know, you don’t like swivels and honestly neither do I BUT I will use and do trust the Ultra swivel! Thank you for the good work!

[@tlteal]

Just received my 60lb ultra + swivel. wow the packaging looks like a work of art. Came in an aluminum box. Really looking forward to trying this anchor. Am/was having issues with my 55lb Delta "fast set" when wind shifts direction with the anchor not resetting and dragging too much --- not optimal when trying to sleep.

[@tlteal]

Got the 60lb installed today... wow my back hurts. Can't wait to try it.

[@jbrownson]

Just installed one of these last night on my boat, nice timing :)

[@wouterke9871]

So you bought an anchor before you have seen it tested here .... dare devil

[@mortenedvardsen9961]

Thank you for the test.. just about to buy the 45kg version

[@tomhermens7698]

Anchoring in grass needs main anchor and an additional Fortress , the latter being the best in the business in my opinion. Anchors with shackles is no no. Swivel is the only way.

[@Antieau4]

Steve: Any chance of getting an updated video (with the newer underwater camera set-up) of this anchor, and/or a winch pull? Thanks for all the great video's! Awesome content!!!

[@flygoodwin]

Nate, I will soon be 'winch pulling' this, and all other 45lb. anchors. I have delayed this test specifically to have the greater visual clarity of wintertime waters. I might even resurect the OLD "side view" camera mount as it (in my opinion) gave the best perspective.

[@Antieau4]

@@flygoodwin I look forward to it. Thanks Steve. Anchor Safe!

[@PreacherwithoutaPulpit]

I'd say the anchor did very well considering your janky non-swiveling shackle setup. Imagine if you'd spent the $380 or so on the swivel they offer on the site specifically for these anchors. Thank you for the work you did on this. It highlights that I'll definitely be buying their swivel that's designed to rotate 360' degrees and allow the anchor to get into it's designed setting position when I order mine. Thanks again for showing how it performed in sub optimal conditions where it did very well...

[@flygoodwin]

The chain was attached to the anchor exactly as the Ultra Anchor Company intended (they submitted the anchor to me without a swivel). The theory that - a swivel is required to allow an anchor to rotate into the correct setting position - is incorrect.

[@theislandpackrat]

Thats a nice anchor!

[@ooweesaler]

Looks a great anchor for deep pockets. What's the nearest option to this in a err more cost effective format 🙂

[@kristk7756]

It's best to use the ultra swivel for your Ultra Anchor! 👌

[@stevenr8606]

He'll only test it, if he gets one for FREE. Cheapscate!

[@petrbrukner3355]

@@stevenr8606 he seems to be very anti Ultra in all his videos. Probably Ultra does not need to pay him for positive reviews. And yes, I am an owner of the Ultra anchor WITH swivel and it works just great on my Lagoon 46 Cat. Tested in real conditions (wind gusts of 35kn, 5xchain scope, sandy/grass bottom

[@josephemidy8604]

@@petrbrukner3355 he does us a great service..however I do agree with you, it does seem he has a bias against ultra but might have something else going on at that moment. He puts the Viking at the top of his list yet he doesn't like the bolts that hold it together...ultimately Steve provides unbelievable info and he confirms what I have thought about my anchor...Lewmar Claw 33# for my Nordic Tug 37...it completely is inadequate...Christmas the NT is getting a 46# Ultra...wife's already agreed after seeing Steve's test...thank you Steve!!

[@MARIOSAILOR1]

Yesterday in Astipalea Grece a boat with a Ultra it was very difícull to set, just at the 3 time, 95% of the boats exactely in the same port with Delta, they set imediately with the same scoope. 2 weeks ago, i see the same scenario in the bay of Fathye in Turkey...

[@fredio54]

What type of bottom? What scope? And which anchors succeeded?

[@conradsenior5843]

You need one of their swivels.

[@Bobsaget80]

A swivel maybe ?

[@ThomasStephens-i9l]

Hi Steve. Would you recommend this anchor for a 24000lb cruiser with rope only anchor line? If not what would you recommend? (Lake with muddy seafloor.

