I am getting my hunter 340 ready to cruise. Most of it will be solo. I am adding a windlass which should help me. It would be helpful to know how much anchor chain I should use. I am limited due to small anchor locker and increased weight. I was thinking of minimum of 50 ft of 5/16. How much total rode would be recommended. Planning on using a 35 lb Mantus anchor. All assistance will greatly appreciate.
Anchor rode
- Thread starter HD74
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You don't need 5/16" chain; 1/4" G4 will do just fine and save weight. You might consider 100', though, because then you can anchor with all chain, which means the windlass will not have to pass the splice in up to about 20 feet of water which can be trouble, particularly if there is any load on the rode. Then another 150' of rope, which weighs very little. But we don't know the water depth.
The 35# Mantus is fine. You should have a second anchor, perhaps a Fortress. That only needs a very little chain.
Lots of anchor threads. Read up!
The 35# Mantus is fine. You should have a second anchor, perhaps a Fortress. That only needs a very little chain.
Lots of anchor threads. Read up!
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,076
Length of chain would depend on the waters I was sailing. If cruising in the Caribbean among the coral chain resists the coral cutting through rode.
Anchorages tend to be shallow, so long length of chain not needed. In a sheltered anchorage 50 ft of chain in 12 feet of water with 6 inches of tidal change is 4 to 1 scope. Add to that 12 feet of 3/4 nylon rode to serve as a snubber and you are at 5 to 1 scope. No storm weather and your secure.
Make sure you use the correct chain for the gypsy on your windlass.
Anchorages tend to be shallow, so long length of chain not needed. In a sheltered anchorage 50 ft of chain in 12 feet of water with 6 inches of tidal change is 4 to 1 scope. Add to that 12 feet of 3/4 nylon rode to serve as a snubber and you are at 5 to 1 scope. No storm weather and your secure.
Make sure you use the correct chain for the gypsy on your windlass.
Tell us where you will be cruising/sailing. As far as I'm aware, there isn't much ocean coastline in Tennessee... Are you planning to be on the Tennessee River? A Hunter 340 seems a bit on the large size for that...
dj
You mentioned you have a small anchor locker so I suggest 1/4" G40 or G43 chain spliced to 8-plait 1/2" nylon. 8-plait stows very compactly, and takes a third the amount of space compared with 3-strand.
Depending on where you anchor and how deep, I favor having at least 50 feet of chain and (as mentioned by @thinwater) 100 would be even better.
Ignore people who say to size chain by boat length - there is no logic to that. Depth of water and bottom condition is what matters - I've seen bad things happen to boats whose rope rode was cut on bottom debris. You don't want your rope laying on or near the bottom unless it's smooth and clean. Chain will help you sleep at night.
PS - I've also seen boats cut or tangle someone else's rode when passing too close in front of another. Chain usually sinks at a steeper angle than rope and isn't cut by props.
Depending on where you anchor and how deep, I favor having at least 50 feet of chain and (as mentioned by @thinwater) 100 would be even better.
Ignore people who say to size chain by boat length - there is no logic to that. Depth of water and bottom condition is what matters - I've seen bad things happen to boats whose rope rode was cut on bottom debris. You don't want your rope laying on or near the bottom unless it's smooth and clean. Chain will help you sleep at night.
PS - I've also seen boats cut or tangle someone else's rode when passing too close in front of another. Chain usually sinks at a steeper angle than rope and isn't cut by props.
I used 100' of 1/4-inch G4 on my 34' cruising cat for 14 years. The PDQ 36 also came with 1/4-inch G4. These boats have double the windage, with beams from 16-18 feet.
I use rope on my F-24, but My PDQ came with 50' of chain and increased it to 100', not because I was scared of cuts and tangles (all true) but because bringing the splice through the gypsy was never fully dependable. That is actually quite important with a windlass.
I used combination rode for 11 years with my last boat, and the only times that I had a problem was when my splice was new. (Every 2-3 years I would cut a few links and re-splice because the end link tended to rust beneath the splice). I was always careful to taper the splice and by working it would become fairly smooth with about 10 times of use.
I’m currently on all chain. For a cruising boat, that’s the way to go.
It can be very reliable, but not quite 100%, particularly under load. At least that was my experience. As you say, the splice must be carefully made and use helps. By using 100' of chain (or some other amount, based on the area) you can anchor on all-chain virtually all the time.
I purchased ground tackle for a new to me H36 2 years ago. Read a lot of information. Most places I anchor I put out 100 to 125 feet. So I thought 75 feet of 5/15" chain and the remainder 5/8" rope to match the gypsy for a total of 300 feet for the odd time I am in a deeper anchorage. I thought with that set up I wouldn't need a snubber as I could cleat the rope and have enough out to act as a snubber. Twice this year in 2 different anchorages I had 150 to 175 feet out and the rode wrapped around the fin keel. This can occur when wind and current oppose each other. I didn't expect that so now I will be adding a lot more chain.
If this is a concern where you plan to anchor Google "rode wrapped on keel". There are many posts on the topic.
If this is a concern where you plan to anchor Google "rode wrapped on keel". There are many posts on the topic.
Which ever way you go, sort out the chain before you acquire the windlass.. I had a Maxwell windlass and rode counter installed 2 years ago. The counter has yet to work. There is no, none, zip ,zero ,nada support from Maxwell. The best recommendation that I could give you is to stay well away from Maxwell...
Where are you sailing?
I only overnight a few times a year, but on Lake Michigan…
I use 30 feet of chain and 200 feet of rope. I am careful about my weather windows for anchoring on the lake, but have been caught in some building waves without dragging.
Also, I don’t have a windlass.
Greg
I only overnight a few times a year, but on Lake Michigan…
I use 30 feet of chain and 200 feet of rope. I am careful about my weather windows for anchoring on the lake, but have been caught in some building waves without dragging.
Also, I don’t have a windlass.
Greg
I’ve always used a simple formula. How much chain+nylon do I need? Figure 7:1 scope @ 50 ft depth = 350 ft. For me that’s 160 ft of chain and about 200 ft of nylon 3-strand rope. That allows me options over a range of depths. I rarely veer all of the chain.
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Static holding tests, as I recall them, have shown that scopes greater than 7:1 only incrementally increase anchor holding power. That is, you’ve reached “the point of diminishing returns” starting at 7:1 scope. Bottom depths to 50 ft are widespread in San Pedro Bay as well as toward our southeast within a nautical mile or two of shore (e.g., “Huntington Flats”). Not that “The Flats” is a place where anyone would wish to anchor, especially in afternoon wind, but if you needed to anchor there or in similar depth you probably would wish for 7:1 of scope capability. Anchoring along the CA coast means anchoring off of a lee shore. Fifty feet of bottom depth generally puts you a safe distance from shore. However, if you must anchor in less than 50 ft you have increased scope potential, etc.
If you wish for “efficient” use of your locker space, analyze your 90% need, etc.
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