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taking a powersquadron class, and while I have learned quite a bit about anchoring, have not found data on how long the chain should be between the rode and the anchor. is there a set formula based on boat size to decide this?
The length of the chain you use is directly related to the weight and windage of your vessel, depth of water you will be anchoring in, type of bottom etc. I personally would recommend at least 50" of chain adaquate to the boat you have. Remember that if you can''t see the bottom the chain is there to prevent chaff parting an anchor rode. I used to carry 4 x 50'' lengths of chain that could be shackled together as the situtation required. I also carred 4 x 150'' nylon anchor rodes. This was when I was doing long distance cruising. on a river or lake and on a boat that day sails 2 set of anchor gear is probally all that is necessary
The rule of thumb that I had grown up with is that the anchor chain should be the same approximate length as the boat. The combined rode (chain and rode) should be 6 to 7 times the deepest water that you expect to anchor in. You can by with 5 to 6 times the length but nothing is nicer than a lot of scope on a windy bumpy night. If you anchor a lot, I also suggest carrying a small piece of canvas and some light line for chafe gear. Chafe gear really extends the life of the rode.
If you really want to be sure, use all chain!
For years I have used rode /chain combos with different anchors and haved dragged several times.I was having my coffee one morning reading the paper when I saw in the local state section a large picture of some fools boat which had dragged against the bridge.Of course that was me.Terribly long lecture by the coast guard ,local police ,etc. (the bridge was okay). I suppose a good rode /chain combo is okay for day sailing/weekend cruising but thats it.
thomas
There''s an article addressing anchor chain in this month''s issue of Nor''Easter - it recommends a minimum of 30'' of chain.
I go by the rule of thumb Jeff H mentioned, chain at least as long as the boat, but I prefer a total scope of 10x the normal max. water depth, with the assumption that eventually Ill have to anchor deeper than Id like. (got stuck behind St Catherines Sound once, only place to anchor was in 30'' in strong currents and high crosswinds, and almost every foot of the 220'' rode on the primary and 170'' on the secondary was needed to stay in place)
kmedley,
the amount of chain may be in part determined by a few other things:
1. can the anchoring person lift 100 feet of chain and a 25 lb anchor? do you have a winch?
2. how rough is the bottom where you go? if it is rocky and will abrade your nylon rode, you likely want chain equal to your normal water depth at high tide
3. which anchor are you using? see the anchors section at sailnet for an interesting thread on this. and the use of chain. and kellets.
If your anchor is holding by design more than weight, such as with a Fortress, you may need much less chain--presuming you have better luck setting fluke anchors than I do.
In summary, there may be no one answer without you adding in all your own circumstances.
It depends on a number of factors:
-- Length and displacement of your boat.
-- Where you sail, and the type of bottom you''re going to anchor (rocks and coral will chafe a nylon rode real quick).
-- Size/type of anchor.
-- How often do you anchor? If your a cruiser who spends most nights on the hook, you may want an all chain rode. For an occasional overnight (where you can usually pick a prime, sheltered spot to spend the night), you may opt for less weight.
Check the buying guides from several sources, and talk to people in your home waters with similar boats to see what they''re using. But remember, it''s worth the sleep and peace of mind to know you''re going to stay put though the night.
Dennis, it is my understanding that the Fortress relies on design -- more than mass -- to set. The initial setting of a fluke anchor ie. "How you set it"-- seems to have more impact than the mass added by chain. (Intuitively I balked at this.) That is their appeal. My new Fortress FX11 has not actually been in conditions to pass comment on how it works w/ 10'' of chain on a nylon rode. (I am sticking with a Bruce as a primary. Also, I just may be getting away wit it because my boat is a Catalina 22 which may weigh 3000 lbs tops when cruising.
maxcontax,
Good evening.
I dobn''t think the anchor has alot to do with the weight or amount of chain that should be used.Anchor doesn''t dictate to chain... chain dictates to anchor, so to speak.
Chain creates a caternary...why would you not want that?
Every anchor design I am aware of benefits from having the "pull" of the rode as horizontal to the seafloor as possible. Since heavy chain improves this over nylon rode, chain has to be better in that respect.
The latest issue (6/02) of Sail magazine has an article on anchoring around reefs. It seems there may be times when you don''t want the rode (including the chain) to lay on the bottom.
In complete agreement with you but the original query remains elusive: how much is enough? Anchors rely on two major components to set: their design/size and their rode. The query is a good reminder that it is the whole composition of the anchoring system that creates the result and not the anchor, or the chain, or the scope, not to mention the bottom and sea conditions!
It''s worth figuring out for your boat and getting really good at it, if it gets you away from congestion and fees at the marinas. It is also nice to know about when you climb onto a charter boat and inspect the setup--it will tell you where you can and cannot anchor.
From my experience with Fortress, it often sets more reliably, especially in soft mud, when set with a short scope. However, once it''s set, I would always feel comfortable with more, rather than less, scope. How this relates to the issue of resetting itself after changing tides or wind direction, I can''t say.
norm,
Danforths have a bad habit of not resetting themselves after breaking-out because they hold in their flukes mud rocks grass etc.
Fortress danforths are light and flip over easier than a steel danforth.If a danforth flips over and is clogged,it won''t reset.
Dennis
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