Anchor Chain

[MedDreamer]

I currently only have rope on the anchor and I want to add chain to improve purchase.

I do not have an electric windlass - SWMBO performs this function and I am concerned that if I switch to all chain she will struggle to bring it in so I am thinking of replacing the last 10m of rope with chain.

Will this be an improvement over just rope? or should I go further

<hr width=100% size=1>Martyn

 

[burgundyben]

If it helps, on the 23 foot huntress I had a anchor plus about 3 mtrs chain and a load of rope it always held really well even in 3 knots of solent tide, on the Huntsman i've got an aliminimumin fortress anchor with about 10 mtrs of chain plus warp, bit self defeating having all this chain with a light weight anchor, dunno how heavy a binliner like yours is but I reckon 3 or 4 mtrs chain and a load of rope, dont go all chain, pain in the ass. I am about to chop off most of my chain, just leaving 3 or so mtrs.


<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

 

[hlb]

Dont do that. Its the chain that stops you, not the anchor.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[burgundyben]

oh crap, 3 or so mtrs plenty for my boat with anchor, you only need unuff to lie on the bottom so the anchor not getting pulled up and down

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

 

[hlb]

Oh sorry. But if you had a propper boat in propper sea, you would need the chain.............../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[MedDreamer]

How much chain should I have then Haydn?

<hr width=100% size=1>Martyn

 

[hlb]

Ah. I see that your on Windermere. So not to much of a problem. But two or three metres would help.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[MedDreamer]

Intend going to "propper sea" in next year or so, how much would I need then?

<hr width=100% size=1>Martyn

 

[Stingray]

Usual recommendation is two fathoms, so about four metres should be sufficient but you must remember to use the correct weight anchor and chain for the size of your boat.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hlb]

Depends where you want to anchor and how long for. You need at least 3xdepth with chane or 6xdepth with rope.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[duncan]

recomendation is around 1- 1.5 times the boats waterline length in the appropriate chain size for the boat for general anchoring.
however if you mainly anchor in very shallow water - ie you get close to shore before launching dingy to go to beach all the time, you may find this excessive as you be effectively anchored by all chain.
I would suggest 8 - 9 metres of 8mm (3/8ths) chain to 40 metres of 14mm anchorplait for your boat.
Note this will weigh 14kg plus your anchor in over 9 metres water depth but will not add significantly in say 3-4 metres depth. On the basis you have a 7.5 or 10kg anchor it will be pretty heavy to handle manually - recommend you take over the task and let SWMBO have the helm!


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MedDreamer]

Thanks for such a detailed answer Duncan, I will take your advice

Kind Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Martyn

 

[gonfishing]

anchor lift

as swmbo is to handle the anchor i would suggest that you fit a large bouy with a largish ring to your anchor line so when you are ready to lift anchor you start engine and move away from the anchor at a 45 degree angle making sure you maintain that angle the result will be the bouy will lift the anchor and as you are moving it will bring the anchor up under the bouy all that needs doing then is to retrieve the warp and lift anchor aboard, simple innit ???

julian

<hr width=100% size=1>WHAT??? more petrol!!!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Run that one by me again....

Maybe I'm particularly thick, but the buoy's on the suface, how much line between it and the big ring? Presumably not much? If so how's it going to lift the anchor?

If lots of rope then , well I still don't see how it works. Is it just me?? /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[wakeup]

Not just you

I've heard about this technique, even including the one where you use a buoy or a fender attached to your acnhor chain and then you go round and round in circles to release a stuborn anchor. Can't see how any of it would work in practice...

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[gonfishing]

Re: Run that one by me again....

the anchor rope is passed through the ring which is attached immediately under the bouy, so when you make way the bouy is pulled under water slightly (it must be big enough to take weight of chain and anchor) the bouy lifts anchor boat pulls rope and chain up to the bottom of the bouy, the anchoer remains suspended under the bouy until you pull it in

a lot of small fishing boats use this technique cor i thought you all knew that!!!!!!!

i will dig up the sea angler /boat angler mag and see if i can get the diagrams on here
julian

<hr width=100% size=1>WHAT??? more petrol!!!

 

[hlb]

Re: Run that one by me again....

I fink I would need a very big buoy!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Blue_Blazes]

Re: Run that one by me again....

Depends how heavy the anchor is. You need a bouy with greater bouyancy than you might think because as it is pulled underwater it will be compressed and lose some of it's bouyancy. I haven't tried this method but know of others who use it. I first saw it described in "Sea Angler" who called it an "Alderney Ring".

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes, I see now

I can see clearly now (and it's stopped raining!)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[boatone]

We have been getting a wide range of views on this one, havent we?!
Conventional wisdom accepts that it is the chain lying along the bottom which really does the holding rather than the anchor itself. It is also reasonably established that you should have out something between 3 and 5 times the depth of water. Assuming that one wants to anchor in, say, 12 feet of water this would mean some 36 to 60 feet of cable. 20 feet of water would need more like 60 to 100 feet of cable. How far does one go? Providing for anchoring in, say, 50 feet of water becomes pretty drastic at 150 to 250 feet of chain....never mind swmbo's efforts, just think of all that weight in the anchor locker!
Not sure you can realistically relate legnth of chain to length of boat though although I accept that the smaller the boat the shallower the water it is likely to anchor in. 10 metres of chain plus another 20 metres of rope would seem about right for inshore use on boats up to about 30 feet - but definitely not all rope IMHO
.
Dont know how much its used these days but it used to be the practice to attach a 'tripping line' to the head of the anchor which could be winched up to break it out if it had dug in to a sticky bottom.

The buoy idea seems to have merit but I cant agree that it will get 'less buoyant' if it gets pulled under - just means it wasnt big enough in the first place!

Ive always thought manual winches on a small boat were a waste of time - take far too long and trying to hang on on a lively focsle and pump the handle at the same time in anything but the calmest conditions seems like a mugs game!



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>