Rocna.com is a construction tools manufacturer and retailer
Rocna Anchors – New generation boat anchors
Released in early 2005 and representing the very latest in modern anchor design, the Rocna is a New Zealand developed "new generation" marine anchor. Its features include instant-setting, superior holding power on most seabeds, and no use of lead or cast iron weights, meaning weight is more efficiently used in extra fluke area and structural strength. The design is intended to address the issues that plague more traditional types (plows and claws) such as poor setting reliability and lack of roll-stability.
The roll-bar guarantees the correct attitude for setting is achieved every time, and also means dedicated tip-weight is not required (an inefficiency common in other anchor types, such as plows). The chisel tip toe cuts through hard sand and weed or grass, and the skids at the rear guide the anchor through its setting motion, ensuring a quick and proper set in all seabeds from soft mud to hard sand. After testing, Boating NZ commented that the Rocna "always set quickly... the drag pattern always under a metre..." Furthermore, the anchor remains buried when load is reversed or when dragged beyond yield.
The shank is high tensile steel for maximum resistance to deformation, and is shaped to allow self-launching, self-retrieval, and a practical fit on most bow-rollers. The Rocna does not feature any gimmicks such as dual rode attachment points, de-mountable shanks, or anything that would compromise the anchor’s philosophy of reliability, durability, and clarity of design.
Hand-built from modern high strength alloy steels, a Rocna is the world’s best performing, most dependable, and safest anchoring solution. It has been designed for serious use in demanding environments, and is contributing to the safety, security, and enjoyment of cruising on many vessels around the world as you read this – including those crewed by some of yachting’s best known persons, such as guru Steve Dashew, who calls his Rocna “better than any anchor we have used in the past – Bruce, CQR, Danforth… excellent versatility”.
Rocna anchors are performing in some of the world’s toughest locales, including the South Island of New Zealand, Patagonia in Chile, and Greenland, and are also in use by the NZ Navy (Sail Training) and the Coastguard (Northern Region). Praise is the norm from all customers all around the world – Bill Parlatore, editor of US magazine PassageMaker, calls the Rocna “one awesome anchor... sets easily and holds seriously... your anchor rocks!" Colin Speedie of the Scottish Wildlife Trusts uses a Rocna in the Hebrides (North West Scotland) and considers it to be "by far the best anchor I have ever used, and I've used most... excellent!".
Available in both galvanized and stainless steel in sizes from 4Kg (9lbs) to 110Kg (243lbs), and larger sizes available on request, a Rocna is an excellent choice for any vessel from a small runabout to a small ship.
Independent Testing
In an extensive comparison test of 14 boat anchors, the Rocna behaved consistently and performed better than all others to achieve the highest average holding power. The test, performed by US ship chandler West Marine, and written up in US magazine SAIL and British magazine Yachting Monthly, involved real world testing in three different locations at three different scopes. The bottom was sand, and anchors were sized for a "cruising boat in the 35-40 foot range" – a Rocna 15 (33lbs) was provided by Rocna Anchors.
In the "max pull" results, which measure the peak force the anchors held while dragging, the Rocna was at the very top of the chart. However, in the crucial "max before releasing" results, which measure the force sustained before the anchors began to move (i.e. holding power), the Rocna was impressively far ahead, withstanding on average a force over 45% greater than its nearest rival, the Spade. The Delta was a close third.
The comparison included all notable anchor designs available in the world today, some provided by their manufacturers and others by West Marine, who sell several of the contenders. In addition to the usual favorites such as the CQR, claw, Fortress, and Delta, many "new generation" anchors were tested and analyzed. While some lived up to their manufacturer's claims, many displayed a failure to set or behaved inconsistently across the various tests, damaging their average results. The Océane from SPADE and newcomer XYZ performed very poorly, while others such as the Bulwagga, WASI Bügel, and SARCA turned in results which were respectable but most likely disappointing for their proprietors.
In their introduction, SAIL commented that "the effectiveness of any anchor is highly dependent on a long list of variables". The comparison testing covered numerous scenarios and introduced a number of multiple pulls, something lacking from many past anchor tests, while keeping all other factors constant. This ensures the most realistic simulation of real-world anchoring, as each anchor must perform consistently and reliably in order to score well in the average results.
Peter Smith, designer of the Rocna, considers the results prove his own ideas about new generation boat anchors to be correct. "With three test locations and three different scopes, this testing can rightly claim to provide a good illustration of anchor performance. What's more, the range of anchors tested was complete, not just the usual handful of traditional types, so giving readers a good comparison."
