Is my chain too thin?

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Eren

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My boat came with 10 mm chain on it. The boat is 73 feet Sunseeker with flybridge, and above 45 tons. She is equipped with Lewmar V5 windlass. I suspect that the chain is too weak for this size and weight. My search on the internet tells the same. The only thing is, on internet it is difficult to find accurate info for specific type of mobos (GRP, with flybridge, etc). I will be glad to hear your comments/information.
 
A 10mm chain in decent conditions ain't going to be broken easily, even by a 45T boat.
12mm is definitely better at your boat size, but unless you are planning to go straight anchoring in extreme conditions, I would check out the existing equipment before changing the chain and at the gipsy - whose 12mm version does exist for your V5 windlass, anyway.
Then again, if the existing chain is also too short (i.e., anything less than 60m or so at the very least), you might wish to go straight for 80m+ of 12mm and be done with that.
 
MrB said:
Looking at that you should have a V8 windlass and 12 mm chain
Click to expand...
That's a very cautious reading of the Lewmar guide, MrB.
Firstly, being made by a windlass manufacturer, we can forgive them for suggesting to go larger... :rolleyes:
Secondly, it's ridiculous to consider just the boat length and not the weight, and the 'Hattan 73 is a (relatively) light boat.
Bottom line, I'd rather spec a V6 with 100m of 12mm chain if I should start from scratch, but I don't think a V5 with 10mm chain is completely mad, for a boat which is not meant to be out there in gale force winds...
 
MapisM said:
That's a very cautious reading of the Lewmar guide, MrB.
Firstly, being made by a windlass manufacturer, we can forgive them for suggesting to go larger... :rolleyes:
Secondly, it's ridiculous to consider just the boat length and not the weight, and the 'Hattan 73 is a (relatively) light boat.
Bottom line, I'd rather spec a V6 with 100m of 12mm chain if I should start from scratch, but I don't think a V5 with 10mm chain is completely mad, for a boat which is not meant to be out there in gale force winds...
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You are of course probably right MapisM. I just work by the rule of wife, she tells me bigger is better all the time. :eek::D:encouragement:
 
I wouldn't worry. Women who are really missing something in that department are unlikely to tell you... :D :D :D
 
MapisM said:
A 10mm chain in decent conditions ain't going to be broken easily, even by a 45T boat.
12mm is definitely better at your boat size, but unless you are planning to go straight anchoring in extreme conditions, I would check out the existing equipment before changing the chain and at the gipsy - whose 12mm version does exist for your V5 windlass, anyway.
Then again, if the existing chain is also too short (i.e., anything less than 60m or so at the very least), you might wish to go straight for 80m+ of 12mm and be done with that.
Click to expand...

I already went through the route of changing the windlass but it came out to be too costy, plus a need for replacing complete wiring from the battery. I already have 120 meter chain. The boat is 9 years old and lived up with the existing gear until now. I am usually not too adventourous, however I also want to sleep comfortably if I am caught by a Bora at the Adriatic.
 
With 120m, I'd keep your existing ground tackle and sleep like a baby anywhere in the Adriatic, and by anywhere I mean also right in the middle of it!
If and when the conditions should be bad enough to reach the UTS of a 10mm chain (galvanized, I suppose?), rest assured that you'd be on the watch regardless.

Btw, whereabout in the Adriatic will you be, and in which timeframe? I should do pretty much the whole HR coast sometime between Jun and Jul.
 
Eren said:
I already went through the route of changing the windlass but it came out to be too costy, plus a need for replacing complete wiring from the battery. I already have 120 meter chain. The boat is 9 years old and lived up with the existing gear until now. I am usually not too adventourous, however I also want to sleep comfortably if I am caught by a Bora at the Adriatic.
Click to expand...

Anchor in 5 m with 115m straight out in a quiet place .
 
I might be wrong but I thought it was easy enough to change the gypsy without changing the whole windlass? FWIW I would think you'd want 12mm chain on a 73 if you could make it happen. That's around 70% more weight (than 10mm) on the sea bed before the anchor needs to start working! I have 120 ft of 12mm chain on my Squadron 65 which, combined with a 55kg Rocna, means that I feel reasonably comfortable even if I'm having to anchor in deep water in strongish winds. Not that I'd choose to be anchoring out in those conditions but in parts of the Med it's when the wind picks up massively that the marinas get full!!! Especially in July/August...
 
Yup, I'm pretty sure that the V5 Windlass can take a 12mm gipsy, as I said in post #4.
But 120m of chain (even if a tad lighter than ideal) goes a long way in holding a boat, anyway...
Apropos, I guess you've got 120m rather than feet, also on your Squaddie?

