New anchor chain/warp - how long..?

[Reptile Smile]

Hi all,

I need to replace the chain/rode on my 'new' Hurley 20. It's going on to a chunky old CQR copy that has sentimental value for you, if little actually monetary value (saved my bacon on more than one occasion). I imagine it's 7kg though have never weighed it.

Whilst I appreciate the accepted wisdom is 'the longer, the better', what's sensible? Am looking at the jimmy green website, and am thinking 7mm chain, but don't know whether to go for 10mm or 12mm octoplait. Also don't know whether 5m of chain is enough, or whether I should go for 10, and what the recommendation would be for total length.

Most of my sailing is in the Bristol Channel, and accordingly I don't do a hell of a lot of anchoring, but it's reassuring to have it there for when I do need it...

Any thoughts gratefully received.

 

[vyv_cox]

Most of my sailing is in the Bristol Channel................

So presumably you could see a range of 12 metres? On a predominantly rope warp a scope of at least 5:1 is advisable, giving a minimum rode length of 60 metres. So far as rope diameter is concerned, when hauling in 60 metres of it against some of the tides down there I would be wanting the largest possible, so my choice would be 12 mm.

 

[VicS]

Hi all,

I need to replace the chain/rode on my 'new' Hurley 20. It's going on to a chunky old CQR copy that has sentimental value for you, if little actually monetary value (saved my bacon on more than one occasion). I imagine it's 7kg though have never weighed it.

Whilst I appreciate the accepted wisdom is 'the longer, the better', what's sensible? Am looking at the jimmy green website, and am thinking 7mm chain, but don't know whether to go for 10mm or 12mm octoplait. Also don't know whether 5m of chain is enough, or whether I should go for 10, and what the recommendation would be for total length.

Most of my sailing is in the Bristol Channel, and accordingly I don't do a hell of a lot of anchoring, but it's reassuring to have it there for when I do need it...

Any thoughts gratefully received.

With a small boat the weight of the chain is an important factor regarding the correct trim of the boat. Stowage space may also have to be considered if opting for rope, perhaps trading diameter against length if space is really short

FWIW my 19ft Sea Wych has the designers recommended 90ft of ¼" chain and a 15lb plough anchor. The building instructions recommend that if rope is used in place of chain additional ballast should be fitted to compensate for the reduction in weight and restore the trim.
If the boat is designed for the weight of chain then secondary advantages are that it takes up less space and will run under its own weight back into the chain locker.

I carry a long ( multiplait) rope as well but off hand I cannot remember the length or its diameter (10mm I would guess) although it is, I think, shackled to the kedge anchor.