Opine: Original Bruce, vs CQR, vs Delta

[CapnK]

I've got other anchors (see below), trying to choose between these others as one of the backups.

The Bruce is 33#, CQR 25#, & Delta 22#, so Bruce has size/weight going for it. Plus it's an original, so is forged not cast - by all accounts a much better version than "Claw" knockoffs which look similar.
Have no experience with the Delta.
Some with Bruce/Claws, and 10+ nights on the CQR coming down 500+ miles of the ICW which surprisingly impressed me.

Other anchors in the quiver are a 25# Manson Boss (bower, likely), Fortress FX-11 (lunch, extra), and a #12 Northill Utility (rock pick, heavy steel, folding).

As with all anchor discussions: Punching is allowed, no eye gouging or hair pulling though.

Have at it! ;D

[CharlieJ]

I have Bruce anchors on both boats. Never had trouble with either. The 25 footer has some 12000 cruising miles- I'm happy with the Bruce,,

[Frank]

Delta has been my go to anchor for Bahamas.
Excellent in the sand and lightly grassed bottoms.
Out west, muddy bottoms, Bruce rules.
As with every anchor discussion... your milage may vary and 2 cent opinions are just that... 😄

[Godot]

I really can't answer your question as I have limited experience with any of those primary listed anchors. Since this thread is a month and a half old I figure I'll throw my 2c in. I'm not sure if it makes sense to buy an old style anchor new, now-a-days, with the next-gen anchors just seeming to be much better. But, if you got them anyhow...money matters.

My experience...

Danforth style anchors work great in mud. but I worry about resetting after a change of pull. The knockoffs seem to be hit or miss with effectiveness, although since they all look more or less the same I'm not sure why. Many years ago I bought the smallest Fortress anchor for my little 16' Weekender. I've since kept it on all subsequent boats. A couple years ago I fell asleep at anchor and the tide went out grounding me. I was able to swim the Fortress in to deeper water (I used a blue floating cushion to help hold it as I recall) and managed to drag my 10,000 boat off the ground with it. I didn't really expect it to work given how stuck I was. I was impressed. I use the Fortress as my primary  stern/kedge/backup anchor now.

My primary bower is a 22# Rocna. It has failed to set it couple times when I've been too aggressive with backing down on it. I've learned if I'm in a place I'm really concerned about it sticking good (weather coming in, for instance) to spend time very slowly digging it in at about half power on the engine for awhile before testing it with full power pulls. If I'm just slightly careful (really, not a big deal), it will dig and hold through almost anything, tested by me through Storm conditions, in Chesapeake Bay bottoms. Typically it becomes very difficult to extract. requiring either driving over it to trip it, or bringing the chain vertical and letting it slowly work itself out over ten minutes or so. If I were to buy another I think I might go with the 33# Rocna, which would probably hold through a hurricane. I might have to consider getting a windlass at that point.

Alternatively, I could get one of the other big, break down-able anchors like a Mantus in an oversized range if I'm expecting some nasty weather. That would require larger chain to be stored somewhere as well. Raising it after a blow would likely take some effort.

If I ever get my poop together and go on my long dreamt of cruise (in retrospect I should have done it when I was in my thirties and mostly unencumbered by life...the whole career, and then marriage thing caught me unawares), I think I'd upgrade the anchor to a 33# Rocna or 35# Mantus or something similar, with bigger chain, and perhaps a windlass (I have an old salvaged manual windlass in my attic that would probably work).