anchor warp

[FergusM]

I have bought a Simpson Lawrence Hi-speed windlass for my boat, second-hand but unused. I intended to use 50 m of 8 mm chain, spliced to 50 m of octoplait. Someone told me that the rope/chain gypsy chewed up octoplait, and I would be better to use 3-strand instead. Has anyone any experience of this? What do you think? My idea was that 90% + of the time I would be anchored solely on chain, but if the octoplait would have a short and exciting life, perhaps I should use 3-strand instead

 

[duncan]

I have 8mm chain / 14mm octoplait on a Quick 'combination' gypsy which is I believe similar to the SL one. I also have a drum above the gypsy as I anchor in deep water to fish and have only 15m of chain.
The gypsy recovers the warp fine in 'normal conditions' - by which I mean when not under extremes of load such as 2.5 knots of tide and 15knots of wind all acting in the same direction; frankly the windlass motor isn't designed to winch in the boat against this either. I have never had any problems at all in anchorages - often operating the whole thing remotely from the wheelhouse.
I would not expect 3 strand to be any better; if anything I wouldn't have thought the gypsy would bite on it as well as octoplait.

 

[webcraft]

2.5 knots of tide and 15 knots of wind doesn't strike me as very extreme . . . have you tried motoring ahead rather than trying to pull the boat forward on the windlass?

- Nick

 

[Rohorn]

Hi.....I have 30 metres of 10mm chain and 30 metres of 18 mm octoplat. I did have 25 metres of 8mm chain and 25 metres of 14mm octoplat for many years.
With both I used the same SL anchorman 800 watt rope chain gipsy. The only problem with either set-up was the join between the rope and the chain, both supplied professionally. The 20 or so centimetres of join where the strands of octoplait are woven through the links of the chain becomes rigid with salt and sand so that it has to be "helped" rather precariously round the gypsy. This can be difficult even dangerous for visiting crewmen, both dropping or lifting the hook,.
What I did, and would recomend, is to go back to a simple eyesplice and shackle join, 1) because it is more visibly predictable going round the gypsy, and 2) because the "professional" splice is weaker due to concentrating all the flexure of the octoplait just at the end of the "frozen" length of spliced rope/chain. It never did brake there, but after a year or two it looked awful!
I went to the heavier sizes when the 8mm lost it's galvanizing and had to be replaced. My 5 ton cat is a real line-puller in any strongish winds, and the extra weight softens the tug. In strength terms it was not really necessary.
Hope that helps....Cheers.....R.

 

[jerryat]

Hi,
I use 50 metres of 8mm with 50 metres of 16mm anchorplait anchor warp (twice for the two 35lb CQRs). I don't have the problem that rohorn seems to have re the 'solid' section formed by the splice. My experience is that providing this is washed in fresh water about four times a year, it remains quite flexible enough to pass happily round my Lofrans Airon gypsy. Only one of these setups is spliced, the other has a hard eye in the end to allow more flexiility e.g. use with the other anchors.

I would NOT recommend 3 strand in this scenario as it is not self-stowing and does not 'peel off' the gypsy in a regular manner, and certainly will not pass down into the chain locker as most of my anchorplait does. We find that the splice going round the gypsy can be something of a lottery - somestimes it does, sometimes it has an off day! If I'm single-handing I tend to use the cockpit switch to raise/lower the anchor so this uncertainty is a bit annoying. There's no problem of course if we're using the foredeck controller as a helping hand sorts it out.

If you go with the 3 strand, then I agree that a spliced in eye and shackle would be better, though it will not pass through into the chain locker and would have to be disconnected first, not a major problem as long as the weather/tide is benign.

I have cruised for about seven years and the point you make re 'mostly anchoring to the chain' is valid. That was our experience too, both here and in the Med and Caribbean where we seldom used a marina. There are deep anchorages of course (Bay de St Malo, La Coruna etc) where the addition of warp will be essential, but your 50 metres will suffice most of the time.
Perhaps this was part of the reason why our chain/anchorplait splice didn't seize up.

A further thought. I fitted a ventilated 'bin' in the forward part of my chain locker, so that the anchorplait didn't stay beneath the wet chain. On the odd occasions we have had to use the anchorplait, this is hauled up and stowed first, then the chain allowed to self-stow in the main part. It does split the retrieval operation, but does keep the warp (and splice) in great condition and dry!

Cheers Jerry

 

[duncan]

that is of course exactly what we do do in those conditions. I was trying to relate the power of the winch to the ability of the gypsy to work efficiently with the warp (as opposed to the chain).

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have just fitted an SL Horizon windlass with rope/chain gipsy & the instructions say that 3 strand rope must be used.I would much rather use octoplait or similar.I will monitor replies withinterest.(Not trying to take over your thread Fergus)

 

[sailorman]

3 strand hardens when streached a few times & ends up rather like steel cable.
use octoplat.
i have chain spliced to octoplat & it works just fine

 

[winchservicing]

The problem with using 8 strand anchor rope spliced to chain, is that it is normally spliced through the first 6 links, which makes a big fat stiff section (excuse the expression). This stops the chain from engaging properly with the chain pockets of the gypsy. More often than not, this will cause slipping and Jam-ups are more frequent-especially with powered units.

3 strand however, is back spliced into itself and makes for a smooth transition between rope and chain.
I’ve tested both when I worked at Lewmar. For function 3 strand is best. I’m not saying it’s the best rope for anchoring- but it works!

Just a word of warning, which 99.9% of you will know! But, I know of many who have learnt the hard way!
Don’t expect the windlass to pull the boat to the anchor-it’s not designed to do that. If you do you will burn out the motor! Always use the boats engine to creep forward ( enough to keep the tension off the rope) when recovering the anchor.


Hope this helps?

Cliff.

 

[mireland]

I have puchased 3 strand for my SL. This was based on the clear instruction to use 3 strand in the instruction book and on the previous advice on this forum that octoplait did not work on the SL. I was fed up at the time I saw the posting having just made an order for Octoplait which I had to change at the last minute. I woujld much prefer Octo so hope that I have made the right decision!!