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WANTED - Genuine Bruce Anchor - 150kg / 330lb

Discussion in 'Buy/Sell/Trade' started by ThirdHatt, Jul 3, 2019.

  1. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    I would like to purchase a genuine Bruce anchor, 150kg (330lb) size. Please email me directly at Email removed with any info. Thank you!
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 3, 2019
  2. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    I know a few scrapyards cutting-up old oil-rigs are getting rid of a few big ones. Maybe look on the commercial sites for hefty one.
  3. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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  4. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    Gentlemen,

    Thank you both for the suggestions. I have reached out to several of the commercial sellers from B&H and have not had any luck so far. I tend to hear responses like, "Oh no, we don't have anything that small!"

    It makes sense that most commercial applications would be using much heavier equipment. Although the Bruce was originally designed for keeping oil rigs in place, those were much, much larger than what has been in use on our pleasure boats. I am hoping to find someone with a genuine Bruce 150kg / 330lb from a boat in the 90-150ft range, probably built in the 1980's or 1990's when a Bruce anchor was the one to have. My pulpit was designed for a Bruce, so none of the new generation anchors will fit without modifications.

    I found a 110kg / 242lb Bruce many years ago from a big trawler that was upgrading to a Rocna, and I had it sandblasted and re-galvanized so it was as good as new. I believe 242lbs would be a good weight for my boat with a new generation "Super High Holding Power" rated anchor, but with a Bruce you should always go up one size because it is classified by Lloyds as a "High Holding Power" anchor. It has served me well, but I am looking to repeat the process with the next size up.
  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Bruce or Bruce style?
  6. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    I am definitely only interested in a genuine, original Bruce. I don't think that any of the aftermarket Bruce style claw clone manufacturers even produce a model larger than 80kg / 176lb anyway. Lewmar, which is generally known as a good quality and respected brand, makes an 80kg / 176lb as their largest size claw, and I actually bought one of those which I keep as a backup to my original Bruce 110kg / 242lb, at least until I manage to locate a 150kg / 330lb Bruce.

    The issues with the copies of the original Bruce are many. One is that the flukes are more rounded, and not as sharp or at the correct tapered angles as the original design, so they do not dig in as quickly and easily. My biggest concern with them is that to the best of my knowledge, no other claw manufacturer releases specs on the metallurgy that they use in construction. The construction of the original Bruce anchor was documented to be constructed with an extremely high tensile strength steel, but you have no idea what you will get with the aftermarket clones. All I know about the Lewmar 80kg / 176lb that I bought brand new from West Marine is that it has the word "CHINA" embossed in all caps on the bottom of the anchor. 'Nuff said!
  7. CptnMaxwell

    CptnMaxwell New Member

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    Have you tried contacting Manson Anchors? Their Ray is a Bruce Style anchor and comes in 150kg as we have just used one for a project. They are made in NZ and can be Class Certified which means known metallurgy, NDT of welds and proof loaded. Of course the number of boat dollars will be more than a second hand one.
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Try Sailorman in Fort Lauderdale. They have a lot of used anchors and such.
  9. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    Thank you for that suggestion! I just emailed Manson to inquire about a galvanized Ray so it will be interesting to see the detailed specs and how it compares tot he Bruce. I imagine that you are correct that it will probably be a significant amount of boat dollars, but that aside, it does seem that the Ray has at least some of the same qualities that made the original Bruce so great for so long. I had never really heard anything special about the Ray until now, and I had no idea they were class certified. My boat was built to ABS class when new, but has not been maintained in class because it is just used for private/pleasure cruising. I certainly do want to keep that level of strength in my ground tackle.
  10. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    Absolutely! I make it a point to stop by and walk through Sailorman about once a month when I am in Lauderdale rounding up boat parts. They do have a decent selection of anchors at any given time. I have never seen a Bruce larger than 80kg / 110lb there, although they do have a 300+ lb Poole style anchor in stock right now.
  11. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Why Bruce?
    Poor holding power.
    Yes, you said the Rocna won’t fit, but better to modify the anchor platform and or pulpit than getting a heavy dinosaur with half the holding of a modern anchor. (Too much weight on the bow will slow you down also :()
    Even a Delta at the same weight would be much better for holding your boat than a Bruce.
    Best bang for the buck would be a Manson Supreme.
    Best holding but expensive is probably the Spade. (But I don’t like the 2 part/piece construction, a personal problem)
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Everybody has their own favorite anchor. Seems Norse has his also.
    I use the Bruce styled anchor also.
    Never had an holding power issue with them.
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Didn't old Browards have Bruce anchors usually? There was a yard on the Miami river that cut up Seafari, perhaps they still have the anchor?
  14. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Broward Marine OEM ground tackle was Fjord Anchor.
  15. ThirdHatt

