These tests were conducted on January 12, 2005 on a dry sand beach at Bude, Mississppi. The purpose of these tests was to find the penetrating power of the normal anchors in use as compared to the Super Max anchors. Dry sand is not the normal testing body for marine anchors. However, in dry sand tests one can take pictures of how each anchor performs and the pictures are sharp and clear. Underwater pictures are almost always bleary and difficult to see. The action of the anchors in dry sand can be seen and if the anchor performs well in dry sand it will perform even better in wet sand. If the anchor digs a trough in dry sand while being pulled by a truck, then in wet sand in marine conditions it will also dig a trough when storm conditions exist when at anchor.

    The anchors tested were a 37 pound Delta, 45 pound CQR, 44 pound Bruce, 44 pound Super Max Pivoting Arm anchor and a 45 pound Super Max Rigid anchor. The Spade was not tested since in a previous sand test its arm bent and was therefore considered too weak to be tested. The Fortress anchor was not tested since in all previous tests conducted, we have never been able to get it to set.

    The anchors were tested using a Chevrolet Avalanche truck and 5/8' nylon three strand line. The scopes used for the Delta, CQR and Bruce amounted to 100 to I as the line was drawn across the sand horizontally. The scopes used for the Super Max anchors was approximately 5 to 1. (It varied as the truck was driven up a small hill.)

RESULTS:

The Delta is shown in the pictures below with the anchor setting quickly and then digging a trough. A Dynamometer reading taken
while the anchor was being pulled indicated a strain of only 200 pounds.
(click on thumbnails to see flash player)

   The CQR is shown in the pictures below with the anchor quickly setting and digging a trough with the plow on its side. The resulting pull on the Dynamometer did not even register, so its effectiveness under water was deemed to be worse that the Delta. A similar trough had been noted In underwater video shots

taken several years ago in tests conducted by Underwater Capabilities, Inc.

The Bruce test is shown below. It set immediately and then when pulled by the truck~ the anchor dug through a shallow trough and humped up in the sand, with the sand barely covering the top of the anchor. In the underwater tests mentioned above, the same thing occurred. There was not enough pressure on the anchor rode for the Dynamometer to register.

The Super Max Pivoting Arm anchor test can be seen below. It set immediately and buried itself deeper than any of the previous anchors. The anchor was pulled by the truck with tires squealing and with a maximum Dynamometer reading of 980 pounds.

The new Super Max Rigid anchor test pictures can be seen below. It set immediately and dug in deeply. It was pulled similarly to the last test with tires squealing. The maximum Dynamometer reading was 1030 pounds.