Extending rode

[lustyd]

We're off on hols soon and were planning to anchor quite a bit. Starting in the CIs and onwards from there for a couple of months. Having left it rather late I realised a couple of days ago I don't have enough rode (~30m chain and ~10m rope). Existing is spliced together 3 strand and chain, and not sure I want to risk cutting and resplicing so close to the trip and with so little time to spend on it. Also don't really want that much rope permanently in the locker.
I'd like to buy 40m more rope and thinking about how best to attach it temporarily. The hole on the windlass is too small for a hard eye or shackle. Although I know a Bowline ought to hold I'm not sure I'd get a good night sleep with one 40m under the water. How would you go about adding extra?

 

[johnalison]

It doesn’t take long to splice an eye for something substantial to shackle to. A common bend is effectively the same as a bowline and should be secure, especially if the tails are temporarily whipped down, giving, I believe, 40% of the rope’s strength. I’m a bodger, so those are what I’d do.

 

[lustyd]

I'm pretty sure an eye splice wouldn't fit through the steel hole on the windlass unfortunately. I agree should be secure, but should and good night sleep might not be the same thing! I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and either splice new rope or trust my knotting skills. Was hoping someone would be along with some magic I wasn't familiar with ?

 

[PhillM]

Tbh I would just buy a new one and keep the old one as spare / for emergencies when you absolutely need to extend the rode.

 

[lustyd]

Tbh I would just buy a new one and keep the old one as spare / for emergencies when you absolutely need to extend the rode.

I did consider it, but that would be almost a thousand quid and probably only needed for two weeks. 40m is usually ample for anchoring so seems a lot. The rope alone would be £400 but I can just about talk myself into that

 

[benjenbav]

Why not splice your new 3 strand to the existing. Short splice if room and whip the ends. Long splice (weaker) otherwise.
Then you’ve only got to cut the whipping and unpick the splice to go back to the existing arrangement.

 

[lustyd]

Why not splice your new 3 strand to the existing. Short splice if room and whip the ends. Long splice (weaker) otherwise.
Then you’ve only got to cut the whipping and unpick the splice to go back to the existing arrangement.

If I get new rope it'll be 8 strand, the existing 3 strand is a nightmare in the locker so a splice between the two is out. I am gradually accepting that I'll have to replace the rope and splice to the chain though. If I had more than a day on the boat before the trip I'd be less cautious, I've never done 8 strand to chain and don't need the stress of learning just before a two month trip ?

 

[Boathook]

If I get new rope it'll be 8 strand, the existing 3 strand is a nightmare in the locker so a splice between the two is out. I am gradually accepting that I'll have to replace the rope and splice to the chain though. If I had more than a day on the boat before the trip I'd be less cautious, I've never done 8 strand to chain and don't need the stress of learning just before a two month trip ?

Jimmy Green marine had something on their website about doing 8 strand to chain splice I seem to remember.

 

[chris-s]

The eight strand splice isn’t too bad once you get started. I did my first a few weeks back just a few days before heading off. It took me a few attempts to get it started but then it was plain sailing, if you’ll forgive the pun.

Also, I would recommend you check out ‘boat gear direct’ for your rope, despite the rather cheesy/dodgy sounding name they are anything but and have very competitive pricing.

 

[doug748]

Tbh I would just buy a new one and keep the old one as spare / for emergencies when you absolutely need to extend the rode.

It's a fair plan:

8MM GALVANISED MOORING ANCHOR CHAIN CALIBRATED ISO 1461 DIN 766 GRADE 4 50M | eBay

60m is also available. Keep the old rope to attach with shackles should extra length be needed, which is only probable:

After anchoring in, say, 10m at low water
At springs
In the Bay of St Malo
In poor conditions you cannot avoid by moving to a better place, buoy or marina.

Apart from the Channel Islands most of the rest of Brittany has moderate anchoring depths and tides, plus plenty of alternative shelter options.

.

 

[Dutch01527]

8 strand to chain is easy. Lots of videos on you tube showing method. I did two last year, maybe 20 minutes job each.

What size rope rode are you looking at, £10 a metre seems like a lot. Good quality 14mm is about 2.5 per metre.

 

[lustyd]

Yes I was looking on Jimmy Green which is quite pricey. Ordered 50m of 18mm today for £300 - apologies to the poor sod in Marine superstore who had to coil that! I'll double check the chain length when I get to the boat and splice it in replacement of the old 3 strand. Fingers crossed it all goes well ?