Steve Bedford, how about divulging all the deets? Rich Gano Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II) Panama City area

Interesting question Rich. Gave me an opportunity to reflect. Some of our customers ask that question, most do not. Most do not want the details. When we first purchased the SuperMAX anchor business from inventor and company owner, Andy Peabody, we realized that making these anchors was very labor intensive. There was no automation involved. Each anchor was really “custom made” because all parts for each anchor were cut, shaped, bent, welded, and lots of grinding before galvanizing. All done by hand. Recently, we have standardize an important component of the process. We start with USA made steel. I am not going to debate the quality of USA made steel verses some companies of the world but I would say USA steel is better than some steel made in other steel manufacturing companies! No country names mentioned or suggested. We just like the consistently and availability and quality of USA made steel. Enough on that. Initially we followed the process that Andy did: We purchased A514 steel (hard, high tensile steel) in 4x8 sheets in various thicknesses (for shanks and flukes) and in long pieces at various width and thicknesses for strapping and smaller components. Using a plasma cutter, steel cutting band saws, and templates, we cut every piece: shank, fluke, top straps, and smaller components. We did that for a couple of years. In 2019, I contacted a local metal fabrication shop to professionally cut (using a computer directed large capacity plasma cutter) the flukes, shanks, and small components of the pivoting arm shank. They also drilled all the holes. All of that was much more consistent/accurate than we could ever do, one piece and one anchor at a time. We spent more on having that work done for us knowing the labor to assemble would be less. It has worked From there, the process is pretty straight forward (describing as simplistically as possible): 1. Bend the fluke in a large hydraulic press to the SuperMAX concave shape. 2. Cut edges off the fluke (the edges have to fit tightly in the large press for an accurate “bend.”) The cutting allows the outside fluke rest point down in the seabed. Has to be cut off. 3. Shank welded to the fluke. We use a hand grinder on the welds to finish. 4. The top strap is welded, heated, bent to the contour of the shank and welded for the lateral strength. More weld grinding. 5. For the pivoting arm model, the pivoting arm components are welded that allows adjustment of the arm to the three different settings. More grinding. Having the professional metal fabricator drill the holes with their computer driven plasma cutter and drill allows for great accuracy. 6. Lastly, more grinding on welds and on edges before taking to galvanizing. We are still making these anchors “one at a time” but with much greater standardization and less hands-on labor. Thanks for asking. Steve ---------------- Steve Bedford laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ maxmarineproducts.com Home of Super MAX Anchors Burgess, Virginia Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function.

Thanks, Steve, I surely do like my SM 15. Rich Gano Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II) Panama City area -----Original Message----- From: Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers-bounces@lists.trawlering.com> On Behalf Of Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering Sent: Sunday, March 7, 2021 7:56 AM To: Trawlers and Trailering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> Subject: Re: T&T: How are anchors made? Interesting question Rich. Gave me an opportunity to reflect. Some of our customers ask that question, most do not. Most do not want the details. When we first purchased the SuperMAX anchor business from inventor and company owner, Andy Peabody, we realized that making these anchors was very labor intensive. There was no automation involved. Each anchor was really “custom made” because all parts for each anchor were cut, shaped, bent, welded, and lots of grinding before galvanizing. All done by hand. Recently, we have standardize an important component of the process. We start with USA made steel. I am not going to debate the quality of USA made steel verses some companies of the world but I would say USA steel is better than some steel made in other steel manufacturing companies! No country names mentioned or suggested. We just like the consistently and availability and quality of USA made steel. Enough on that. Initially we followed the process that Andy did: We purchased A514 steel (hard, high tensile steel) in 4x8 sheets in various thicknesses (for shanks and flukes) and in long pieces at various width and thicknesses for strapping and smaller components. Using a plasma cutter, steel cutting band saws, and templates, we cut every piece: shank, fluke, top straps, and smaller components. We did that for a couple of years. In 2019, I contacted a local metal fabrication shop to professionally cut (using a computer directed large capacity plasma cutter) the flukes, shanks, and small components of the pivoting arm shank. They also drilled all the holes. All of that was much more consistent/accurate than we could ever do, one piece and one anchor at a time. We spent more on having that work done for us knowing the labor to assemble would be less. It has worked >From there, the process is pretty straight forward (describing as simplistically as possible): 1. Bend the fluke in a large hydraulic press to the SuperMAX concave shape. 