How much anchor chain?

Eeyore

Eeyore

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www.yachtrhumbdo.co.uk
I'm about to replace the anchor chain on my Warrior 35.

8mm galvanised chain weighs 1.44kg per metre - and no electric windlass.

Some anchorages around these parts are deep and rocky so how much chain/weight would YOU carry?
 
A bit like how long is a piece of string. What's the maximum depth you expect to anchor in?

And how's your back? I'd be looking at a min of 30m with a long rope rode or 60m of chain. But no good if you can't lift it!!
 
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sorry....was trying not to be too specific!

Current set-up is 30 mtr of chain with 50 mtrs of spliced on rope. Normally anchor in about 10 mtrs but some anchorages are 20+ and I would like to be prepared for what is to come! I can normally hoist the chain quite easily until directly above the anchor, then a bit of leverage with the manual windlass is required to 'break it out'.

My main concern would be the effect of weight forward of say...100 mtrs of chain?
 
We have a 27.5 kg Manson anchor and 75 m of 10 mm chain - a lot of weight, but the increase is not significant to the rest of the cruising/liveaboard stuff we have on board.
 
[ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sorry....was trying not to be too specific!

Current set-up is 30 mtr of chain with 50 mtrs of spliced on rope. Normally anchor in about 10 mtrs but some anchorages are 20+ and I would like to be prepared for what is to come! I can normally hoist the chain quite easily until directly above the anchor, then a bit of leverage with the manual windlass is required to 'break it out'.

My main concern would be the effect of weight forward of say...100 mtrs of chain?

[/ QUOTE ]

Your scope combination as was seems reasonable enough as you have good amount of chain to give you anchoring in shallow to mod water on chain - with rope to give that extra for deeper.
All chain is very nice to have but is a heavy burden to carry.

IMHO - what you have ... or maybe add a bit more to the rope length is fine.
 
The only real argument for a lot of chain is the need to anchor in deepish water with limited swinging room. Otherwise, enough chain to avoid seabed abrasion (say 30m max) and some nice stretchy rope is best. The rope makes recovery easier, the stretch makes anchoring more secure by absorbing shocks .
 
My Nic-38 (7-8T displacement) windlass has a 9mm/3/8ths gypsy & had badly rusted 60m chain, which, when I stretched it out on the pontoon, didn't look an awful lot so I bit the bullet & went for a continuous length of 80m. Don't expect to use it all of course, but for me it'll cover all situations. Weight IIRC is about 120Kg.
On my water-line length of 27ft the bow went down about a half-inch. You're using smaller chain of course, so a bit lighter.
Hope this comparison helps.?
Jock
 
I've just renewed 30m of 20 year old for a continuous length of 60m, 8mm short link calibrated for my old windlass.

I was never comfortable with 30m as we like to cruise the Channel Islands and didn't want to join new to old and corroded stuff.

Cheers
 
60 metres. Most boats are trimmed too heavy aft.

The maximum lift is only significant if you were to drift out to sea and had to heave up all 60m, otherwise its just the anchoring depth..

Can't remember the last time I heard someone say '' gosh I wish we had less chain'' in bad weather..:)
 
Just to add a little balance I will say 'the minimum required by RORC special regs'.
I would add a lead weight of about 5-10kg and carry a 100m warp.
All that weight in the bow slows you down in a seaway and stresses the boat.
I'm afraid you have to make your own judgement based on how and where you intend to use the boat. I understand the thoughts of the posts above, and expect that most have done the right thing in their own circumstances.
 
He is right about the stresses ... think about a beam with weights at the ends ... now subject it to boats motion of pitching into a sea ...

On smaller boats you run the danger of digging the bow in when pitching instead of riding the waves.
 
Aaaarrrrgggghh!

Confusion reigns supreme!

Most that I have questioned here in the marina reckon I haven't enough chain and I must admit that I am inclined to have some more. I agree most boats are trimmed too heavy aft - mine is no exception. However, I am concerned about the bow digging in during choppy/rough weather, and the resultant stresses exerted on the boat.

