ctva
Well-Known Member
where are you and where are you heading?
Average amount of anchor chain for the average anchorage in west Scotland!
- Thread starter seafox67
- Start date
where are you and where are you heading?
stevie69p
Well-Known Member
Last year I upgraded my anchoring set up and now have a 13kg Knox (on a 28 footer - slight overkill but I may want to take it to next boat which is likely to be a bit bigger) and 50m of 8mm chain, backed up by a further 30m of octoplait with a shackle, which lives in a separate locker in case of need. Have a length of octoplait with a bit of hose for over the bow roller that gets used as a snubber.... Firth of Clyde area but planning a trip round the west coast this summer. I regularly have 45 metres out, as sometimes there is a need to be in deeper water than would be the ideal, due to moorings in the way. I sleep soundly with this set up. Though I did drag anchor last weekend in Dunoon west bay when it was blowing 25 to 30 knots. It was just a lunch stop mind you as I noticed while heating the soup that we were getting slowly nearer the Gantocks. The bottom there is very, very weedy though. Brought up an enormous pile of kelp.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
I've got a 9kg Knox with 5m chain & 50m of string on a 31' trimeringue. Anchor quite a lot up & down the west coast of Scotland. I like to join the K's each summer - Kirkcudbright to Kinlochbervie. Done Kirkcudbright so far this year, working my way to the K at the other end. Never dragged.
BobnLesley
Well-Known Member
We did the Highlands and Islands enroute from North Wales to the Med in a 27-footer (we were newbies then too, so the navigation wasn't up to much) and my 'gut feeling' too is that you need a bit more if you want to relax.
We carried 50m and perhaps just once wished we'd a little more - fifty's all the locker would hold - but carrying just 30m would've been worrisome.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
I have a 26' boat weighing 4 tonnes, a 25lb CQR and 30m of 8mm chain. I have never felt restricted by the amount of chain, although since I only draw 1.3m I am perfectly happy to sneak shorewards and anchor in 2m LW in calm or sheltered places, though I normally aim for 3m. I have a drum with 50m of Octoplait on it, but have never used it.
Scomber
Well-Known Member
29' 30m 8mm plus 30m warp , 15kg bruce , manual windlass.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Its an education to learn of the number of people who use 10mm chain on 30' + & - yachts.
I'm less surprised at the numbers using large anchors relative to the size of the yachts (and larger than recommended) - anchor makers must be very pleased! Just another revelation
Very illuminating
Jonathan
I'm less surprised at the numbers using large anchors relative to the size of the yachts (and larger than recommended) - anchor makers must be very pleased! Just another revelation
Very illuminating
Jonathan
A1Sailor
...
If you are planning to publish a book about anchoring habits on the West Coast of Scotland I'll help you share out the profits among all the contributors to the thread. Please PM me.
seafox67
Well-Known Member
I'm heading somewhere between Crinan and Skye... One man and his dog! lol. No plan just getting the experience and going wherever the wind takes me
Robert Wilson
Well-Known Member
I'm heading somewhere between Crinan and Skye... One man and his dog! lol. No plan just getting the experience and going wherever the wind takes me
As Chris (ctva) asked, where are you going? He knows well that a shower and pizza (at least
) is available in Mill Bay (Gruinard Bay) for fellow YBWs PM me if you manage to get up this way.P.S. I have a spare mooring in Loch Ewe which you're welcome to use if you think your anchor etc could do with a rest !!
Back to the OP:
On my 9m 3.5t fin-keel sloop I have 43m 8mm chain plus 50m octoplait warp, a 15kg Bruce anchor and an angel.
I have only once used the angel in 9 years which was last month in Loch Spelve (gusting 56kts straight down from the hills
) which worked like a dream.No windlass, just muscle-power and engine in slow ahead when needed.
seafox67
Well-Known Member
As Chris (ctva) asked, where are you going? He knows well that a shower and pizza (at least
P.S. I have a spare mooring in Loch Ewe which you're welcome to use if you think your anchor etc could do with a rest !!
Thanks so much for your kind offer
ctva
Well-Known Member
take plenty of gin! :encouragement:Thanks so much for your kind offer
ctva
Well-Known Member
With all the info available on anchoring, when on the west coast of Scotland the old adage is to oversize. With a 34’ boat, my 50m of 10mm on a 16kg Kobra and recently a 15kg Rocna has served well with the main thing being confidence and the ability to have a good night’s sleep.
FlyingGoose
Well-Known Member
Oh boaty anchor thread 
Im going overkill 80m of 10mm on 25kg Rocna wjth lots and lots of octoplait in locker
Planning to anchor on the continetal shelf / abyssal floor meeting point
But some great knowledge from peole that have done it and seen it , nothing better than local knowledge :encouragement:
Im going overkill 80m of 10mm on 25kg Rocna wjth lots and lots of octoplait in locker
Planning to anchor on the continetal shelf / abyssal floor meeting point
But some great knowledge from peole that have done it and seen it , nothing better than local knowledge :encouragement:
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Oh boaty anchor thread
There are non-boaty anchor threads?
Don't normal people have better things to do?
Jonathan
awol
Well-Known Member
The answer to your question is 44.5m according to the responses above + a couple of others I know. Total of 946m with n=19.
zoidberg
Well-Known Member
I'm heading somewhere between Crinan and Skye... One man and his dog! lol. No plan just getting the experience and going wherever the wind takes me
With the additional warp you mentioned, you'll be fine.
You'll find there are dozens of really fine anchorages in the area you indicated, and in 2 months you'll get some really wild and windy days.... and some windless days when you'll wish you'd anchored MUCH further out.......
Do come back and tell us!
Shuggy
Well-Known Member
That deserves a round of applause!
rszemeti
Well-Known Member
Our 11m/36' feeling came with 90m of 10mm chain! That was a fair old weight up front!
We replaced it with 30m of 10mm chain and 60m of 16mm Octoplait. I kept about 30kg of the old chain tied up to use as an "angel weight" should we ever feel the need, plus we have a second anchor, just in case.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
It may be worthwhile remembereing that many anchorages on the West Coast of Scotland are quite confined, and that an excessive scope will be either anti-social or land you on rocks! However, they are also (mostly) very well sheltered, so much so that it is rarely necessary to anchor in an exposed location. While scopes of 4 or 5 to one or even greater are a good thing in more exposed anchorages, they are very much on the high side for West coast anchoring, where 3 or 4 to 1 is ample. Further, the mathematics of anchoring leads to the conclusion that the deeper the water, the lower the ratio of scope to depth that is required to attain a horizontal pull at the sea-bed.