I feel a little under anchored - advice please !

[dunedin]

I picked up our new (secondhand) boat last weekend.

One of the jobs I decided to do was lay out and mark the anchor chain. However, I decided to give this a miss as, when I laid out the chain on the pontoon, it only reached the stern. The maximum anchor rode it could set was 10m from the waterline (and no rope beyond it) ! I guess we could just about anchor safely in 3m - but with a draft of 2m and tides of 2-3m this does not seem quite enough. And not a sniff of a kedge at all.

So, looks like a trip to the chandler. But before I do so, what do you advise as anchor specifications for a modern 36 footer (circa 6 tons) cruising the West Coast of Scotland. It is a Bruce type anchor, weight unknown (could be 15kg)?

So what do you advise in terms of:
* Bower anchor chain - I wondered about 30 - 40m
* Chain size
* Bruce anchor weight

And kedge:
* Recommended type and weight
* Am guessing 10m chain plus 30m or so rope

Advice welcomed. Scarcely believe this was what came with the boat.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Some people never anchor and only fit one cos they saw one on the telly once...

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[fireball]

Hmmm - seems a little short ... and I thought we were light on 3m of chain and 30m of rope ... (got more chain now though.)

 

[Sheff]

Try www.jimmygreen.co.uk/tech_pages.asp?article_id=1 for a rough guide. It will give you a starting point at least.

 

[Rob_Webb]

I'm a 5.5 ton 35 footer so comparable to you. I carry a 35lb plough as main anchor with 20m of chain and 50m 14mm wharp. I've also got a 25lb danfroth as 2nd main or kedge option, plus 3 other smaller danforths for ligthweight kedging and anhcroing the dinghy if I go diving etc.

Out here where I cruise, once you leave the marina you live by your anchor. There are few/no moorings anywhere, so you have to be confident. And this can frequently mean anchoring in 20-25m water.

 

[hylass]

[ QUOTE ]

So what do you advise in terms of:
* Bower anchor chain - I wondered about 30 - 40m
* Chain size
* Bruce anchor weight

And kedge:
* Recommended type and weight
* Am guessing 10m chain plus 30m or so rope


[/ QUOTE ]

About your anchoring rode.. I will suggest you to have a look at:

http://alain.fraysse.free.fr/sail/rode/rode_b.htm

- 30 / 40 meters will be perfectly OK.. PLUS some Nylon rope

To connect the rope to the chain, have a look at:
http://www.bluemoment.com/warpchainsplice.html

I will suggest a 16 kg anchor, a 10 mm chain and a 18 mm rope.

The Kedge anchor should be lighter, one size.. either an aluminum one, or a "new generation" lightweight one (8 kg)
- 10m chain plus 50m of rope should be OK

SEE HERE

 

[Salty John]

Yes, 30 - 40 meters of chain backed up by nylon should be ok. My anchor choice would be a 35lb CQR. If you have an existing windlass your chain should be selected to suit it; if you don't have a windlass get short link calibrated chain anyway because after a season of frequent anchoring you will want one for Christmas!

 

[snowleopard]

35 kg CQR, 100m 10mm chain.
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Any bets on how long before someone advises at least that much??

 

[Bat21]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, 30 - 40 meters of chain backed up by nylon should be ok. My anchor choice would be a 35lb CQR. If you have an existing windlass your chain should be selected to suit it; if you don't have a windlass get short link calibrated chain anyway because after a season of frequent anchoring you will want one for Christmas!

[/ QUOTE ]

I happen to have a spare 35lb CQR if you are interested. PM me.

 

[webcraft]

110lb Fisherman and 100m 10mm chain. That should ensure you always manage to find a mooring.

- N

 

[Talbot]

Lots of joshing on here this morning.

I am surprised by the amount that you actually have onboard, and would be looking very hard at the boat spec.

There is a lot of argument about chain lengths and whether you use an all chain rode or mixed chain and rope. Most multihulls are quite happy to use a mix as that reduces the weight up forward.

IMHO I would eb looking at the area you intend to sail, check out the depths of water and work out what 3x that depth would be in chain. Then see if you can lift the chain and anchor on your own. This will check whether a manual haul is feasible or whether you need less chain, or a windlass!

If you are going for the windlass option, I dont reckon you need more chain than is required for your normal anchoring depth at 3-1. plus 40-50m of rope for contingencies

I recommend use of octoplait as the anchor rope as it is much easier to handle.

 

[Cloven]

We also sail West Coast Scotland. 30m of chain spliced to 50m Octoplait warp. Have never had to use the warp yet but its there in case. No problem at all with this set up. As for anchor size, follow the Jimmy Green link and then get one size bigger - you'll sleep happier in those beautiful anchorages!

 

[Cloven]

Sorry forgot to add - keep the 10m chain and some more Octoplait for a kedge anchor - you may be glad you did on those blowy nights!

 

[arthur1808]

My preference, from a 36 foot long keel boat, would be a 35lb CQR with 50m 3/8" calibrated chain. That gives you enough to anchor in 10m with a 5:1 scope (plenty for those west coast gales!). If you want to stop the growling and shaking that sometimes comes with a bouncy anchorage put 15 feet of nylon octoplait onto a chain hook; by hooking onto your rode and slacking off the chain you get peace and shock absorbtion too.

 

[FullCircle]

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35, approx 6.5 tonnes

Main: 35lb CQR, 60m 8mm chain on Lofrans Windlass, also 60m of Anchorplait, chain hook, rubber snubber.

Kedge: 15kg Bruce 20m 8mm Chain, 50m Anchorplait.

FX16 Aluminium Fortress, 10m 8mm Chain, share Anchorplait with Kedge.

5kg Flook Flying Anchor 50m 16mm Braid Poly.

3x 250ft of 18mm 3 strand for warps, extra mooring lines, whatever.

And an anchor ball, hurricane lamp and 3 litres of paraffin. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mirelle]

I feel I may be over-anchored!

Ancient 37 footer, 10 tons in cruising trim.

90 metres of 12 mm chain

45lbs CQR bower

Chain slider with 3 28lb weights.

90 metres of 22mm 3 strand nylon

35 lbs CQR kedge with 3 metres of 14mm chain on it

Serious windlass!

And yes, I have used all of that lot at the same time, and been glad of it!

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[duncan]

Re: I feel I may be over-anchored!

200 odd kg of chain to a 20kg anchor...........can't see the anchor actualy makingmuch difference!

 

[dunedin]

Re: I feel I may be over-anchored!

Really useful thanks - will follow through the various suggestions and see what seems to be the consensus.

Yep, anchor winch is on the wish list - but would have been a bit of a waste of effort with the current 10m rode !

 

[GMac]

Re: I feel I may be over-anchored!

Your only 6 tonnes. Use 9mm and save nearly 1/2 kg metre. Break load 4500kg = plenty.

All good winch makers have gypsies for 9mm DIN766/A standard (use a 5/16" US chain sized one) and with auto rope to chain option if you like.

CQR is OK (most of the time anyway) but why not get one that is better right from the get go. From experiance I'm now firmly in the 'Hylas' school of anchors and aren't going backwards to a plow ever again.