Flake anchor chain on deck?

[Boathook]

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.

Never did and still don't even though I now have an electric windlass.
I only have 20m of chain and then warp marked around every 5m so knowing the depth just before anchoring plus a metre for up to the bow roller times 4 gives a good idea of what to put out and then adjust depending upon room.

 

[vyv_cox]

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.

I originally fitted a horizontal axis, manual windlass in about 1995. This was replaced with a vertical axis electric one in about 2002. The horizontal one had a clutch that allowed the chain to free-fall, both versions of Maxwell electric windlasses motored the chain down, although releasing the clutch will allow it to free fall if desired. I cannot remember a single occasion on which the chain has jammed. Consequently I have never laid the chain out on deck in the past 25 years.

 

[jamie N]

Wooden Folkboat sheathed deck. Flake out the length that I'll probably need. Drop anchor and let it out as it goes. Then get a bit wary, and let out a few bits more....
Never had anything adverse happen to the deck.