oldmanofthehills
Well-known member
As a one time Bristol Channel Sailor I always had 50m in the locker. A 13m tidal range meant that even anchoring in 4m at low tide, a full run of 50m only gave me 3:1 chain to depth at high tide.
However I have now moved my operations to Plymouth and S Cornwall where tidal range is sometimes as little 3m. The Cornish boat came with 30m and I automatically extended it by 20m. However the anchor locker is crowded with 50m of 8mm chain as it only a small 27footer and chain sometimes jambs due to piling up by the pipe. The chain is getting rusty and this winter I wish to replace
I note that in Plymouth Sound I do sometime want to anchor say near Barn Pool in 10m or more of water, so nice to have 50m but my most serious use would be say in shallower but more exposed waters such as around the Isles of Scilly.
What length do others equip their boats with, particularly West Country Sailors?
However I have now moved my operations to Plymouth and S Cornwall where tidal range is sometimes as little 3m. The Cornish boat came with 30m and I automatically extended it by 20m. However the anchor locker is crowded with 50m of 8mm chain as it only a small 27footer and chain sometimes jambs due to piling up by the pipe. The chain is getting rusty and this winter I wish to replace
I note that in Plymouth Sound I do sometime want to anchor say near Barn Pool in 10m or more of water, so nice to have 50m but my most serious use would be say in shallower but more exposed waters such as around the Isles of Scilly.
What length do others equip their boats with, particularly West Country Sailors?