Chain

[purplerobbie]

I need to buy chain but i dont know how much to get?
Would 50 meters be enough (backed up with rope?

I can fit a lot more than that on the boat but it's heavy.
2..1kg per meter for 10mm.

If i got 100 meters that would be 210kg's then withe anchord i would have getting on for 300 kgs at the front of the boat

So would 50mtrs be enough

Rob

 

[damo]

See what hylas and others have said before you open Pandora's box!

Quick answer is where are you going to use it, and what kind of cruising? Some theories say that a mixed rode has better holding, but then there are deployment and recovery problems that an all-chain rode doesn't have.

I've got 45m 10mm chain and 70m rope spliced to that on the bower anchor, but I find that isn't adequate or convenient in the Bristol Channel ( - 15m of tide at times, with current and wind). I would rather have more chain so I don't have to mess about with the changeover (but I need weight in the bow cos the boat trims down at the stern /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

When I can afford it I will add another 30 or 40m of chain to what is a similar size boat to yours

 

[craigsmith]

[ QUOTE ]
I need to buy chain but i dont know how much to get?
Would 50 meters be enough (backed up with rope?

I can fit a lot more than that on the boat but it's heavy.
2..1kg per meter for 10mm.

If i got 100 meters that would be 210kg's then withe anchord i would have getting on for 300 kgs at the front of the boat

So would 50mtrs be enough

[/ QUOTE ]It depends on your region and bottom conditions, and typical depths. That aside, if you have confidence in your rope/chain gypsy there's no reason to have more chain than you need. If you don't mind changing your windlass wildcat you can also look at lighter high tensile chain.

www.petersmith.net.nz/boat-anchors
(read the one called "Chain, Rope, & Catenary")

 

[Talbot]

I am surprised that previous answers have not requested innformation on how you recover the anchor and chain, and how heavy is the anchor, how heavy the boat and what size chain.

If recovery is manual, then you are really limited to the weight of anchor and chain you can lift when it is vertical, or their will be a time when recovery is impossible.

Most multihulls go for a relatively short length of chain (30m in my case) followed by octoplait as that minimises the weight problem. However, without some idea of your normal cruising ground plus the other queries above, it is difficult to give decent advice.

 

[purplerobbie]

The anchor will be 15 to 20kg (need to get new anchors)
There is a 12v 1000w lofrans cayman 88 with a chain and rope drum
The chain will be 10mm
the boat is 34ft 12T

And the area i'll be using it all in will be the Irish sea and scotland


Rob

 

[dovekie]

Two points in case they are useful:

1) We cruise West Scotland - we have 55m chain and rarely have to attach rope to it.

2) You might consider moving the chain storage aft if possible. We have moved the windlass almost back as far as the mast. The chain stores in a converted hanging locker - there is room for 100m and the weight is out of the bows. Not always practical I know.

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
The anchor will be 15 to 20kg (need to get new anchors)
There is a 12v 1000w lofrans cayman 88 with a chain and rope drum
The chain will be 10mm
the boat is 34ft 12T

[/ QUOTE ]

I wont open the anchor debate.

1000w windlass sounds about right

10mm chain is good

You will know what depth you normally anchor in. My recomendation is to take the deepest you normally anchor, multiply by 4 and use that as the chain requirement, and have at least that much again (or preferably double) of 14 or 16mm octoplait .

However, each person will recommend different amounts in line with their own experience - thus the recomendation to use data from your own experience, whilst minimising the standard use of the rope, and hence make the task of recovering the anchor less complex (rather than worrying about abrasion of the rope/chain splice)

 

[gianenrico]

How about 75 meters of Grade 70 (I think) 8mm chain? It has same strenght of 10mm and saves around 1kg per meter.