A Chained Cat...

[MacMan]

So I just brought a new boat and found it's current anchoring arrangements not up to scratch.

I have a Prout Quest 33 Catamaran (33 feet LOA and displacing 4.5 tonnes)

I already have brought a Spade A100 anchor which I intend to have as my Primary bower.

So the question is how much chain ?

I am used to anchoring on a mixed chain/rope rode on my previous boat and need to balance two things

1. The need to keep the Cat light (she is heavy enough without any help)
2. The advantage of all Chain to reduce swinging room in congested anchorages.
3. We have (and intend to keep) our manual windlass

We intend to do quite a lot of anchoring.

Normal weekend waters are Solent/Poole and environs but planning an 3/4 month escape with is likely to include UK South Coast, Scillies and Brittany/Northern Biscay.

So my current thinking is 20m of 8mm chain spliced to 50m 14mm of octoplait.

Why ?

Well when anchoring in 2/3 metres in in a crowded anchorage it becomes "all chain" and thus is easier on the neighbours. (And probably a necessity on a bank holiday weekend in Newtown Creek/East Head.

But when anchoring somewhere with much higher tidal range (say the 10m range of some part of Brittany) I can extend still manage to anchor in say 2m at low tide which becomes 12 m at high tide and still have 5 times depth rode.

What does the forum think ?
Anyone on similar vessel ? What have you got ?

(Monomaran ;-) owners need to bear in mind it is a different problem to solve - I can't just add in loads chain in the same way you might with a sturdy monohull cruiser)

FYI I will be making a bridle.

A secondary question - I really do want "proper" certificated chain. What spec should I ask for and happy for anyone to recommend a supplier if they have received good service/goods in the past.

Thanks in advance.

 

[boatmike]

I have a Snowgoose Elite which is more like 7 tons but your philosophy is basically sound and not a million miles away from what I have. Even when anchoring on chain though ( I have 30 metres) I hook on the rope bridle which stops her shearing around so much. Another tip is a second anchor or weight about half way down the chain just dragging the bottom which takes the snatch out of the chain. They have a nasty habit of sometimes sailing off at a vast rate of knots on the turn of the tide in a blow and ripping the anchor out otherwise! Only necessary in less than ideal conditions but a good tip when it's rough.. Have similar plans this year so may see you around! Enjoy your summer, and stay out of those evil money grabbing marinas full of people with only half a boat....

 

[Talbot]

I found that an upgrade from 8mm to 10mm chain gave me much more confidence at anchor during tide changes, and also significantly reduced the sailing at anchor. I had 30m òf 10mm chain `+ 50m of 14mm octoplait.

 

[RobBrown]

Re recommended suppliers of chain, I have picked up two links (small pun intended) from previous posts :

http://www.griffchains.co.uk/index2.htm and
http://www.bradneychain.com/

both of whom may also be able to give advice on the spec.

HTH

 

[boatmike]

What size of chain do they use in Denmark to chain you to your desk? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day MacMan,

We run a 42 foot Stephens/Lees (American production cat), with 36 pound CQR, 40 m of 10 mm chain and provision for another 50 m of 16 mm rope.

However we have never used the rope and only once had all the chain out, drifting back onto a reef to get a few more fish at the time.

A good bridle is essential, ours is a fixture made of stainless steel with a simple chain hook, a sliding weight is also good if things look grim.

The one thing you seem to have missed is that you need a lot less water than most to drop your pick into, so it is not normally that crowded.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[MacMan]

[ QUOTE ]


The one thing you seem to have missed is that you need a lot less water than most to drop your pick into, so it is not normally that crowded.



[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly this just isn't true on the South Coast of the UK - even the drying bits are filled with moorings and on Bank Holiday (public holiday) weekend in the Solent even the drying bits that are left are full of boats. (some cats but plenty of Bilge/lifting keelers)

I hope oneday to be anchoring in your waters and look forward to escaping the crowds but that will have to wait a few years yet /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
What size of chain do they use in Norway to chain you to your desk? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
shekels

 

[grafozz]

i use a fortress f x 37 and 20 metres of 8 mm chain plus 30xmetres of 22mm nylon rode on my 38 ft sunstar cat , its light, easy to handle and sets a treat ,when i dive down and check all the cqr ,s theyre all dragging ,but the fortress is always dug in . i made a bridle the right length with a spliced eye on one end and a big shackle on the other so she sits central with the load on both bow cleats .