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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Anchor Chain

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/01/2011 : 06:43:39

As we are planing on anchoring out this year we wanted to check the anchor chain as a safety inspection. When we bought Leprechaun the anchor chain that came With the boat was a 5' piece that was coated in plastic. Upon closer examination the plastic had worn through in a couple of spots and exposed rusted out chain (weak links)

. So
after fun with bolt cutters

, it was off to West Marine, We than bought 12' of 5/16" galvanized chain and 2 new shackles. WM stated they advise 1' of chain for each 1' of boat. interesting, but since we ware planning on lunch hook only and in calm areas we thought this was appropriate. If you have not done so recently.. CHECK YOUR CHAIN!

Alan & Eileen
2001 Catalina 310 Hull #155
"Anam Cara"
ex-1987 C25 TR/SK #5612
"LEPRECHAUN"
Troy Ohio USA / Lake Erie-Catawba Island
ASA 101 103 104

"The clink of an anchor - chain, the 'Yo-Ho!' of a well time crew, the flapping of huge sails - I love all these sounds."

John 'Rob Roy' MacGregor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 08:12:55

That should be plenty for a lunch hook.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 08:45:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 That should be plenty for a lunch hook.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">However, (the Curmudgeon sits up...) if your "lunch hook" is also your last resort to keep you from running up on the rocks or over the falls when a nasty squall hits and you want to drop the sails but you can't get the engine started, you don't want to cut too many corners. Your anchor is your security blanket.

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 11:08:23

As we are on Lake Erie, (shallowest of the Great Lakes) we would typically anchor in depths around 10'.. That being said we have two rodes choices. one is at least of 100' long with markers and the other is at least 200' long with markers. I am thinking the 200' is overkill...thoughts?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 15:09:55

We have two anchors, a Danforth on about 100' of rode and about 6-8' of chain, and a Lewmar plow on 270' of rode and 30' of chain.

I have 90' of chain that I'm going to upgrade the first rode with (using about 25-30' of chain).

I consider the first one only barely adequate, but it has saved my butt once anchoring in 45' of water (2:1) scope. The second one should serve very well. However, it's never been used, or at least never by us, thus far we've only used the Danforth.

We also have a Fortress that I'm planning on swapping out the Danforth for at some point. I used to worry that the stocks on the Fortress were too long to fit into the cutouts for them in the anchor locker, but I've since noticed that the Danforth doesn't sit in them anyway, it sort of floats up above it on top of the two rodes, so that's no longer a concern.

I wouldn't consider your 200' rode overkill, and it certainly won't hurt to have it aboard.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 15:43:18

200'... If you ever need to spend the night in 25' of water with some wind, 7:1 scope (including the height of your bow) is about that.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2011 : 16:27:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 That should be plenty for a lunch hook.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">However, (the Curmudgeon sits up...) if your "lunch hook" is also your last resort to keep you from running up on the rocks or over the falls when a nasty squall hits and you want to drop the sails but you can't get the engine started, you don't want to cut too many corners. Your anchor is your security blanket.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Uh yeah - what he said.... Chain should be at least 75% of the boats length for a proper lunch hook. More for overnight.

Anchorsten

Edited by - on

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2011 : 13:47:03

I've been burned by lousy anchor setups. We carry 3 full setups. Bow, stern and emergency. Chain is cheap, compared to the alternative.

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2011 : 10:18:10

There are two trains of thought on lunch hooks. One, they're great, 'cuz it's easier to set and retrieve. The other is: to "save" your expensive boat from whatever elements might come up, use the right hook at all times (although not a storm anchor).

I've found that sizing an ANCHOR SYSTEM is well worth a few minutes, so YOU can decide what's right for YOUR boat, and your sailing needs.

Reply #6 has those tables for your use: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4990.0.html

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2011 : 17:13:21

Lots of "rules of thumb" - 10' of chain (or 6 or 15), chain length equals boat length (1/2, 3/4), chain weight (appropriate size) equals anchor weight (what about light weight anchors), chain equals 1/2 of scope (or 1/4), chain equals depth are all that I remember right now. Everybody has thumbs and opinions, but none of it is based on science because there are to many variables to establish facts. A real "lunch hook" means that you are aboard and attentive in mild conditions and have other options available. Put 5 - 10 feet on a 5:1 scope (some would say 3:1) and relax. Change to your real anchor system if you need it.

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2011 : 03:55:55

Thanks for your information, that is what makes this Association Great! Based on where we are and what we do I am comfortable with what we have. 100" of Rode,12' of new 5/16" chain with new shackles that have been pinned and a danforth anchor. We have another rode that is 200' that we are saving for traveling or staying overnight on the hook which we do not do at this point. Thanks again!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 07:23:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 Thanks for your information, that is what makes this Association Great! Based on where we are and what we do I am comfortable with what we have. 100" of Rode,12' of new 5/16" chain with new shackles that have been pinned and a danforth anchor. We have another rode that is 200' that we are saving for traveling or staying overnight on the hook which we do not do at this point. Thanks again!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Then get a kellet - or make one. You might need it. http://www.anchorbuddy.co.nz/

And having only one anchor on a boat just seems silly to me. What happens when you have to cut your primary and figure something else out all while you can't see the bow of your boat due to the weather. Go into the sail locker and pull out your secondary anchor and secondary rode and deploy, from the stern if you have to.

On our C25 we carried 3 rodes and three hooks with additional chain such that we could shackle on additional sections on any of the rodes, for a max length of 75 feet? Don't remember exactly. One our C&C 39, we carry double that in terms of rodes and anchors and 250 feet of 10 mm chain, which is a tad bigger than 3/8ths, as our primary. Chain can make a crappy anchor hold well enough 'til the storm passes or you get the engine started again, etc....

But everyone has a comfort zone!

I don't drag

, and if I did, I moved real slow

!!!

AnchorSten

"Anchor like you mean it"

Edited by - redviking on 07/08/2011 07:29:14

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 07:56:48

I am lazy.

To lay anchor you should have a 7:1 scope for an overnight as a minimum. To calculate this you are supposed to take the depth of teh water X 7 plus freeboard at the anchor attachment point X 7.

Since I am lazy I want to cut back the math as much as possible while I lounge on the boat. Freeboard on Iris is about 4 feet. 4 X 7 = 28, rounded up to 30 to keep the math simple. We have that much chain on our anchor.

Our anchor rode has a velcro marker every 7 feet.

To drop the hook we let out all the chain, then as many velcro markers as the depth sounder is reading in feet. Perfect 7:1 scope every time and the extra chain gives extra purchase.

Now lets talk about the best way to seize the chain at teh anchor and the best way to attach the rode to the chain...

Edited by - Prospector on 07/08/2011 07:58:43

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 09:00:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 ...Now lets talk about the best way to seize the chain at teh anchor and the best way to attach the rode to the chain...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">First, let's check the terminology: The rode is whatever attaches the anchor to the boat--rope, chain, or whatever. In this discussion, part of it is chain, and part is rope. On my rode, the rope is spliced to the chain. All three strands of the rope are passed through the end link of the chain, and then woven back into the rope--not necessarily the strongest connection, but necessary to allow the whole thing to pass through my windlass.

My anchor shackles are seized with a nylon wire-tie on one rode, and stainless wire on the other. I can't say one is better than the other.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/08/2011 09:09:32

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 09:08:07

Dave, your chain looks a little short. Did you measure in feet or links? Either way, 4 isn't enough for our boat unless they are some really big links.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2011 : 09:11:03

Each one is 7' long. You should see my windlass!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/08/2011 09:13:39

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