I found a normal looking Plough Anchor for sale that looks OK for me for the moment. A picture below. but it has a very strange disclaimer. (Unless they just hate Plough anchors). Does anyone know what this means:
Plow Anchor 49LB
Can be used for Fish Net weights, Drum Line Weights
* Heavy duty hot dipped galvanised finish.
*NOT ENGINEERED FOR BOATS
These anchors are not recommended for unmanned mooring of any vessel. Due to the lack of emphasised flare, the anchor maybe subject to movement while anchoring for heavy boats.
Classic lawyer speak protecting against crazy claims if people use it as a mooring.
Price was $79 so I bought it. It's exactly the same as the one I just lost which never failed. I liked the Rocna but they don't fold and won't fit in my anchor locker. Also massively expensive.
Well they are correct. CQR's were designed for flying boats. They were selected for flying boats because they store well! When I had my fishing vessel in survey in NSW the maritime classed the CQR and plow anchors as 1, the base anchor that you could not be worse than. High holding anchors were rated at 1.5. For survey purposes if your vessel required a 30 kilo CQR to pass survey you could have a high holding anchor of 20 kilos.
First thing I did when I got my last boat, removed the big heavy CQR and replaced it with a ROCNA. It's expensive, but so worth it for peace of mind when sleeping on anchor.
it barely fits in the anchor well, but with a little jiggling . 
I have a CQR for sale if anyone is looking for one.
DM
The other potential problem is that the metal or the manufacturing may be sub-par and hence the disclaimer. Bit like some rigging screws which are stated as not for marine rigging use.
Select to expand quoteTrek said..
This is an interesting video "Ep.235 The Rocna Anchor FAILS".
Rocna and other rollbar anchors collect weed. The problem is they don't dive down past the rollbar. The new Rocna has a thinner profile with the bar. The Rocna Vulcan was developed to dive deep like a spade but at a much cheaper price.
I'm not one to dive on my anchor so where in Australia is weed likely to be a problem?
Select to expand quoteTrek said..
This is an interesting video "Ep.235 The Rocna Anchor FAILS".
Tony, I had a Rocna after listening to the shills at the sydney boat show one year and found that it was prone to relocating with minimal wind action and when I hauled it up the mud ball was substantial, replaced it with an Excell made in Aus and have been very happy with my quality purchase. I can only say that many Australian marine product are up there with the best in the world and I would hope that local boaters would support these manufacturers and not solely look at the bottom line. 
This is the first time and the last that I have joined an anchor thread.
I don't believe that there is one perfect anchor for all conditions (sand, mud, small rocks and shells. rocks, weed over mud. weed over sand , weed over shale).
A heavy fisherman has role to play as far as I can see.
But I have a feeling others might not agree.
gary
I've had great results with a Sarca Excel, but Flinders Island weed defeated it. The locals sat that the only 100% reliable anchor in their weedy areas is a good old fisherman.
Cheers, Graeme
Select to expand quoteTrek said..
I found a normal looking Plough Anchor for sale that looks OK for me for the moment. A picture below. but it has a very strange disclaimer. (Unless they just hate Plough anchors). Does anyone know what this means:
Plow Anchor 49LB
Can be used for Fish Net weights, Drum Line Weights
* Heavy duty hot dipped galvanised finish.
*NOT ENGINEERED FOR BOATS
These anchors are not recommended for unmanned mooring of any vessel. Due to the lack of emphasised flare, the anchor maybe subject to movement while anchoring for heavy boats.
Same unit I have on both boats. The shank isn't as long as the genuine CQR. In hard sand and mud it's not uncommon to have to drive them out, ( unless you have a nice ballsy windlass )
but weed, loose gravel no hope.
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
This is the first time and the last that I have joined an anchor thread.
I don't believe that there is one perfect anchor for all conditions (sand, mud, small rocks and shells. rocks, weed over mud. weed over sand , weed over shale).
A heavy fisherman has role to play as far as I can see.
But I have a feeling others might not agree.
gary
One of my neighbours asked me if he could have an old CQR that was laying about my yard waiting for a run to the scrap metal place. He made it into a stand for his letter box. My letterbox stand is a large fisherman anchor. I welded some chain in a decorative manner around the shank and had it galvanized. They do work well in weed but you need a lot of room to store them.
My 30 or 35lb CQRs held the S&S34 in sand at 45 kts and rough chop. Didn't budge. I've had it dig into mud and once dug in, didn't budge.
I expect all anchors have their weaknesses and strengths, none are great in all conditions nor for all boats.
Select to expand quotejulesmoto said..
I'm not one to dive on my anchor so where in Australia is weed likely to be a problem?
South Aus, Tassie, probably southern WA and Vic as well. Most boats in SA have weed specific anchors. I think its called a claw anchor. Looks a bit like a dreadnaught but more slender.
Select to expand quotewongaga said..
I've had great results with a Sarca Excel, but Flinders Island weed defeated it. The locals sat that the only 100% reliable anchor in their weedy areas is a good old fisherman.
Cheers, Graeme
I love our Excel but that's good info. I think fishermen stow away well so we may get one as an option.
Flinders beat my Manson Supreme - take a fisherman or just ram your boat up the beach and get the dragging over and done with straight up.
There are plenty of places in the Furneaux group where the anchoring is fine, so don't let the weed put you off going as it's a great area to sail. But where there is weed it's very thick. Kent Bay and EastvKangaroo Island were two such places.
My fisherman stowed up-side-down on the stern pushpit.
A socket on the deck and lashings and it was never in the way.
