Anchor Chain length

[steverow]

Ive got a 35ft, had all mine out on the pontoon in the summer and measured it.
30 meters of chain and at least twice again (60m plus) of anchorplait.
30 meters or thereabouts of chain on this size boat seems to be about the norm.

Steve.



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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Based on the generally accepted rule of 3 x water depth for chain and 5 x for rope, I cant think of anywhere in the Solent where you might want to anchor in more than 10m of water so on that basis 30m would be adequate but are you really going to limit yourself to the Solent? Might you one day go to the Channel Islands where tidal ranges can be well in excess of 10m so you might find yourself anchoring there in 15m of water or more at high tide so on that basis you would need 50m of chain
There are 2 other considerations as well. In the event of total engine failure or prop fouling on a lee shore, your anchor may be the only thing that saves you from being washed up on the beach so the longer the better in that situation. The other thing concerns the weight of the anchor itself. Having had a couple of Sealines myself I know they tend to fit the lightest possible anchor that the manufacturers reccomend and the 'beak' shape of the bow prohibits fitment of a heavier anchor. So you have to rely more on the catenary effect of the chain to hold the boat than the weight of the anchor - maybe this is the reason that the boat has so much chain?
Personally, I would stick with about 50m to be on the safe side

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[duncan]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

Some of us here have met a Rag and Stick who likes to put down over 50m chain for anchoring overnight in there (wind F0-F2) neap tides........./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[lanason]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

Is that because they cant be bothered to take the sails down when they anchor ??

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> I never snub anyone accidentally

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

I'm sure he slept very soundly!

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[duncan]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

eventually - at first he drifted into other boats (in fairness to him he had predicted that if the other boats actually anchored where they did it would happen) - they just couldn't understand when anchoring 'normally' in a large clear area how this could happen.
The depth at low water was around 3m.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

Yes and if he anchored in the pool to the east of the entrance not much in the way of tide runs through there and the holding's good so 50m of chain seems a tad overkill

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[Planty]

When I first started a couple of years ago found http://www.lisaandscott.com/Anchor.htm to be particularly useful. Long missif but covers all the points without all the formulas. Always been very safe since using their guidance. Paul

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[Col]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

Ahh! I remember it well.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[duncan]

Re:What about Newton Creek?

/forums/images/icons/smile.gif - one of the better weekends of the summer .....

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[Talon2]

No, maybe you mailed my son instead, which web site did you refer to?

Love to meet up! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Keith

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mobiledit.co.uk>http://www.mobiledit.co.uk</A>

 

[Talon2]

Go here for all your answers....

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.anchorwatch.co.uk/index-page04.htm>http://www.anchorwatch.co.uk/index-page04.htm</A>



<hr width=100% size=1>Keith

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mobiledit.co.uk>http://www.mobiledit.co.uk</A>

 

[hlb]

God it now takes 30 odd posts to decide how much string and brick to throw. Glad I'm going to Plymouth tomorrow......./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[duncan]

you just know it's going to do that - each and every time - and no ones even raised the issue of 'what effect does the the type of anchor I use have on the apropriate length of chain'...........normally get a good 20 more posts out of that.
Personally I think we should all switch over to SARCA anchors - they seem the biz and you can get use a lot less chain than a bruce needs to hold position.

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[DepSol]

Yes I agree with that but I am using a rule of thumb for all situations. 1.5 times om chain is plenty round here and I usually just let out the chain til it hits bottom and then put a turn on the rope.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[duncan]

Couldn't agree more Dom - chain is only there to avoid chaffing of the anchor line on the bottom and that rule of thumb seems to serve well.

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[BrendanS]

I got a real ticking off on scuttlebutt for suggesting that don't need chain at all. Just a good anchor. Many of them seem to think the chain does all the holding and the anchor doesn't do much.

I quite like the look of the german wasi anchor, as it seems to have an extremely good reputation. Coincidentally there is an article in March PBO on how to make one DIY fashion

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[duncan]

I think everyone accepts that around 10m chain to deal with chaffing, an appropriate set anchor (that will reset immediately if thte angle changes) and a 6:1 overall scope (high water) will handle anything - it's when people bring in swinging circles etc that it all gets out of shape.
I admit to carrying 30m chain but this is because that enables me to anchor/haul anchor from the helm on my windlass in the usual areas I fish single handed - I have a drum for when I am anchoring in 60m and have a bit of anchorplait out too but cannot safely recover from that single handed with a tide running........
I know I could use an Alderney ring setup but again I don't fancy that after dark in a couple of knots of tide off Peveril!

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[BrendanS]

Oh no they certainly don't . Just read some previous scuttlebutt threads. Mention any sort of rope rode, and they go apopleptic. Some believe that if you don't have all chain setup, then you are a dangerous loon.

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[duncan]

they used to use rope to hang people not chain - good enough proof for me.

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