2. Cut edges off the fluke (the edges have to fit tightly in the large press for an accurate “bend.”) The cutting allows the outside fluke rest point down in the seabed. Has to be cut off. 3. Shank welded to the fluke. We use a hand grinder on the welds to finish. 4. The top strap is welded, heated, bent to the contour of the shank and welded for the lateral strength. More weld grinding. 5. For the pivoting arm model, the pivoting arm components are welded that allows adjustment of the arm to the three different settings. More grinding. Having the professional metal fabricator drill the holes with their computer driven plasma cutter and drill allows for great accuracy. 6. Lastly, more grinding on welds and on edges before taking to galvanizing. We are still making these anchors “one at a time” but with much greater standardization and less hands-on labor. Thanks for asking. Steve ---------------- Steve Bedford laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ maxmarineproducts.com Home of Super MAX Anchors Burgess, Virginia Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Steve, Great explanation of SuperMax creation! I love my 17 YO SuperMax 90(ish)! And thanks for helping me get it, and all my chain, re-galvanized. Be safe! Bob __________________________ Robert Calhoun Smith, Jr. M/V MARY KATHRYN (on the hard this winter) Hatteras 58 LRC Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis Yacht Club Hatteras LRC Club Marine Trawler Owners Assoc. #4861

Steve, thanks for the great info. I bought my one and only SuperMax from Andy in about 1999-2000 after reading Capt'n Wil and his experiences with it on T&T List. I took it with me when we sold our first trawler, and it was on Sanderling when we sold it in January. If I ever buy another boat, I'll replace whatever anchor is on it with another SuperMax! They're great anchors. <><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><> Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina, Patrick AFB Florida Formerly cruising in MV Sanderling, a DeFever 41 Trawler which has been sold Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog On 3/7/2021 08:56 AM, Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote: > Interesting question Rich. Gave me an opportunity to reflect. Some of our customers ask that question, most do not. Most do not want the details. When we first purchased the SuperMAX anchor business from inventor and company owner, Andy Peabody, we realized that making these anchors was very labor intensive. There was no automation involved. Each anchor was really “custom made” because all parts for each anchor were cut, shaped, bent, welded, and lots of grinding before galvanizing. All done by hand. > > Recently, we have standardize an important component of the process. > > We start with USA made steel. I am not going to debate the quality of USA made steel verses some companies of the world but I would say USA steel is better than some steel made in other steel manufacturing companies! No country names mentioned or suggested. We just like the consistently and availability and quality of USA made steel. Enough on that. Initially we followed the process that Andy did: We purchased A514 steel (hard, high tensile steel) in 4x8 sheets in various thicknesses (for shanks and flukes) and in long pieces at various width and thicknesses for strapping and smaller components. Using a plasma cutter, steel cutting band saws, and templates, we cut every piece: shank, fluke, top straps, and smaller components. We did that for a couple of years. In 2019, I contacted a local metal fabrication shop to professionally cut (using a computer directed large capacity plasma cutter) the flukes, shanks, and small components of the pivoting arm shank. They also drilled all the holes. All of that was much more consistent/accurate than we could ever do, one piece and one anchor at a time. We spent more on having that work done for us knowing the labor to assemble would be less. It has worked > > From there, the process is pretty straight forward (describing as simplistically as possible): > 1. Bend the fluke in a large hydraulic press to the SuperMAX concave shape. > 2. Cut edges off the fluke (the edges have to fit tightly in the large press for an accurate “bend.”) The cutting allows the outside fluke rest point down in the seabed. Has to be cut off. > 3. Shank welded to the fluke. We use a hand grinder on the welds to finish. > 4. The top strap is welded, heated, bent to the contour of the shank and welded for the lateral strength. More weld grinding. > 5. For the pivoting arm model, the pivoting arm components are welded that allows