Ref. the need to run for cover and not find a berth anywhere, I perfectly see your point, but the HR archipelago is a remarkable exception in this respect.
In fact, the choice of extremely well sheltered bays is so amazing that during the decade I spent there, my preferred choice whenever a blow was expected has always been to head for one of them and drop the hook, rather than stay in a marina - a few of which are AWFULLY exposed to NE wind, which is the worst in that area.
 
Apropos, I guess you've got 120m rather than feet, also on your Squaddie?

Yes indeed, 120 meters :rolleyes:

Ref. the need to run for cover and not find a berth anywhere, I perfectly see your point, but the HR archipelago is a remarkable exception in this respect.
In fact, the choice of extremely well sheltered bays is so amazing that during the decade I spent there, my preferred choice whenever a blow was expected has always been to head for one of them and drop the hook, rather than stay in a marina - a few of which are AWFULLY exposed to NE wind, which is the worst in that area.[/QUOTE]

Yes, fair point and I would agree - with the right ground tackle I'd often rather stay on the anchor than try to get into a marina with all the associated risks and stresses!
 
Question.

Obviously the weight of a 12mm chain will make for safer anchoring. However in using a 10mm chain the minimum break load is (give or take from manufacturer) 7 ton
https://jimmygreen.com/lofrans-grade-40/77392-10mm-lofrans-grade-40-calibrated-anchor-chain
Whereas 12mm is give or take 10 ton
https://jimmygreen.com/lofrans-grade-40/77962-12mm-iso-lofrans-grade-40-calibrated-anchor-chain.

Q1 -Given my boat is only 8 ton and equipped this 10mm chain, as are most others in her class of 8- 10 ton, and still capable of swinging on the chain and pulling it taut wouldn't both be too light for you?
Q2- Is the chain stronger than the holding power of your anchor (i.e. apart from weight of the chain helping anchor would the anchor drag before it developed enough holding power to break the chain?)
Q3- Would the windlass / chain lock etc mounting point be able to support loads greater than ~10 ton especially in any sort of snatch event (wave face etc)
 
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MapisM said:
Btw, whereabout in the Adriatic will you be, and in which timeframe? I should do pretty much the whole HR coast sometime between Jun and Jul.
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Actually I will reach to Adriatic only by the end of the season, like end of August. I will be taking my boat from Marmaris/Turkey to Tivat/Montenegro in July/August. If your route goes down to Ionian Islands, would be great to meet up in person.
 
MedMilo said:
I might be wrong but I thought it was easy enough to change the gypsy without changing the whole windlass? FWIW I would think you'd want 12mm chain on a 73 if you could make it happen. That's around 70% more weight (than 10mm) on the sea bed before the anchor needs to start working! I have 120 ft of 12mm chain on my Squadron 65 which, combined with a 55kg Rocna, means that I feel reasonably comfortable even if I'm having to anchor in deep water in strongish winds. Not that I'd choose to be anchoring out in those conditions but in parts of the Med it's when the wind picks up massively that the marinas get full!!! Especially in July/August...
Click to expand...

Yes, it is easy to replace the gypsy and the chain. But I can’t guess how my current windlass will cope with the 70% extra weight of the 12 mm chain. I have 60 kg Ultra anchor. With limited tests last season, I didn’t have holding problems even in deep waters and heavy side winds with med style stern to mooring. My main concern is not about holding, but about breaking of the chain. You’ve got good tackle gear btw.
 
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Eren said:
If your route goes down to Ionian Islands, would be great to meet up in person.
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That would be nice, but I'd rather not try to juggle too many balls at once... A 1200 or so Nm trip is already enough without deviations!
Never say never, though. If for any reason we should postpone the trip a bit, Tivat around the end of Jul might be feasible.
Would that happen, I'll drop you a pm - just do the same if you should anticipate a bit! :encouragement:
 
Eren said:
I can’t guess how my current windlass will cope with the 70% extra weight of the 12 mm chain.
Click to expand...
Well, since they sell up to 12mm gipsy for the V5, I suppose it's reasonable to assume that it can handle it.
Btw, in any "normal" anchorages, you never go anywhere near to using the full windlass power.
I mean, you're very unlikely to anchor in 50m of depth when cruising for pleasure (hence needing a windlass man enough to pull up to 50m chain+anchor)...
Otoh, if for instance you let down all your 120m of chain above a 20m deep seabed just to stay on the safe side, you don't need a windlass capable to pull the whole weight - just 20m chain+anchor.
 
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