Whether used for a leisurely overnight mooring or battening down in a severe storm, dependable Rocna anchors provide safety, security and confidence in many conditions. Rocna anchors offer super high holding power thanks to a large blade area combined with a concave shape. The chisel-like blade tip easily penetrates any bottom surface, whether mud, clay, weeds, grass or kelp.

Incorporating an optimized geometry, Rocna anchors are designed to remain embedded, even with veering loads or when dragging under extreme loads. Users can expect rock-solid anchoring every time. And a good anchor can spell the difference between safety and disaster.

In October 2012, Frederic and Barbie were en route to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands aboard their Meridian 391 Barbie Girl when hurricane Sandy hit them full force with winds of 110-125 mph. From the cove in which they sheltered, they watched boats around them break loose, some washing onto the beach, others battered into the rocks. Still others vanished as high waves swept them out to sea.

“We have a bridle that leads to 180′ of rode, attached to 60′ of chain, attached to our 40 kg Rocna anchor, which must have buried itself 2-3′ deep with all the force pulling against it,” said the couple of their harrowing experience. The following day, they woke unscathed. Although a lobster boat crew offered use of their mooring as a backup, “we never needed it, as the Rocna held firm through it all. We told them that instead of using three different anchors, one of them weighing 150 lbs., all they really needed was one Rocna.”

For Matt and Jessica Johnson, their Rocna anchor became a lifesaver at an unexpected moment. For a recent trip to the Caribbean, they replaced a less reliable anchor with a Rocna 25, knowing it would provide peace of mind on their long journey. In November 2012, they headed inland for an overnight mooring in Florida, a fateful decision that within moments came close to destroying their Sabre 34 Targa Serendipity.

“We were trying to navigate the tricky entrance at the St. Augustine inlet when we ran aground in 8′ breaking waves,” said Jessica. After two frightening hours of struggling to keep their craft afloat, they were helped to shore by TowBoatU.S. and a local search and rescue team. “Had we not dropped our Rocna, which held us into place until the tow lines could be secured, we would have lost our boat for sure.”

Rocna anchors are available in fourteen sizes from 9-606 lbs., for boats 16-150′. Each is backed with a lifetime warranty, including protection against bending and deformation. Suggested retail prices begin at $152.99 CDN and $147.99 US.

For more information, visit www.canmet.com.

For boat owners with a secured boat loan, mortgage interest paid on the loan may be deducted from your federal income taxes. Taxpayers may use the home mortgage interest deduction for one second home in addition to their primary home, and must itemize deductions on their returns. A boat is considered a second home for federal tax purposes if it has a galley, an installed head and sleeping berth.

Some members of Congress have sought to eliminate this deduction for boat owners while keeping it in place for second home and recreational vehicle owners. BoatUS lobbied aggressively for a more equitable all-or-nothing approach when applying the deduction, and boaters did not get unfairly singled out.

Boaters may be unaware of this potential tax benefit because not all lending institutions send borrowers an Internal Revenue Service form 1098 which reports the interest paid. Not receiving the form does not preclude taking the deduction. If a 1098 is not available, boaters should contact their lender for the amount of interest paid and should enter it on line 11 on Schedule A along with the lender’s tax ID number. If a form 1098 is sent, boaters should simply enter the amount on line 10 of Schedule A.

For those who fall under the Alternative Minimum Tax, most deductions are unavailable. Boaters are urged to contact a tax preparer or financial advisor for more information.

For more details on the mortgage deduction on boats that qualify, go to www.IRS.gov and download Publication 936 or the Fact Sheets. For state tax deduction information, download Publication 600 which also includes state-by-state tax tables.