Decisions, decisions!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Forget the balancing act by putting more weight in the front, you'll end up with a boat that hobbyhorses in any kind of sea.

Also, and this is a view not shared by all, I would be too concerned about needing loads of chain for deep anchorages. In Norway, where they have seriously deep anchorages, 20m+, most use around 30m of chain and multiplait and that's what we carry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Aaaarrrrgggghh!

Confusion reigns supreme!

Most that I have questioned here in the marina reckon I haven't enough chain and I must admit that I am inclined to have some more. I agree most boats are trimmed too heavy aft - mine is no exception. However, I am concerned about the bow digging in during choppy/rough weather, and the resultant stresses exerted on the boat.

Decisions, decisions!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

There is a school of yachtsmen with quite a lot of members, who take the line that you should have a really heavy anchor, lots of chain, a really heavy boat, a long keel, ketch rig etc to be remotely safe. No real science behind it all - just a belief that nothing has improved since the days of Hiscock. Or even earlier.

What purpose is served by a load of heavy chain? Sure the first bit is handy to combat sea bed abrasion but after that?
 
To add to Chris E ....

Think of this. A boat anchors and has a length of chain out. A good length and then a rope rode. You basically have benefit of both worlds : Weight of anchor + chain on bottom, and rope to ease handling / reduce weight carried on board.

Note I am against the 5m / short chain system and near all rope rode - there's no weight to assist holding and reduce snatch on anchor.

So your 30m chain is really enough in most circumstances, allied to decent rope length.

Why confused ?

Ok - take maximum depth you reasonably expect to anchor in. Multiply by the rode factor for length to deploy. Do you haver enough ? Do not work for extreme depth that you 'might' anchor in - just have an extra warp ready to bend on to give you that - that's what I do. IMHO of course
 
<<< What purpose is served by a load of heavy chain? Sure the first bit is handy to combat sea bed abrasion but after that? >>>

I don't know what your experience is, but I know that when I am anchored in 40 plus knots of wind I feel very reassured by having a reliable anchor, yes, even a heavy one, and an all-chain rode. In the last couple of seasons I have several times had all 60 metres of mine deployed in less than 10 metres depth, and been very glad of it. I am well aware of the argument that the rope is just as strong as the chain, in fact I have written it in YM. Doesn't alter the feeling of safety that heavy chain gives me. By all means add a nylon snubber, I always do, but I'll keep my chain, thanks.
 
I don't want to be anchored in 40 kts, unless there is virtually zero fetch for the waves. I would not want anyone to be encouraged to try it simply because they have lots of chain, if they had a good option of proper shelter.
I accept that some people need to gear up for this kind of thing, but most of us do not. I like to have an anchor rode that I can use without a power windlass, so I have tended to use a mainly rope rode with a lead weight about 0.9xdepth from the boat. This has worked really well for me, it puts loads of spring in the system and allows the anchor to perform well. Also you don't have to lift the weight at the same time as the anchor, the weight is on deck well before the anchor is aweigh.
I might think differently if I had a windlass of course!
You will always find 'experts' to tell you your stuff is not enough. But I like to have an anchor that is handy to use for a short stop, not something too heavy to bother with just for lunch. Personally I don't tend to anchor overnight unless pretty sheltered and a credible forecast, so maybe I'm not demanding so much of the anchor etc.
I'm just saying weigh up your own needs.
(but do try the lead wight!)
Cheers!
 
I replaced 35m of chain with 60m of chain for the reasons that Vyv Cox gives, but I would not have done so if I had not got an electric capstan. For the circumstances described in the OP, I would go for 25-30m chain spliced to a nylon warp.
 
Eeyore - how much chain can you store ready to use? It has to fit in.

I went from 30 to 50 m and found I could just fit the 50m into the chain locker. As it is, I have to keep clearing the chain pyramid that develops as the windlass hauls it in. Otherwise it jams. So the rest of my not-so-ready-to-use rode is rope.
 
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