[@trentspencer7991]

I bought a Mantus M1 and a Viking based off yours and other peoples testing. Looking forward to an update. Seems like someone is paying you not to do one as I can't find it. 😉

[@flygoodwin]

I sure as hell WISH someone would pay me to do nothing!!

[@trentspencer7991]

@@flygoodwin Amazing work, much appreciated anyway 👏👏

[@mvweebles3483]

Hi Steve. Question came up on TrawlerForum from an owner with a large motoryacht running two Ultras, a 65kg and an 80kg. He had issues getting the 80kg to set but the smaller one would always set. The only difference be could see was the larger one had an older style swivel whereas the smaller one has the new Ultra swivel with a "saddle" across. Thoughts on whether this would make a difference?

[@flygoodwin]

The presence of the "saddle" does slightly change the effective length/geometry of the shank. Hard to imagine this would cause such a drastic performance change, but my hunches about anchors have been wrong more times than I can count. I would remove both swivels and re-test to get some baseline data.

[@SecretSquirrel809]

Ultra or Spade? If you had to choose and money no object...or what would be your “go to” anchor out of all you have tested so far

[@MrAthlon4800]

I would be interested in Steve’s opinion too! :-) I like the sound of a higher percentage toe weight for setting and cheaper cost of the Spade anchor. But I prefer the refined fluke nose, low pivot point and wider angle of shank of the Ultra anchor which I suspect aids it in setting. Not sure which is better.

[@jbrownson]

I was looking at a Spade until I interacted with their customer service and looked around at my dock. Didn’t see a single Spade, but several Ultras, found the Ultra site much more confidence inspiring and wound up going w Ultra. Only installed it last night so can’t comment on performance of either, but from research online I think both would perform very well. The Ultra sure is pretty though.

[@High_Desert_Tanner]

I've been following his anchor tests and many others for a long time now, and this is one of the better performers for sure. The best one I've seen according to all the independent testing I've seen so far would be the Mantis.

[@flygoodwin]

It's too close to call. Spade has better (for me) shackle attatchment, very slightly faster setting/reseting, better aesthetics (galvanizing looks better on my boat). Ultra is one piece (love that), it is potentially a lifetime anchor (no regalvanizing, no lead melting), the toe can be resharpened freely. I am at the point where I no longer have a "favorite" or "permanent" anchor. I now have several dozen anchors (more coming all the time) and will be exploring the capabilities of them all.

[@MrAthlon4800]

SV Panope - thanks for your reply. You mentioned, in the video, that the tip to toe ratio was a fair bit less for the Ultra than the Spade (despite both anchors having a very similar design at the nose - lead encased in steel). You did not suggest a reason for such a difference in weight distribution, could it be due to the shank angle being larger for the Ultra, or the ears of the fluke being wider or narrower than the Spade, or another reason? Maybe you could discuss this in another video sometime. :-)

[@vancekeith5642]

Any chance we can get you to retest this anchor with the swivel made by Ultra?

[@flygoodwin]

Subsequent testing of this anchor did in fact use the Ultra Swivel. Check out my videos: #83, #86, #106, #120, #127, and #130. While I did not conduct any Back-To-Back tests with and with out the swivel, I will mention that I did not notice any difference between these and the previous "non swivel" tests.

[@vancekeith5642]

@@flygoodwin Thank you very much! And when do we get a review of the Piper cub hanging from the ceiling?

[@flygoodwin]

@@vancekeith5642 The plane is a Fisher Super Koala (homebuilt, by me). Last flight was about 20 years ago. I've no plans for an "airplane video", but I guess I could put one together sometime.

[@vancekeith5642]

@@flygoodwin Well being a pilot myself its the first thing I noticed in your shop. I will research the model because it looked very interesting. I fly both airplanes and helicopters

[@vancekeith5642]

@@flygoodwin well according to Wikipedia the design is based on a Cub so I do not feel too bad misidentifying it. Once again thank you for the fantastic videos!! I have a 39’ Catalina I purchased over the summer and will be anchoring in the Channel Islands off Southern California. I am still not decided even after all your great videos.

