Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
I have a lofrans airon adapted for 8mm chain. Can I use 10mm chain on it or would it not cope?
anchor windlass question
- Thread starter Paddydog`1
- Start date
prv
Well-Known Member
You can keep most of the windlass, but you will need to change the gypsy, the toothed wheel that the chain runs on. Changing should be a two-minute job once you've tracked down the right part for your windlass.
Pete
Pete
Tranona
Well-Known Member
NO! 10mm chain will not fit in an 8 mm gypsy. That is why they are made in different sizes so that the links will fit. Rest of the windlass is the same for either size gypsy.
noelex
Well-Known Member
If you are concerned about strength G4 or even G7 8mm will be stronger (G7 8mmwill be about the same as ordinary 10mm)
New gypsys can be expensive and there is a considerable weight penalty going up a size so staying with 8mm has advantages.
Be careful with 10mm there are a couple of different sizes and often a 10mm gypsy is only suitable for one standard.
New gypsys can be expensive and there is a considerable weight penalty going up a size so staying with 8mm has advantages.
Be careful with 10mm there are a couple of different sizes and often a 10mm gypsy is only suitable for one standard.
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Talbot
Well-Known Member
As has already been stated, there are gypsys for the airon for 3/8" and 10mm chain. However, how big is your anchor, and how powerful is the electric motor.
If the motor is a 1000w then you should be good for 10mm chain and a 20kg anchor - If it is a 500w motor, then you will need to check the capability against required weight of anchor and chain.
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Except when anchoring, when the extra weight of chain will give great a advantage.
noelex
Well-Known Member
Current anchor theory suggests otherwise.
Weight added to the anchor is far more productive than adding it to the rode.
Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
so on my 35 ft boat weighing 13500 lbs what is the best or max weight of 2new generation anchor (say a manson supreme or spade) I could use on a g4 8mm chain
?
?
prv
Well-Known Member
Don't know about "best", but on my relatively lightweight 34-footer I have 60m of G4 8mm and an S100 (20kg) Spade. I have every confidence in it.
Pete
NormanS
Well-Known Member
That is merely some people's opinion. There is no such thing as "current anchor theory". We've been round this block before, and you have your opinion, which I respect, but I don't have to agree with it. When it's blowing a gale, neither your anchor, nor your chain, can be too heavy.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
When I tested chain for YM last year almost every nominal G30 chain, largely the Chinese made ones, failed at a load well into G40 specification. Aside from chandlery supplied chain the two main importing companies in UK, Bradney and William Hackett, both supplied top quality Chinese made chain. G70 can be rather difficult to source in UK, AFAIK Maggi in italy are the only European manufacturers and I know of none coming out of China.
prv
Well-Known Member
Certainly it would be hard to argue against that!
However, if you only have a finite amount of weight to play with (and I do, otherwise my boat will float bow-down and perhaps start to hobby-horse in short seas) I think it's better used in the anchor than in the chain (provided of course that you put enough into the chain for sufficient strength).
With enough wind, the chain will be pulled into a nearly-straight line from anchor to bow. I don't think I've been anchored in bad enough conditions yet to have experienced that first-hand, but I've read several accounts of it and seen calculations that back it up. Is this the part that you disagree with?
If we accept the above, then what exactly is the weight of the chain doing for you? It can't absorb shocks or anything like that, because it's already a near-straight line, there's nowhere for it to go.
The chain's job here is to keep me connected to my nice big anchor (all the bigger because I had the "spare" weight to use on it) - it's strength I need from the chain, not weight.
Pete
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Think you will find the typical manufacturers recommendation would be 16kg anchor and 8mm chain with 14mm rope backup. Lewmar for example recommend 16kg for a Delta up to 40'. If you are intending anchoring in extreme conditions you may well want to go up to 20kg.
NormanS
Well-Known Member
The most wind that I've been anchored in was 74 knots. (sustained). I've no idea if there was still a useful catenary or not.
I do accept that if you anchor in shallow water, you will not get much benefit from heavy chain. Better to have a riding sail to cut down on sheering around, and / or a fair length of stretchy rope. In deeper water, the catenary effect is much more useful, and is helped by having reasonably heavy chain.
Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
So a 20 Kg Spade 60 metres of g4 chain and a lofrans 1000w airon windlass should see me ok or should I have more chain?
prv
Well-Known Member
Very much so. To be honest, some people would probably consider it excessive. You might too when you price up the anchor
. But I've been very much in a "if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly" mood with refitting Ariam, and there's nothing like plenty of gear on the seabed to give you confidence against dragging. Depends where you expect to use it. In the Scottish islands, probably; on the East Coast certainly not.
Pete
Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
Thank you all so much for your advice. I think I'll go for 20 kg Spade and 80 metres of 8mm chain since I'm heading up to Scotland next season.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
As Pete says, depends on where you anchor and what your expectations are. My similar size and weight boat has a 16kg Delta, 50m 8mm chain and 50m 14mm rope. Never had any worries about it.
What you are suggesting (80m chain) is OTT in my view and the additional weight up forward. fine if you have the space and can carry that much weight forward, but doubt you will ever need to put out 80m chain.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
My Sadler 34 is pretty similar in size and weight to your boat. As new these boats were supplied with a 25 lb CQR which most owners, including me, have uprated to 35lb, 15 or 16 kg. During all the time I cruised the west coast of UK, Scotland to Scillies, and from there to Holland, then as far as the Med, I never had more than 50 metres of 8 mm chain. On two occasions, in Corsica and Sardinia, we were right on the limit with this length, so I changed it for 60 metres. This has always been sufficient in the Ionian and the Aegean seas.
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
I also think 80 metres is overkill and will be a weight disadvantage for you.
I'm just replacing my 10mm on Little Ship and have been dragging information from everywhere. Mentioned above is Bradney Chain...... Go to them by far the best information and less expensive than the swindlers.
http://www.bradneychain.com
tom.