    ThirdHatt Senior Member

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    I respectfully disagree. The Bruce is Lloyds certified as a "High Holding Power" anchor, and although the new generation anchors do have the next higher rating, I would not classify the Bruce as having "poor" holding power. I have yet to drag with any Bruce on my boat, so the holding power cannot be all that poor in my opinion. As I stated in post #4, I believe my current anchor weight of 242lb would be perfect for my boat in a new generation (SHHP) anchor, but since I intend to stay with the Bruce (HHP) I would like to go one size up to compensate for the rating difference. I seriously doubt the extra 90lbs will make any noticeable difference in speed on a 145,000lb boat, and this boat could benefit from more weight on the bow anyway.

    Something that I find interesting is that of all of the anchor tests I have read or found online, they only test small anchors (<100lbs), and I have not located any tests of anchors in the 150-350lb range. For whatever reason, the Bruce anchors well over 100lbs tend to perform significantly better than the lighter versions that most folks are familiar with, so I would be curious to see some real world test results that prove that a large Bruce would only provide half the holding power of a modern anchor. I compared my 110kg Bruce to a 110kg Rocna side by side, and I must say that the amount of surface area looked to be pretty close to the same. One point to consider is that the Rocna will only bury itself to a point because tests have proven that the hoop stops it from going any deeper, whereas the Bruce will continue to bury itself deeper for more holding power with no hoop to hold it at the surface or to become fouled. Even if I were to modify my boat for a hoop-style anchor it would not just be fiberglass work, but I would have to interrupt the stainless rub rail that surrounds the entire front half of the boat, and also the teak cap rail which all combined would alter the actual lines / profile of the boat, which I am simply unwilling to do.

    I am not trying to convince anyone else to use a Bruce and I am not interesting in debating which anchor is best because there are far too many variables. Just like powerboats vs. sailboats, blondes vs. brunettes, to each his own. I just know that my boat has a pulpit that was designed for a Bruce. That is what fits well and it works for where I use the boat, so I see no reason to change it. My interest in moving one size up will simply ensure that if/when I get caught in a storm while at anchor, I will have a better chance at holding.
  16. timvail

    timvail Senior Member

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    I agree. we went up another size with our bruce with a heavier boat. have been through some nasty storms. always held fast. our only worry are those anchored in the same area. yes we have seen some drag with other makes of anchors. we used to get kidded about the size of our anchor and the heavy chain rode we carry. but... its comforting to know once set, we are not going anywhere.
  17. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    From Yachting Monthly:

    The genuine Bruce has not been made for very many years. It was made from cast steel, a strong and tough material. A huge number of copies have been produced, often in low-grade, brittle and weak materials. The original Bruce had precise fluke angles, unlike many copies. The genuine item sets and holds well in soft-to-medium bottoms, is said to hold on rock, but its long leading edge struggles to cut through weed. Again, big, heavy ones work far better than small ones.

    —————————————

    It confirms what you said: Bigger Bruce anchors are better.
    I had a 45 Bruce on my 44’ boat back in 1985 but had problems a few times.
    Have read anchor side-side tests where Bruce anchors came out second or third, hence I have never used any on my recent boats,
    Supposedly Bruce was (is) used to hold oil rigs in place in the North Sea, upsizing seem to be the key.

    Yup, we all have favorites.
    In my younger days I was a liveaboard on an uninsured boat, anchors kept me out of trouble. Actually, they still do. :cool:
  18. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    Have read the Bruce holds well when using the right weight and scope. We have seen many boats drag anchor during a blow while anchored in our area because of using undersized anchors. I like the design of the Bruce, saw a video how they set and reset, worked good.
  19. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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