Chain w/out Windlass!

[SailMonkey]

I know many in the cruising community will consider hauling a chain rode without the assistance of a powerful windlass to be an unbearable chore only to be attempted in an emergency. Even so, myself and my athletic crew (wife) are considering just such a scenario aboard our Morgan OI 33'.

We currently have a 35lb CQR on 15' of chain then 250' of nylon rode. This usually works fine (we're in Lake Michigan/Door cty mostly) but when in a crowded anchorage or when we'd like to get close in to shore, the amount of scope we need to let out is an issue. Most other boats are using chain rodes and shorter scopes, so they swing in a much smaller arc. We'd like to have this advantage too. But we're not ready to add a windlass to our systems.

We're usually anchoring in 25 ft or less and we'd need a 3:1 scope with a chain typically. So that's only (add 5ft for the bow height) 90ft of rode we'd need to let out. So we're thinking of adding more 3/8" chain until we've got around 100' of chain, then the nylon for when we need it longer. What we don't have it a way to 'cleat off' the chain rode as we do with the nylon.

What would we need to secure the boat end of the chain? Would we install a chain stopper that is used with a windlass?

Any suggestions and/or advice would be wonderful.

[btrayfors]

A couple of thoughts:

1. You don't need 3/8" chain for a Morgan OI33; 5/16" is plenty, especially 5/16HT.

2. Use of 100' of 5/16"HT vs. 3/8" would save you weight (and cost).

3. Yes, a chain snubber would be good, but not sufficient in and of itself. You might also consider the use of bridles consisting of 25' of 1/2" nylon (using chain hooks), tied off to cleats on the bow. Also, it would be good to have a means of securing the chain to the boat as backup in case the bridles drop off -- as they sometimes do -- and/or the chain snubber fails. Something as simple as a length of hefty nylon attached to a strong cleat, and to the chain with a shackle could work OK.

A few years of this setup will keep you secure, and likely will prepare you to at least think about a windlass :-)

Bill

[Plumper]

The load of the anchor is not normally taken by the windlass when the boat is on the hook. My setup uses a chain hook on about 15 feet of rope. I hook the chain and then veer it so the chain hook is near the waterline then tie off the line to a mooring cleat on deck leaving slack in the chain. Tha way the rope takes the load and the chain doesn't make any noise. Sometimes I use two chain hooks

Gaz

[SailMonkey]

Thanks Gaz & Bill,
When you veer out the chain and nylon w/ hook, do you send the nylon out over the bow roller w/ the chain or off to the side?

Would it be better to use a shackle instead of a hook? So it can't fall off.

[SailMonkey]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

A couple of thoughts:

1. You don't need 3/8" chain for a Morgan OI33; 5/16" is plenty, especially 5/16HT.

Bill

I looked up the chain working loads. 5/16" BBB or G-3 have the same working load @ 1900lbs. 5/16" HT (G4) is much higher @ 3900lbs.

How do I know how strong the chain needs to be?

Just want to get it right! Thanks for your help...

[SailMonkey]

Hi Plumper/Gaz,
I noticed from your profile you've a 33' vessel also. What size/type of chain do you use?

And how is the PNW? I lived on Vashon Island for a few years. Can't wait to get back out there!

Thanks.

[soulesailor]

I use 5/16" HT chain and haul it in manually without any problems. I can see most people not wanting to do this but for an athletic person it is no big deal.

My boat is smaller than yours but the theories are all the same. I have a chain stopper thru-bolted through my bow roller and deck with interior backing plates. This stopper takes the load while I am setting and retrieving the anchor. Once everything is in place I take out my home-made bridle; two three stranded nylon lines woven through stretchy EPDM mooring line snubbers and shackled to a SS chain grabber sized for 5/16". I cleat each end of the bridle off to bow cleats (which I installed) and hook the grabber on the chain and lower to the waterline. I let out a little more chain to create some slack running back on deck. My stopper now becomes a back-up system in case anything happens to my bridle.

Also, even with chain, a 3:1 scope is minimal, I try to put out a 3.5 or 4 just in case the wind picks up unexpectedly during the night. In an all chain rode situation this extra length is really nothing. You'll love having more chain, I fit my boat right into tight little places I could never fit in with tons of rode.

[winddancer88]

I have a Catalina 34, and both of my anchors (one Bruce, one Danforth) have 30 ft of chain with no windlass. I'm going to double or triple the amount of chain and don't plan on adding a windlass.

[Plumper]

Originally Posted by SailMonkey

Thanks Gaz & Bill,
When you veer out the chain and nylon w/ hook, do you send the nylon out over the bow roller w/ the chain or off to the side?

Would it be better to use a shackle instead of a hook? So it can't fall off.

I run the line over the bow roller unless I use two. When I use two I run it out through the mooring fairleads. A shackle would be more secure than a hook. A hook works for me because I leave a large loop of slack in the chain between the boat and the hook. I also have a windlass that will take some strain.

Gaz

[Plumper]

Sailmonkey,
I have 250' of 5/16 HT leading to a 35 lb CQR as my bower anchor. For my kedge I have an FX16 with 30' of 5/16HT and 200' of nylon.

I love it here in the PNW. We have settled here and are not moving again. Last summer we sailed from Victoria almost to Alaska. It was wonderful (but rainy). We are looking forward to sailing up the west coast of the Island this summer and doing some more exploring in the Great bear Rainforest. Heaven.

Gaz