Holding Strong - Mantus Anchor Helps One Sailor to Sleep Better

What a difference an anchor can make in improving one's ability to sleep when spending a night on the hook.

I enjoy the experience of being on the hook during the night. Relaxed in the cockpit as the sun sets and feeling its warmth slowly temper to a calm coolness; laying on my back looking toward the glittering wonderment sparkled about the deep blackness, and the feeling with eyes closed of the gentle sway underneath my spirit; all has always been my enlightenment.


For years my Bruce anchor has treated me well, yet, I knew it was an old style designed anchor and my research has prompted me to purchase one of the new design anchors such as a Mantus anchor.

There is much information about the new design anchors compared to old style anchors, and readers must  form their own judgments pertaining to anchors. My intention is to not commence another anchor war debate - as there are many already about on the sailing forums - rather to share with readers my experience using the Mantus anchor.

A visible comparison of the old style and new style anchors is worth noting, and for myself, I see the difference plainly when I compare the design of the Mantus with the Bruce. The most obvious difference is the "roll bar." The Mantus has a "roll bar," and the Bruce does not.  The advantage of a roll bar is that it helps the anchor to set quickly. The negative of the roll bar is that it may pose a challenge for some pulpits when mounted.  My set up places the roll bar forward of the bow pulpit and avoids contention for space.

In order for the new Mantus to set well on my pulpit I purchased a Mantus bow roller.  The bow roller allows the Mantus to sit securely on the pulpit in the roller while placing the anchor forward of the pulpit. In the picture one notes the roll bar clear of the puplit and forward. Interestingly with humor, one of the fellow sailors in my marina thought the roll bar to be made as a handle so I can carry the anchor about easily -- It does make a nice handle, and that may have been a side benefit of the roll bar; however, I suspect it was not the primary reason to design such a "curve" appeal.

Setting the Mantus is very easy and she grabs quickly. My Bruce would drag slightly before finally setting; in contrast, the Mantus grabbed quickly, and, if it did drag it was too slight for me to notice.

In addition to the bow roller I added the optional Mantus mate. The mate hangs below the roller and offers additional stability to the anchor as well. The roller and mate are adjustable to accommodate different angle of bows and anchor placement. The system is a complete easy to install, easy to use, and easy to adjust system.

Conversations and emails with folks at Mantus Anchors was great. My emails were answered promptly, my calls always led to someone to speak about the product and related matters; moreover, they provided advice and ideas to mitigate any potential problems I might encounter in setting up the roller, mate, and anchor. Excellent customer service.

After several overnights on the hook,  I feel the Mantus has improved my boating experience; I look for more opportunities to anchor out overnight, I sleep better while on the hook, and am able to handle the gear easily with my manual windlass without issues.

Side Note - I have not had an opportunity to test the Mantus in winds over 20knots --- I am not a tester or reseller by profession, nor am I paid for my opinions and comments on any product in my blogs.

I am the first owner of a Mantus at my marina, and it has brought the attention of others. I have a hunch that others will be acquiring a Mantus anchor as well. Some have talked about purchasing a larger anchor and then stowing it apart and taking it out, -- connecting the parts together, the anchor plate to the shank, and then the roll bar-- for times when they may need more security. One of the nice things about the anchor is its ability to be taken apart for stow.

Picture toward left is of Great Ketch at anchor with the Mantus down below at the bottom of the lake, the Bruce anchor rests in its roller in the pulpit. This picture was taken at 6am in the morning.