Anchor cables, lengths and dimensions

[gunnarsilins]

Prior our Scottish, Irish, Brittanny, Iberian, Canarian and Med cruise with a 42' deck saloon ketch, displacing 12 tons, I would like to have some views of lengths and dimensions of anchor cables.
We usually anchor quite much and want to be well prepared for riding out some bad weather at anchor.

This is what we got:

1. Main anchor on bow roller with electrical windlass, a 26 kg/55 lbs Delta with 56 m of 10 mm chain. I´m thinking of splicing 40 m multiplait to the chain. Is it enough?

2. Spare/second anchor, 21 kg/45 lbs CQR. How long chain/warp cable would you suggest?

3. Emergency anchor, 35 kg Fisherman. How long chain/warp do you suggest.
I have 15 m of 15 mm chain and 25 m 30 mm warp in the cellar. Would this be usable for the Fisherman? I beleive the chain is to heavy and the warp both to short and heavy for the whole thing to be handled.

4. Permanently on an aft-mounted roller I have a 15 kg Bruce with 6m 8mm chain and 56 m 'ankarolina' as a kedge. I plan to leave this as it is.



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[TheBoatman]

Gunnar
This post will undoubtedly elicit many different views and recommendations.
Below is what the RNLI recommend as a MINIMUM for a 13 mtr/43 foot boat;

If warp is used then it should be fitted with at least 5 metres of chain to prevent chafe and keep the pull on the anchor horizontal.

Chain – 3-4 times depth at HW
Warp – 5-6 times depth at HW

Main anchor
21 Kgs
Chain – 10mm
Rope – 14mm

Kedge
10kgs
Chain- 8mm
Rope – 12mm

It seems to me that you have more than enough weight available the only thing you need to do is decide how much water you are likely to encounter. As for splicing on some extra rope to your main anchor, it sounds a good idea to me?

All the very best for your trip and should you find yourself anywhere near the Thames estuary please call in at the Medway YC. I’m sure we can find you a free mooring for a week or so!
Peter

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[Shanty]

Sailing on the West Coast of Scotland, I find that 50mtr of chain is adequate for all the anchorages I have visited.

You will find the fisherman anchor useful, as many anchorages are covered in seaweed.

I would suggest you stick to a size of chain that your windlass can handle - you may find yourself lifting not only anchor and chain, but also a large ball of seaweed.


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[jamesjermain]

Assuming you have a powerful and reliable windlass, what you have should be enough - a bit of multiuplat would not go amiss, though.

The only thing I would add is that you might feel the need for a lighter 'lunch hook' for a short term, calm weather stop over; say a medium sized Fortress (I can't remember the weight equivalents for alloy/steel anchors). But with a big Delta on the stemhead why bother?

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[Cornishman]

I suggest that you can do no better than to refer to Eric Hiscock's Cruising Under Sail for advice on this and many other matters relating to seamanship. It was first published about 54 years ago, but still holds good and most yacht clubs seem to have a copy on their bookshelves.

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[Chris_Robb]

Hi - thought you had already set off this summer!

RE main anchor - I carry 100 mt of 10 mm chain. The most I have used was 70m when anchored in 20 mtr of water. I think your 56 meters will need suplementing, and Nylon Anchor Plat woudl be a sensible addition, as the top end is unlikely to suffer abrasion for rocks. It also allows stretch against snubbing in the worst scenario.

Hope you get going ok - next year?

Chris

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[gunnarsilins]

We are leaving in...

...May this year!
It´s slowly getting closer....

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[snowleopard]

the sizes you have specified sound more than adequate. we have 80+ metres of rode (20 chain, 60 rope) and have never used it all. the only time we felt the need for more chain was at la coruna where the anchorage is 18m deep and quite crowded.

the big question is how do you plan to get the gear up? if you have a nice powerful electric windlass capable of handling all the chain and rope, great. if not i would invest in one.



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