[@grayman7208]

the company makes a swivel

[@marcochristensen5103]

Why dont u use an anchor swiwel instead och schackles?

[@flygoodwin]

My preference is to use a single shackle to attach anchors to chain because it is simple, strong, and not bulky. That said if the anchor that was sent to me by Ultra Marine West had come with a swivel, I would have used it. As it is , I had no choice but to use two shackles.

[@evaneffa2132]

@@flygoodwin I have read the arguments for and against Swivels. I thought I would join the shackle club when swapping out my Spade 120 for an Excel #5. I tried using a shackle instead of my Mantus Swivel but found that the shackle would catch and foul on my Kingston anchor roller. The swivel is much smoother and quicker to use on retrieval and easily orientates the anchor in the correct position. The Mantus swivel is not the weak link in my chain, so happy to keep using it. (& off-topic, I'm going back to using the SPADE as my primary Bower... I think it sets more quickly & reliably than the Excel?)

[@fredio54]

If you believe 40-50 knots wind = full power then you're saying in that much wind you couldn't make headway. Is that true? 100% our boat could, probably at idle, but big 4 blade on it.

[@MladenMijatov]

Considering this anchor costs like a lightly used kidney am surprised they don't have any anti-snag features. If you catch anything solid with it, kiss it goodbye.

[@PreacherwithoutaPulpit]

If you look on their site they not only offer the proper chain and swivel they offer a recovery ring as well. The ring is specifically designed to help recover/break free the anchor in the event of a snag.

[@thedolphin5428]

Huh? Get a SS shackle with a countersink Allen head bolt onto the anchor with HT loctite.

[@brandonlerman1540]

Most World Sailors do not use any SS in ground tackle period. It can crack and corrodes from the inside .

[@thedolphin5428]

@@brandonlerman1540 Not so sure about that. That's a sweeping generalist statement There's lots of SS used in anchor swivels, anchor chains, and anchors themselves by many mariners. Yes, SS can work harden when bent or moved. It depends upon the application AND GRADE of the steel. My suggestion was for a stationary threaded bolt, loctited into a situation where daily usage would clearly allow notice of any wear. I think you're just being pedantic and semantic.

[@brandonlerman1540]

Your use of "Huh" was cocky off the get go. The way he used two shackles here is very normal and many Sailors use this method with certain anchor and chain combos. Google cracked/bent anchor swivel you will find many. There are many new products out and they may be very good but time will tell. They even changed the shank on the ultra to a dif ss blend its not magnetic now on the new models so its not 316. The Ultra is a sweet anchor but very high cost. 9/10 World Sailors are not using SS ground tackle. Sure Big Yachts in Miami it will be most popular.

[@thedolphin5428]

@@brandonlerman1540 My friend, there are many, many methods to every satisfactory outcome. Two shackles is best you say? Gal or SS? Gal wears off, and thus corrodes quicker than decent SS. The video guy SAYS he WOULD HAVE used the SS swivel, had it been provided free. He just used what he had on hand. And, 2 shackles does not equal a swivel. 9/10 you say? You've met them all to arrive at that statistic, I presume? Googling broken SS swivels may only show the dickheads who abused them in twisted recoveries or who never check their tackle or who had cheap Chinese ones. Only big boats in Miami? Perhaps you'd know. I can't comment on Miami, except to say that many many boats in differing echelons of boating budgets here in Australia use SS in many anchoring applications. I've heard water temperatures change the corrosion characteristic of all metals in water. So who is anyone to perfectly advise any other. You sir are an anchor snob, a perfectionist, to whom no-one else in their their own humble existence could ever measure up. Your absolutist statements deserve no more of my time.

[@brandonlerman1540]

Huh?

[@calmauric8218]

Id hate to foul a $5000 anchor.

[@gmssails]

Barefoot AND kicking the anchor rode with your foot? Really?

[@stevenr8606]

So, 'YOUR' test procedure is flawed. Bad sailor boy.

[@petrbrukner3355]

That is just one BS video. Why do this at all?

[@eemko1]

video is bad, waste of time 😢