Alternate idea to splitting my anchor rode

[capejt]

Not so long ago I posted my idea to cut my anchor rode at the 50 foot mark since it's mostly chain to that point and I almost always anchor in water of ten feet or less. There isn't enough room in my forepeek to contain the fifty feet of chain and two hundred feet of nylon.
I think I came up with a better idea. Like most boats I have that bitter end ring in the anchor locker. What I'm thinking now is, tie the rode off to that at the fifty foot mark, and leave the rest of the nylon coiled in the anchor locker next to the windlass with the line leading through a hole in the floor of the anchor locker into the forepeak. This way I can still have my fifty feet readily accessible, and when additional is needed, just untie from the "loop" and use what I need, and I can still use the windlass to raise and lower the anchor. Then when weighing, re-tie at the appropriate mark and re-coil the excess.
I think this is a better arrangement than cutting the rode and trusting a shackle, ring and two splices to hold the boat.
Any thoughts?

 

[digby sailor]

why not go buy 75 feet of nylon and 12 feet of galvanized chain and leave the old stuff at home I would do tht before I would bore a hole through my locker I can certainly understnd why you wouldnt want to cut the old one.

 

[David22589]

I agree...but I would go with 100 feet of rode and 12 feet of chain. 7:1 scope even at 10 feet means at least 70 feet as a minimum.

 

[Rick Sylvester]

A couple thoughts

First, I'd have some real reservations about drilling a hole in the bottom of your anchor locker. Whenever you take a big one over the bow, is wherever that water will drain to built to accommodate the flow?

Second, a scenario to consider, you're in a dicey anchorage, maybe a lee shore. The conditions deteriorate quickly and you need more scope out. The rode below your hole hockles and now won't come out the hole. Now what? This is one of the few advantages an external locker has over an internal design.

Third, IMHO I'd think long and hard about shortening up your 50 feet of chain. It provides valuable catenary for situations like the above. Even in <10'. Plus, the space you'd recoup with say, 30' less chain, would be more than offset by the additional rope you'd have to replace it with.

If I read your post correctly you're fighting a space issue. I'd suggest considering an 8-plait rope which is said to hockle less than 3-strand and occupy less space in the locker. I've never used it so I don't have personal experience but since I read it on the web it must be true right?

 

[Steve Dion]

Just remember that you "should" add the distance from the bow to the waterline to that 10' of water. So you are probably in need of 15 x 7 to have the proper scope (105' total).

You can also add a cleat in the anchor locker to tie her off. This makes getting more rode out in an emergency much easier.

 

[capejt]

thanks for the feedback

you've given me more to think about (like I really needed more to thnk about).
But you bring up a lot of points I never considered