Splicing anchor rode

[MtHopeBay]

If I have 100' of achor rode, 3 strand nylon, and I need 200', can I splice or eye and shackle two lengths together safely and reliably?
Mike

[SVImpunity]

I believe that a good long splice should be ok Mike. There is a formula I believe that will tell you what splice length is appropriate for a given size & breaking strain of 3 strand. However, there is nothing more reassuring than the thought of no joins anywhere. Having said that, rode is very often spliced to the anchor chain as shackles wont go around the windlass unless you hand feed until the chain can be draped over the dogs.

[sailingdog]

While a good splice will give you much of the strength of an unspliced line, say 80-90%, it would be a weak point. IMHO, you're much better off having the rode the length you need...

[ANCORALATINA]

one way or the other??

BlueMoment - Articles

http://www.samsonrope.com/site_files..._RopeChain.pdf

Joăo

[MtHopeBay]

I mean to have at least one anchor on hand as and emergency stop in case I lose wind and motor and tide/current wants to take me where I don't want to go. By the time I want to anchor out for the night I can have new, full-length rode. I'm just trying to spread out my costs as I've just spent most of my savings on our new old boat and we're fitting her out.

[sailingdog]

Skimping on ground tackle, especially emergency ground tackle strikes me as somewhat penny-wise and pound foolish in the extreme. If there is any line on a boat that I'd want to know was in excellent shape and of unquestioned quality, it'd be my emergency anchor line.

By definition, if you're using the emergency anchor, you're probably going to be putting some considerable strain on it. Whether it is because you need to stop the boat to deal with a fouled prop, a genoa that won't furl or sudden storm that has popped up, you don't want to have to worry about how long the line will last and whether it is up to the strain.

You can get 30' of 5/16" G4 high-test chain and 220' of 5/8" nylon octo-plait pre-spliced rode for $310. Add a load-rated anchor shackle to it for another $10 or so... and your choice of anchor.

BTW, I am a big believer in the next gen anchors, and think they are a considerable improvement over the older designs, like the CQR, Bruce and Danforth. Get a Manson Supreme or Rocna as they are worth the extra money IMHO.

Originally Posted by MtHopeBay

I mean to have at least one anchor on hand as and emergency stop in case I lose wind and motor and tide/current wants to take me where I don't want to go. By the time I want to anchor out for the night I can have new, full-length rode. I'm just trying to spread out my costs as I've just spent most of my savings on our new old boat and we're fitting her out.

[Valiente]

Let's not forget our Anchorlatina friend here, Dog...at least until the impartial tests are completed...

[MtHopeBay]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Skimping on ground tackle, especially emergency ground tackle strikes me as somewhat penny-wise and pound foolish in the extreme. If there is any line on a boat that I'd want to know was in excellent shape and of unquestioned quality, it'd be my emergency anchor line.

By definition, if you're using the emergency anchor, you're probably going to be putting some considerable strain on it. Whether it is because you need to stop the boat to deal with a fouled prop, a genoa that won't furl or sudden storm that has popped up, you don't want to have to worry about how long the line will last and whether it is up to the strain.

You can get 30' of 5/16" G4 high-test chain and 220' of 5/8" nylon octo-plait pre-spliced rode for $310. Add a load-rated anchor shackle to it for another $10 or so... and your choice of anchor.

BTW, I am a big believer in the next gen anchors, and think they are a considerable improvement over the older designs, like the CQR, Bruce and Danforth. Get a Manson Supreme or Rocna as they are worth the extra money IMHO.

Ok. I hear you. In that vein, then, do I go with the conventional 3 strand twisted nylon, which looked like the low cost option, or is there a better cord for anchor rode that might cost me a little more?

[sailingdog]

The Octo-plait or eight strand braided is a good line with a lot of beneficial characteristics for an anchor rode, and usually not significantly more money than the three-strand laid line. It doesn't have a tendency to hockle as does the three-strand, and it flakes far more compactly, which means you can store the rode in a smaller space. Windlasses handle it well, and many windlass manufacturers recommend it for their rope/chain gypsies, and it can take a good chain-to-rope splice so it feeds through the gypsy well.

As I said previously, you can get pre-spliced rodes at a reasonable price with G4-high-test chain pre-made. You do have to inspect the splice for wear regularly, but other than that and rinsing it with fresh water, they don't require much maintenance.

A good woven chafe protector is a necessity. The reason I like the woven chafe protectors is that they help prevent the second major reason for anchor line failure—heat buildup due to internal friction—which the plastic/rubber hose chafe protectors can cause. The woven ones let water through to cool and lubricate the anchor rode, helping prevent heat buildup.

Originally Posted by MtHopeBay

Ok. I hear you. In that vein, then, do I go with the conventional 3 strand twisted nylon, which looked like the low cost option, or is there a better cord for anchor rode that might cost me a little more?

[lancelot9898]

Originally Posted by ANCORALATINA

one way or the other??

BlueMoment - Articles

http://www.samsonrope.com/site_files..._RopeChain.pdf

Joăo

An eye splice over a thimble gives a good way of connecting a 3 strand line to a chain, however there is the problem of passing that thimble thru the windlass and into the deck pipe. So...the referenced websites gives other methods for the splice with a statement that an splice thur the last length of the chain (making a U turn ) will reduce the strength of the line by 50%. I don't see how this splice is much different than an eye splice over a thimble with the line making a U turn around the thimble rather than thru the chain length. My thoughts are that the chafe of the line around the chain is the most probable failure mode and that with a sufficent number of tucks into the splice that the line strength is not reduced by the 50 % as stated. The 2 methods referrenced seem to me would be more likely to chafe vs. a U turn around the last chain length and subsequent eye splice.