adjustment of the arm to the three different settings. More grinding. Having the professional metal fabricator drill the holes with their computer driven plasma cutter and drill allows for great accuracy. > 6. Lastly, more grinding on welds and on edges before taking to galvanizing. > > We are still making these anchors “one at a time” but with much greater standardization and less hands-on labor. Thanks for asking. > > Steve > ---------------- > Steve Bedford > laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ > maxmarineproducts.com > Home of Super MAX Anchors > Burgess, Virginia > > Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Thank you Bob and Bob for your comments. Steve ---------------- Steve Bedford laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ maxmarineproducts.com Home of Super MAX Anchors Burgess, Virginia Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. > On Mar 7, 2021, at 10:14 PM, Bob McLeran <Bob@mvsanderling.net> wrote: > > Steve, thanks for the great info. I bought my one and only SuperMax from Andy in about 1999-2000 after reading Capt'n Wil and his experiences with it on T&T List. I took it with me when we sold our first trawler, and it was on Sanderling when we sold it in January. If I ever buy another boat, I'll replace whatever anchor is on it with another SuperMax! They're great anchors. > > <><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><> > Bob McLeran and Judy Young > Manatee Cove Marina, Patrick AFB Florida > Formerly cruising in MV Sanderling, a DeFever 41 Trawler > which has been sold > Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog > >> On 3/7/2021 08:56 AM, Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote: >> Interesting question Rich. Gave me an opportunity to reflect. Some of our customers ask that question, most do not. Most do not want the details. When we first purchased the SuperMAX anchor business from inventor and company owner, Andy Peabody, we realized that making these anchors was very labor intensive. There was no automation involved. Each anchor was really “custom made” because all parts for each anchor were cut, shaped, bent, welded, and lots of grinding before galvanizing. All done by hand. >> >> Recently, we have standardize an important component of the process. >> >> We start with USA made steel. I am not going to debate the quality of USA made steel verses some companies of the world but I would say USA steel is better than some steel made in other steel manufacturing companies! No country names mentioned or suggested. We just like the consistently and availability and quality of USA made steel. Enough on that. Initially we followed the process that Andy did: We purchased A514 steel (hard, high tensile steel) in 4x8 sheets in various thicknesses (for shanks and flukes) and in long pieces at various width and thicknesses for strapping and smaller components. Using a plasma cutter, steel cutting band saws, and templates, we cut every piece: shank, fluke, top straps, and smaller components. We did that for a couple of years. In 2019, I contacted a local metal fabrication shop to professionally cut (using a computer directed large capacity plasma cutter) the flukes, shanks, and small components of the pivoting arm shank. They also drilled all the holes. All of that was much more consistent/accurate than we could ever do, one piece and one anchor at a time. We spent more on having that work done for us knowing the labor to assemble would be less. It has worked >> >> From there, the process is pretty straight forward (describing as simplistically as possible): >> 1. Bend the fluke in a large hydraulic press to the SuperMAX concave shape. >> 2. Cut edges off the fluke (the edges have to fit tightly in the large press for an accurate “bend.”) The cutting allows the outside fluke rest point down in the seabed. Has to be cut off. >> 3. Shank welded to the fluke. We use a hand grinder on the welds to finish. >> 4. The top strap is welded, heated, bent to the contour of the shank and welded for the lateral strength. More weld grinding. >> 5. For the pivoting arm model, the pivoting arm components are welded that allows adjustment of the arm to the three different settings. More grinding. Having the professional metal fabricator drill the holes with their computer driven plasma cutter and drill allows for great accuracy. >> 6. Lastly, more grinding on welds and on edges before taking to galvanizing. >> >> We are still making these anchors “one at a time” but with much greater standardization and less hands-on labor. Thanks for asking. >> >> Steve >> ---------------- >> Steve Bedford >> laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ >> maxmarineproducts.com >> Home of Super MAX Anchors >> Burgess, Virginia >> >> Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. >> _______________________________________________ >> http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com >> >> To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com >> Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World >> Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited. > >