Anchor chain + rope.

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memerys

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I want to attach some 20m of nylon rope to my existing anchor chain to provide additional lengh and a shock absorber. What is the correct/prescribed method of making the connection? Can someone point me in the direction of a publication/article/website that covers this?
 
Re: Anchor chain + rope. re: Gandy

That's a pretty way to attach a warp to a chain, here I am with an eye-splice and a shackle and now feeling insecure! (not I might add with the shackle connection!)
 
There's this one also -

Chain/rope splice


One thing I was wondering is if there is any difference in the strength between the splice where the rope is spliced back on itself - as in the one I referred to - or where the rope goes up the chain - as shown at bluemoment ?
 
I think that these rope to chain splices are mainly intended for use with windlasses where the joint has to pass easily over the gypsy without fouling - or perhaps where the spurling pipe is relatively small (ie not wide enough to accomodate a thimble).

I read on one of the rope manufacturer's websites (I think it was Samson) that the splice should be checked regularly for chafe. I am sure that there is good potential for chafe to occure, perhaps more so with nylon because of it's elasticity.

Given a choice, I would always prefer to have a conventional eyesplice around a thimble in the rope, and then attach it to the chain with a suitable shackle (which has been moused).
 
Re: Anchor chain + rope. re: Gandy

Eye splice and shackle is fine. Spliced rope to chain is used so you can get it over the bow roller and over a gypsy, and into the chain locker. The benefit of using a shackle is that you can use the warp for something else - e.g. a kedge anchor, extra shore lines, or tying up to trees, etc, if you are on the Thames or some other inland waterway.

What's the River Wey like these days? I had my first boat on the Wey at the age of 11; a small pram dinghy with a Seagull which I used to take from Send boathouse (Mr Groves') up to Guildford, with my friends, for shopping trips. It was blissfully rural and quiet. That was 1965 though, and things have changed, I guess.
 
Mike. I believe that 'order of strength' would be

thimble
up the chain
back splice through end link

with the correct thimble being the strongest

all have advantages and disadvantages as other have outlined - the latter's being strength. the tighter the radius curve you put the rope, or strands, into the more you weaken it.

having anchor plait I suse an up the chain splice and simple replace it every 2 years - at 15mins and 1 foot of my 220m rode it's the easy option!
 
The splice Mike-K refers to is the best option and less likely to give grief, especially if being used on a winch. It is easy for most to do without cocking it up. If you have even just a little splicing experience you can get this splice pretty good. Done well the loose of strength is only what you would expect from any splice including a thimble splice and they will break in the same place i.e the back of the splice, not around the chain. Work on a 15% decrease for a good splice.

Done correctly there is no significant difference in strength between the 3 options listed above but the jimmy green splice has the most potential to be the weakest. This splice has big potential to damage winches and has done so. This splice is also the hardest to do and get right even if it still 'looks OK'.

Contrary to common belief the chain is the thing to watch on a R2C (rope to chain) splice rather than the rope. We have cut open ones 5 years old and the rope is still good, a bit dis-coloured but otherwise fine. We have seen the odd chain link looking a bit sad though.

Generally we see a lot more ropes 'cut or damaged to a dangerous point' which have thimbles than direct to the chain.

As lemain said, if you're not putting it thru a winch use a thimble so you can have a nice bit of rope if required. Makes sense to maximise the uses for any one item if you can.
 
I hadn't thought about using a thimble and shackle so the rope could be used for other things if necessary - seems obvious now it's been mentioned !
From other things I'd read I'd believed a rope/chain splice woul be stronger than a thimble/shackle, but will take the advice here. I don't have a gypsy, just man-power.

I'll check my chainpipe to see if a shackle will go through. Of course, the next question is - how big a shackle ? The biggest that'll fit through the chainpipe ?
It's a 23ft bilge keel, it that helps for sizing.
Also, will any type of 'marine' shackle do, or is it better to get one that has been rated for breaking strength ?
 
I've given up on galvanised shackles...so many of them have such poor plating they seize within weeks. Stainless is fine with galvanised chain as long as it isn't underwater for many months at a time. I buy the Plastimo shackles for the anchor as the breaking load is quoted. You can order them from the chandlery - all chandlers regularly put an order into Plastimo. Choose a shackle with a working load or breaking load well over that of the chain and you won't go wrong - unless it won't go through the chainpipe!
 
[ QUOTE ]

From other things I'd read I'd believed a rope/chain splice woul be stronger than a thimble/shackle, but will take the advice here. I don't have a gypsy, just man-power.

[/ QUOTE ]
Quite probable but should be fine either way.

[ QUOTE ]
I'll check my chainpipe to see if a shackle will go through. Of course, the next question is - how big a shackle ? The biggest that'll fit through the chainpipe ?
It's a 23ft bilge keel, it that helps for sizing.
Also, will any type of 'marine' shackle do, or is it better to get one that has been rated for breaking strength ?

[/ QUOTE ]
The biggest standard galvanised or SS that will fit. The same size as the chain at the absolute minimum. Can go to a HT rated but they are probably un-needed in your case.
 
Re: Anchor chain + rope. re: lemain

Wey is lovely for Spring/Summer w/ends still although far too many narrow boats these days turning the once clean water to a muddy stew. We've been there on & off since the '70's, used to moor at New Haw in the days of Captain "Tiny" Harris. Often spent time listening to his yarns, how he carried his future wife at her christening, (he outlived her!), the ghost in the lock cottage (we never saw her) etc. Things have changed a bit, anglers seem to have a better attitude to boats, but teenagers spit at you or throw things at you as you pass under bridges. There are hire boats up at what was Leroy's and John Hall's place in Godalming now, big narrow boats swanning about and bumping into everything. Mind you, we fetch up at Shalford bridge now with the pulpit too high to pass under on this boat, elsewhere we have few problems, only the road bridge below Guildford sometimes involves laying on the foredeck and "legging" to force the bow down enough to pass.

There's a socking great marina been dug at Pyrford too, to stbd as you go up and just below the lock.
 
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