Flake anchor chain on deck?

[Crazy-Diamond]

If I wanted to empty my chain locker for maintenance in the locker, can I flake 60m of 8mm chain out on the deck? It is a Moody 30.
Might this damage the deck?

 

[mbroom]

I do it regularly. No problem at all,

 

[Boathook]

Just lay it down rather than dropping on the deck.

 

[Plum]

If I wanted to empty my chain locker for maintenance in the locker, can I flake 60m of 8mm chain out on the deck? It is a Moody 30.
Might this damage the deck?

No. If you are worried about scratching the deck, lay out an old bath towel or something first.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[salar]

Is it in the marina? You could flake it on the pontoon. Or even drop it over the side as long as you hose it on the way back!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

The deck on your Moody is about one inch thick; no risk of damaging the deck

 

[Rappey]

It's probably lighter than a person as it's weight would be spread over a larger area

 

[zoidberg]

Get yourself one of those green plastic veg boxes they use in Tescos. How? Ask 'em.
Flake you chain into that..

 

[Poignard]

If you're afloat, why not let it drop into the water? If ashore let it down onto the ground or onto a pallet or a piece of canvas or carpet if the ground is dusty.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

In the "How to Use an Anchor" segment of Keelboat courses, after having worked out the scope required, step 1 is to flake out said length of chain on the foredeck.

 

[lw395]

Yes you can damage the deck.
You can get scratches and rust marks.
If you're ashore, flake it onto a pallet, so it doesn't sit on wet ground rusting.
If afloat, if you're needing out of the locker for a while flake it into a big plastic tub below.

 

[Refueler]

Yes you can damage the deck.
You can get scratches and rust marks.
If you're ashore, flake it onto a pallet, so it doesn't sit on wet ground rusting.
If afloat, if you're needing out of the locker for a while flake it into a big plastic tub below.

60m of chain on a 30ft boat is an effin great plastic tub needed !!!!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Don't other people flake chain on deck as a routine preparation for anchoring? It's certainly a normal practice, and I'd never thought twice about it.

 

[jordanbasset]

Can't say I have ever flaked the anchor chain on the deck, goes straight from the anchor locker, either on free fall or or if I want it more controlled via the electric windlass

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Can't say I have ever flaked the anchor chain on the deck, goes straight from the anchor locker, either on free fall or or if I want it more controlled via the electric windlass

Ah. I don't have an electric windlass. But the reason for ranging it on deck is to ensure that the chain can run smoothly without jamming. I wouldn't trust chain to run freely from an anchor locker. I can use my manual windlass to brake the chain so it doesn't run; it also ensures you don't have "We didn't mean to go to sea" accidents.

 

[lw395]

Don't other people flake chain on deck as a routine preparation for anchoring? It's certainly a normal practice, and I'd never thought twice about it.

Normal practice might be to either use rope or an electric windlass?

 

[Poignard]

Don't other people flake chain on deck as a routine preparation for anchoring? It's certainly a normal practice, and I'd never thought twice about it.

'

I used to until I fitted a windlass and marked the chain. Now I lust let it run out to the required length, apply the brake and then fit a stopper on the chain to take the load off the windlass.

 

[Plum]

Don't other people flake chain on deck as a routine preparation for anchoring? It's certainly a normal practice, and I'd never thought twice about it.

Yes they do, at least I do, particularly if you don't have a winch.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[James_Calvert]

Surely you get it out to the length required, and then make it fast at that length before letting it go?

Thereby preventing the "Didn't mean to go to sea" scenario already mentioned.

I admit I don't always do this, but it's an important precaution when anchoring in a strong tide or wind where you want the anchor to settle in your chosen spot as quickly as possible, and likewise veer the cable swiftly so it doesn't drag out of position because it has come under tension before reaching the appropriate scope. Even more important if you are single handed.

My anchor lives in its locker when not in use so getting the cable out ready to run is just an incremental task after setting the anchor on the bow roller.

The edges of the locker will get a bit scratched where the chain is drawn over them. If that's a bother I suppose you could try sticking some sacrificial gaffer tape down where there's a risk of this scuffing. I haven't tried it...

 

[Refueler]

Yes they do, at least I do, particularly if you don't have a winch.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

I have a winch .... but still flake on deck ... it does two things :

1. Ensures a free flow to the chain going out ....
2. Double check on amount to put out instead of trying to snub and read markings.