all chain anchor rhode

[erice]

i've got a 36' sabreline, approx. 25,000 lbs. i just measured the anchor chain, 100' of 5/16" chain with a pivoting type plow anchor. i've always had nylon rhode with 20-30' of chain (last boat 30' express, 300' 1/2" line, 30' chain), so only 100' of chain seems kind of short. what length of chain do you use? issues, problems with it? i mostly anchor in 15-25' of water.

[jleonard]

I put 200 feet of 5/16 chain aboard and I use a 44# Delta. I mostly use only the first 100 feet. Actually I only have markings at 50 ft and 100 ft.
Most of my anchoring is in 8 to 15 feet of water.
With all chain you should be using a snubber line to take the load off the windlass and to absorb the shock to your hardware and boat. A snubber also lowers the pull angle if it is long enough. I like to put the hook at the waterline.

My secondary anchor which is on the bow and ready to deploy is a 22 Danforth deepset, 13 ft of 3/8 chain backed by 150 ft 3 strand 5/8 nylon. (Over the winter the danforth will be replaced with a Fortress FX37)

[RobS]

Your ground tackle should be capable of handling your intended anchoring needs but should also be sufficient for emergency deployment in the waters you travel, considering depths, currents, sea conditions, etc.

My main setup is a 22lb plow with 20ft of 5/6th chain on 600ft of 3-strand nylon. This is a heavier anchor and heavier chain than a 28 calls for but that’s piece of mind. 600ft is a full spool and the rope locker in the 28TE is more than roomy enough to hold it and still leaves room for 2 large fenders.

In heavy seas/current with scope recommended at 7:1 ratio (rode:depth) you can find yourself deploying quite a bit of line..

As a backup (or stern anchor), I also carry a 14lb plow with shorter chain on 150ft of 3-strand.

[DougSea]

I have 160' of 5/16 chain, with a 35lb Delta (Thanks Jay!), backed up by 250' of braided anchor rode.

Like jay I rarely get beyond the chain and I have a snubber (Short length of nylon line with a hook to engage the chain) that I use to keep the strain off of the windlass in all but the calmest conditions. The chain lets me keep the scope shorter than I could with more of a rope rode.

Also, as Rob points out, you want to have an anchor setup that's good for most of your anchoring BUT is capable of keeping you secure and safe when things go wrong. Do I really need nearly 400 total feet of rode? Not really. But if I run into trouble in 90' of water, which we have in the western Sound, I might be very glad I have it!

[jleonard]

One thing to consider if you have all or mostly chain rode is a set of bolt cutters. I never even thought of then until last weekend...didn't get in trouble but the first mate an I were talking about situations.
So today I bought me a set from Tractor Supply in Farmington. $30 is a cheap investment. They can also cut battery cables in a pinch if you have a "situation".
BTW I made them let me cut some 5/16 chain links in the store before I bought the cutters....wanted to make sure they were up to the task.

[Veebyes2]

My rule of thumb is a boatlength of chain is usually more than enough. Used to do alot of overnight rafting, also water depth 10-20'. Never dragged.

[Pitou]

i've got a 36' sabreline, approx. 25,000 lbs. i just measured the anchor chain, 100' of 5/16" chain with a pivoting type plow anchor. i've always had nylon rhode with 20-30' of chain (last boat 30' express, 300' 1/2" line, 30' chain), so only 100' of chain seems kind of short. what length of chain do you use? issues, problems with it? i mostly anchor in 15-25' of water.

Recommendations on scope are: rope rode 7 to 1 ; chain 3 to 1. In a calmer sea or day tripping & tight anchorages these can be shortened up at the call of the capt.. When my rope rode w/ 30 ft. of chain was in need of replacement last season I went to 100 ft. of chain and 180 ft. of brait rode to my 22lb. Delta along with a a length of rope rode to a chain hook. The snubber always goes on to relieve the windlass. This covers all my anchoring needs and I have yet to get into the brait. If I were to do it again I would go with 200 to 250 ft of all chain. The chain is terrific in tight anchorages where there is not much swing room as you can let out less than half the length of what is needed of rope rode and be at full scope. Loving the chain.

[jleonard]

I am never 3:1 with all chain. No way, that is not close to being enough. More like 6:1 MINIMUM and usually 7 or 8:1. If it's windy I'm going 10:1 if I can get it out.

[Pitou]

I've gone with the Chapman's and BoatUS suggestion. As always the Capt. makes the call. If you've got the room, feel it necessary or find a comfort zone and or heavy weather or adverse anchoring conditions demand longer scope; absoluteley let it out. The amount of anchor rode paid out depends on the type of rode you're using and the weather and bottom conditions. As I'm sure we all do; be sure to add the distance from your pulpit to waterline to your water depth to calculate true scope.

From Boat US; "The proper scope for all-rope rode in "average conditions" is between 7:1 or 8:1; you can be comfortable with a mere 3:1 or 4:1 if you're using all-chain rode".

[yhc]

What kind of connector do you guys use to connect your chain and rope? I have a shackle that connects 100ft of chain and 600ft of rope. The problem I have is when I bring the line in w/ windlass it jumps when the shackle comes around so I have to manually adjust it each time. Any thoughts?

[Pitou]

What kind of connector do you guys use to connect your chain and rope? I have a shackle that connects 100ft of chain and 600ft of rope. The problem I have is when I bring the line in w/ windlass it jumps when the shackle comes around so I have to manually adjust it each time. Any thoughts?

The shackle will give you trouble everytime it passes. For smooth windlass operation a splice from rope rode to chain is necessary.