Anchor chain?

[New Boater]

Hi all,

I have a Hardy Marine Seawings 305 (quite similar to a sealine S28 in size and stature I think)

I have 50 meters of Anchor chain that is made up of two “similar” types of chain each 25 meters long!

The first bit works perfectly through the winch and the second bit works but jumps a bit.

I can see that they are slightly different!

My question is this, do I need 50 meters of chain or can I replace the second bit that doesn’t work very well with rope?

I will only ever really be anchoring close to the beach or in marked anchorages (probably 10meters deep)

Is there any need to carry around the extra 25meters of dodgy chain or shall I just use rope if I ever need extra depth?

Cheers for any valuable insight or “what you would do” opinions!

 

[Boathook]

10 meters of water requires at least 30 meters of chain. A lot of windlasses don't like the anchor or multi platt type rope. 3 strand doesn't flake down well if at all.

I would replace all the chain with the correct specification for the windlass.

 

[Tranona]

Mixed chain/rope is fine. Keep the good chain and splice on rope of the type recommended by the windlass manufacturer.

 

[zoidberg]

Tranona is, as usual, quite right.
A 'mixed rode' is lighter, cheaper, easier to handle, and entirely effective - and I'd recommend you carry just a bit more than 25m. of rope rode.

Do insect the rope-to-chain splice frequently, and try to have that section dry out/not left normally wet for days/weeks.

 

[ss2016]

Zoldberg, you made the comment "Do insect the rope-to-chain splice frequently, and try to have that section dry out/not left normally wet for days/weeks." Is that primarily because the damp rope encourages corrosion of the chain? Presumably the rope being wet/damp has no negative effects on itself.
I do manage to start the season with the chain/rope dry but after that it is pretty much impossible! Thanks.

 

[zoidberg]

Yes. 'Zackly that.

I'm told the problem is reduced by 'air-drying' where practicable - rather than forgetting about it for a season - and also by spraying the good end-of-chain with spray-on zinc paint before making the chain-rope splice.

 

[47GC]

Chain all day long. Why would you risk splice failure on your pride and joy. Much lower risk with new chain.

 

[Boathook]

Chain all day long. Why would you risk splice failure on your pride and joy. Much lower risk with new chain.

Unusual for a proper splice to fail.

I had one for years with 22mm 3 strand onto 8mm chain, spread over acouple of links. When I cut if off to inspect it was fine.

Now gone all chain to get over the rope flaking into the locker.

Edited the word splice to correct spelling!

 

[Tranona]

Chain all day long. Why would you risk splice failure on your pride and joy. Much lower risk with new chain.

Imaginary "problem". Thousands of boats have mixed rodes with splices which do not "fail" The breaking strain of chain, splice and rope if properly sized and done way exceeds any load the boat can place on them.

Actually probably the shackle you use to attch your chain to the anchor is the weakest link.

 

[47GC]

I couldn’t sleep with rope on the anchor, maybe just a me thing, just doesn’t feel right. I accept that this is common place however.

 

[Farmer Piles]

I had a similar issue when I bought my boat, in that there was just 30m of chain. I bought 60m of new chain and a quality anchor and I sleep very well at night when anchored. As it happened the price per metre dropped when past 50m so the 60m cost the same as 50. Made a tight arsed farmer very happy.

 

[SC35]

50m of chain is quite a lot to be carrying around, especially if one section doesn't quite fit the windlass, maybe that section wasn't calibrated chain.
I would go for a new 40m chain of the correct type - I have 40m chain and have never got close to deploying it all, and an SC35 is 8000kg+

It obviously depends on the depths that you plan to anchor in, but I prefer to anchor reasonably close to the shore

 

[Elessar]

Hi all,

I have a Hardy Marine Seawings 305 (quite similar to a sealine S28 in size and stature I think)

I have 50 meters of Anchor chain that is made up of two “similar” types of chain each 25 meters long!

The first bit works perfectly through the winch and the second bit works but jumps a bit.

I can see that they are slightly different!

My question is this, do I need 50 meters of chain or can I replace the second bit that doesn’t work very well with rope?

I will only ever really be anchoring close to the beach or in marked anchorages (probably 10meters deep)

Is there any need to carry around the extra 25meters of dodgy chain or shall I just use rope if I ever need extra depth?

Cheers for any valuable insight or “what you would do” opinions!

Anchor Chain and Rope Size Guide | Jimmy Green Marine

 

[New Boater]

Hi all,

As usual some great advice so thanks very much everyone!

Decisions made from well informed people of the sea!