Lewmar News

Almost 20 years later, Lewmar Delta Is Still the World's Strongest Anchor

 

Almost 20 years after the Delta anchor was first introduced, testimonials still pour into Lewmar offices in Guilford, Conn., and Havant in the U.K.

Boat owners write to rave about its performance in the Jello-like mud of the Chesapeake, or its holding power in a thunderstorm in the BVI. The venerable Delta also is specified as the primary anchor used by numerous national lifeboat organisations.

Many boaters like to tell favorite anchoring stories; it just seems like the renowned fast-setting Delta anchor receives more than its fair share of praise. The Delta is like the legendary Leatherman tool - it’s there when you need it and it works in all conditions. The original Delta uses an unhinged shank and a plow with specific angles to offer superior holding power, something you’ll never find in cheap “Delta-like” anchors.

That’s one reason the anchor, first introduced in 1989, continues to be specified by increasingly more OEM’s. Manufacturers to recently welcome the Delta on board are Edgewater, Impulse, Regulator, Southport, and Viking Yachts. They join a list that includes existing Delta OEM’s: Bertram, Campion, Chaparral, Chris Craft, Cobalt, Grady White, Hallberg-Rassy, Monterey, Proline, Pursuit, Regal, Rinker, Scout, Tiara S-2, and others.

The anchor was featured in a special anchoring report in the July 2006 issue of Motor Boat and Yachting (UK). Independently tested by its technical editor, Lewmar’s Delta received the magazine’s Gold Award.

During the test the magazine reported: “On the first pull, the Delta was still holding at an amazing 1,200 kg. (2645 lbs.). After that, we bottled out and decided that a reading of anything over 1,000 kg. (2205 lbs.), from a 10 kg. (22 lbs.) anchor was enough for anyone!”

The overall verdict: “There was no doubt that the Delta is our favourite. It set quicker and more reliably… despite being cheaper, lighter and without any finger-crushing hinge. It also displayed impressive holding power and was easier to recover than the flat-fluke models.,” writes Motor Boat and Yachting.

The Swedish OEM Hallberg-Rassy, a Lewmar customer for over 40 years, is such a believer in the Delta that Magnus Rassy, CEO, encouraged Lewmar to develop a medium size 32-kilo (70.5 lbs.) Delta anchor to fill the gap between its award- winning 25 kg. (55 lbs.) and 40 kg. (88 lbs.) models.

Rassy was the first person to receive the brand-new 32 kg. Delta Anchor for the HR48 and HR54 yachts.

Adds Lewmar’s Tom Fleming, powerboat market manager, “The Delta does what it is supposed to do and more - and provides a high level of confidence for the user. It’s simply the world’s strongest anchor.”

The easy-to-handle Delta is made of high-grade manganese or Duplex stainless steel (which is stronger and harder than conventional 304 or 316 stainless) for maximum tensile strength. Its unique shank profile and ballasted tip make it self-launching, and the anchor’s low center of gravity and self-righting geometry ensure that it will set immediately for quick hassle-free anchoring. Like its sister anchor, the CQR, the Delta has Lloyd’s Register approval as a High Holding power anchor.

Lewmar’s Delta anchors range in weight from 4 kg to 40 kg (9 to 88 lbs.), and accommodate chain sizes from 6-7 mm to 10 mm (1/4- to 3/8-in.). The Delta is guaranteed for life against breakage.

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