[Jeff_H]

I basically agree with Jacks accessment almost 100%. (I am not sure that I wouldn''t cut back on the chain to perhaps 30 feet on your 30 footer)

Although my boat is 38 feet, our boats are about the same displacement. I carry roughly 40 feet of 5/16 chain with a 22 lb Danforth. After using the anchor for a summer I have decided not to add a windlass at least not for the moment.

Over the course of the summer I have developed a method to haul out the anchor in a pretty wide range of conditions that works pretty well. I basically work my way up on the anchor until the rode is vertical and cleated off tight. After a few minutes in that position I back out away from the rode. streaming the anchor and rode forward of the bow. I continue to back until I have searoom and I am backing downwind. It is only at that point that I recover the anchor. Its a pretty easy manuever single-handed and even easier with crew.

Jack''s point about the bow roller is a good one. I am thinking of extending the bow roller channel further outboard to allow me to simply haul up the anchor to the roller without banging up the bow of the boat.

Jeff