How long is your achor chain?

60m of 10mm chain, 20kg Rocna, electric windlass, 12m boat, approximately 8tons
I have extra anchoring rope on board (which I've never used, it's too late to add it when it's needed), but I wish I had another 40m of chain, I'd have used it on several occasions.
 
Because by the time it becomes obvious that chain/rope is needed, it's blowing so hard that getting the rope out of the locker, dragging it onto the foredeck and attaching it to the bitter end of the chain, isn't that practical. This has happened a few times when I've anchored in more exposed locations and misread the weather or the forecast has been wildly wrong. I've always chosen to sit it out and haven't come to grief (as yet!), just been uncomfortable with the chain snatching as the boat pitches.
 
70m 3/8" chain with 20kg Rocna (non bendy version)

30m 8mm chain with 35lb CQR (soon to be changed to Fortress) as kedge

100m 20mm nylon if the sh*t hits the fan (never used in anger) Like Ian - I must get round to finding a way to be able to deploy this quickly.

Electric windlass (essential imo)

36' 8 ton sloop
 
Does everyone sail oil tankers around here? 100 m of chain :eek:
I hope Dylan of KTL will be along soon to enlighten use with a video of "The Slug" riding out a howler with 5 metres of chain in a few inches of water!
 
Does everyone sail oil tankers around here? 100 m of chain :eek:

Sure, 100m is quite a lot, but then I only have a little 24-foot boat so 40m of 8mm is ok for me :)

I'd happily carry 100m on something a bit bigger.

Nothing like the peace of mind you get from having plenty of chain out when the wind starts whistling through the rigging :D

Pete
 
Depends where your cruising grounds were :rolleyes:

Loads of coral back then so no chain rope mix for me :) (Nic39 - 13 tons+ in cruising mode)

Agreed. In North Wales there are tidal ranges of 5-6 metres, i get by with 15m of chain 6mm and 30m of rope. I have never had the chance stick out a big wind. I do mean to get a longer chain but worry the bow will tilt with the weight when drying out. Boat 26 foot bilge keels.
 
30m chain 7mm and 30m rope 12mm. 29ft sportscruiser in the Solent.

Current windlass gets seasick when we're too exposed so we typically anchor in sheltered waters with less than 10m.

That said, I am changing her for an electric one now.
 
Displacement 22000 lbs (10000kg), 41' LOA, Chain 10 mm links x 65 m. I also carry 25 mm x 100 m nylon warp if I need to extend the scope. Works for me.
 
It would be really helpful if you included the size of your boat when you describe your chain size and length.

I have 35 feet of 1/4 inch chain with 100 feet of 1/2 inch line on our 34 foot boat of 16,000 lbs.

I determined it here: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4990.msg30400.html#msg30400
Why does the size influence the length of anchor chain? Surely it mainly depends of where you intend to anchor and the depth. I had 80m chain but have now got 100m. I was advised that if I intended to cruise around Croatia that I might need 150m!

I once chartered in Thailand, where the depth was never more than 10m, so 50m would be OK

TS
 
Don't think I'll ever win the "who is longest competition?"

15 metre chain and 30 metre rope.

Not ideal for a 5-6 metre tidal range but that's all that fits in the locker. Hunter horizon 26.

10m 8mm chain, 45m 12mm Anchorplait, Hunter Horizon 27; two keels, so If I pick the right spot and get the time right, I don't need no stinkin' anchor ;->
 
I had 80m chain but have now got 100m. I was advised that if I intended to cruise around Croatia that I might need 150m!

I once chartered in Thailand, where the depth was never more than 10m, so 50m would be OK

TS

We find that 50m does limit options in Croatia, 75m is fine 99% of the time and I reckon that 100m would cover all bases. I've never been in the situation where an anchorage was so busy that I needed to anchor out in greater than 20m.

I suspect that 150m would be overkill.

Richard
 
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