Anchor chain or a piece of electronics

[stav]

Hi All,

I don't think I have posted for a few years, but a new less grumpy me seems to be emerging so have been looking at the forums and doing things to the boat including enjoying just going for a sail.

I have accumulated a little bit of boat bit tokens and was going to buy a Matsutec AIS transponder. But then I do have a receiver and a radar.

So it made me think about anchoring (don't try and make the mental links to get there)!

So rather than spend the money on a bit of electronics I was thinking about buying a new anchor chain as mine is flaky rusty and being in Jersey the cost of transport for re galvanising would be prohibitive. I want to paint the decks but want to sort the rust problem first.

The boat is a westerly Conway 35' and about 8T displacement.

Currently I have about 50metres of 8mm chain a 16KG lewmar delta and a SL hyspeed manual windlass. Although to be honest I generally pull the chain in by hand and sometimes use the windlass just to break the anchor out. Also have a cast iron anchor chum in the bilge around about 30lb I guess.

She came with a 45lb CQR which is now in the bilge as back up and at home I have a 16KG manson supreme(?).

So my reason for posting is to get opinions on either getting 60 to 80 metres of 8mm chain.

Or 50 metres of 10mm chain which which would also require a change of gypsy. I also have 10M 10mm chain at home so could just buy 40m and add the extra 10m with a link? I have on board two very long lengths (50m at least) of 14mm 3 strand nylon with hard eyes and could use one to add to the chain.

We anchor regularly in St Brelades in 12/14m water and sometimes go to Sark and can be in 20m of water.

I must own up to not being that careful when anchoring in St Brelades and did drag last year whilst I was ashore with the kids and wife on board. She called for assistance and all was OK in the end. Ironically I had anchored for a swim by myself and the family had come to the beach by car and I dinghyed them aboard so we stayed longer than I had planned and forgot to let out more chain as the tide came in. Also I had the portable VHF with me but switched off!

So having watched various videos I will improve my anchoring technique.

If I had unlimited budget would go for 10mm chain, new electric windlass and a 45lb spade or mantus (although I think both would be a hassle to stow).

Open to some thoughts and suggestions about how with a little bit of budget I can perhaps improve things equipment wise in relation to anchoring.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RichardS]

It's actually only 9 months since you posted but time flies etc.

I would stick with 8mm chain rather than changing stuff for the sake of it. I would also retrieve what is your best anchor, by a country mile, from home and start to use that. I would also use the windlass rather than pulling in by hand. Are you a glutton for punishment or something?

Ah .... manual windlass! In that case, I would definitely go for an electric one but still stick with 8mm.

Richard

 

[lw395]

If I wanted to anchor reliably in 20m of water, I'd be buying a decent length of rope rode.
I wouldn't be looking at longer or thicker chain without an electric windlass.

 

[simonfraser]

'sometimes use the windlass just to break the anchor out'

hm, not sure if that is the best way to go about things, unless you just use it to take the slack up

 

[PTB]

60m of nice new 8mm on the Manson should cover most of your needs without weighing you down, and have the 50m of nylon ( assuming in top order) to shackle, or maillon rapide, on the end if necessary. And an electric windlass to save your health. Leave the CQR at home and keep the delta on board as your second anchor ! Phil

 

[vyv_cox]

My Sadler 34 is a little smaller than your Westerly but for many years I used just the same anchoring gear as you - 16 kg Delta and 50 metres of 8 mm chain, manual windlass after some years without one. This was perfectly adequate for western Britain and the English Channel, although we only anchored in your area a couple of times. I would definitely not increase chain size to 10 mm but you might consider going to a higher grade of 8 mm, grade 40 or even grade 70 and increasing length to maybe 70 metres with an electric windlass.

I was totally happy with my Delta for 20 years of frequent anchoring although a Manson Supreme would probably bring some benefits.

 

[PaulRainbow]

To add to the good advise here, i can easily live with receive only AIS, but i wouldn't want to part with my electric windlass.

 

[stav]

Thank you for the replies, really helpful and the bit of sensible independent advice that was needed.

So some grade 40 8mm chain to be sought. Length will depend upon postage cost. Although the local chandler wasn't to expensive but not sure of grade. Think I might go for 60m as nearly covers most depths and can then add a few metres of rope when necessary. And will be much more careful on technique, but normally am. Windlass will have to wait and 8mm is manageable at the moment as long as I motor forward. Kind of fits with the hank on head sails....... thank you.

 

[Neeves]

The advise being given is fairly consistent and uncontroversial and I would agree.

I don't know the yacht but you say you have 50m of 8mm chain - and the suggestion is to invest in new chain, again 8mm - maybe G40, but 60m. 10m extra is not much - is the chain locker big enough?

I'd certainly recommend considering an electric windlass - unless you enjoy the exercise. However manually retrieving means only you can deploy and retrieve the anchor and investing in an electric windlass would allow your wife (or children) to take the responsibility - and could do this in your absence. Dragging anchors and expecting your wife to manually retrieve chain is a sure fire recipe for divorce.

If you do think of an electric windlass you could then consider 6mm G70 - which will be lighter and take up less room. The windlass could be smaller and would use less power (if you had 6mm rather than 8mm). Sailing performance would improve with less weight in the bow - but the difference is probably not detectable. G70 chain is available from either Maggi and Peerless, both sell in metric and imperial sizes. Peerless (an American chain maker) do stock in Europe. Maggi had a terrible reputation for galvanising of chain - hopefully that is in the past now. Many suppliers offer G40 chain, including Lofrans, Maggi, CMP, Peerless and there may be some Chinese available (in Jersey). Personally I'd say 8mm G30 would be more than adequate - don't get too focussed on G40 - yes it is stronger but you almost definitely don't need to the extra strength and most G30 has been shown to be near G40 strength anyway. If you consider the 6mm route - you could buy more and have less need to use rope.

Most modern windlass accept mixed rodes, with the rope spliced to the chain. You current rope might be 'too' big to match the 6mm or 8mm gypsy (so you might need new rope if you go the electric route). I'm not keen on mixed rodes as the rope is always wet and will help preferential corrosion of the chain - unless you keep the rope and chain separate (and do so religiously).

it seems incomprehensible that you keep a Manson Supreme at home and use the Delta, the difference in performance should surprise you - but I wonder if its at home because it does not fit? I'd certainly keep the Delta, as Vyv says - thousand use them without issue, but I might also suggest you consider an aluminium fluke anchor, say a Fortress FX16 or the new Lewmar equivalent, I think the LFX16. Your wife or children could deploy one quite easily with a short length of chain

I note your comment that chain is expensive in Jersey - and you mention 'postage'. Why not plan a trip to a, or either, 'mainland' and buy the chain (and new windlass) there?

If you already have, and use, an AIS receiver and radar then you know the traffic that is about and can keep clear - I'd favour the electric windlass over the transponder. Installing a windlass is really not difficult - though you may want to seek advice on the cabling (ask here is a good start).

Jonathan

I'd underline the electric windlass - you will be much more willing to move your location at 2am when the wind starts to veer and expose your position - manually retrieving 60m of chain on a wet windy morning (or night) is never a favourite occupation. But you appear to enjoy sailing as a family, and its pleasure many don't have, invest in keeping it that way