Anchor attachment point to rode

Kings Gambit · Mar 19, 2020

fred1diver said:
Hey everyone, almost time to do some boat work to get her ready for the season, I was wondering what do you all use to attach the chain to the rode, since I don’t have an anchor locker in front, I’ll probably have to untie the anchor chain to store it, would a locking climbing carabiner be any good, I’m wondering as I currently have a few on hands, if not what do you recommend?

Since you likely do not have a windlass to foul things up, you use a chain shackle to connect the last link in the chain to an eye-splice w/steel thimble at the end of your nylon rode. Use lanolin to lubricate the threads of the shackle pin so it does not "freeze up"; seize the pin after tightening with thin SS seizing wire to keep it from coming loose.

AaronD · Mar 19, 2020

The traditional attachment would be a rope-to-chain splice. But a shackle arrangement like @Kings Gambit described probably works too. Warning: I suspect it will be a pain to shackle / unshackle every time you deploy your anchor (and yes, seizing the shackle is recommended, and that definitely won't happen every time).

If there's any way you can store your anchor and rode together, I suspect you'd prefer that. Some small-boat sailors keep it all in a bucket or a milk crate and carry it up to the bow when deploying. Some hang a bag or or other rode-storage system on the bow pulpit. EDIT: I bit the bullet and added an anchor roller but that might not be practical on your boat. Pictures might help there.

Shackle type: a bow shackle is standard, preferably a type B (stronger alloy). Practical Sailor did some shackle testing in their Aug 2015 and Oct 2016 editions (if you subscribe, you can download old issues). They have a little info on their blog as well. Note that the shackle size will be larger than the chain size (e.g. 5/16" shackle for 1/4" chain, 3/8" shackle for 5/16" chain...) If you're using 1/4" chain, I can follow up with notes on trying to source a good 5/16" Type B shackle when I have more time.

Tom J · Mar 19, 2020

No short cuts! Use a shackle on the anchor to chain connection, in addition to the chain to nylon rode connection.

Kings Gambit · Mar 19, 2020

The rope-chain splice is essential if the whole rode (rope +chain) must pass through a windlass. Otherwise, one should use the shackle & eye-splice. Allows you to store the rope w/o lugging chain around with it, etc.

thinwater · Mar 19, 2020

I used climbing carabiners for many years on my Stiletto 27. MUCH handier than shackles.

It's a matter of scale. He does not have an anchor roller or locker. A climbing carabiner has a safe working load of about 1500 pounds, which is pleanty for a boat this size. For a larger boat (my last boat was a cruising cat), chain, splices, and load rated shackles are the right answer. But not necessarily for a small boat. In fact, I think the chance of a shackle coming loose is probably greater (it won't be moused). He does not have a windlass. I'm betting the rode is primarily rope.

My current boat is small but does have a locker. That said, I use a rope rode and attach it to the bridle with a prusick hitch and a pair of non-locking carabiners. Works fine.

One size does not fit all.

DArcy · Mar 20, 2020

@fred1diver Does your Grampian have an anchor rode locker in the forepeak? I'm just trying to understand if you need to store the entire anchor plus rode, or just the anchor off the bow. My C&C 27 didn't have an anchor locker either (they added it the next model year) but did have a hawse pipe leading to a rode storage in the forepeak. When I was racing I would disconnect the shackle at the anchor and stow the anchor in a cockpit locker. When cruising I kept my danforth anchor on the pulpit with hangers. The spinnaker gets hung up on it, that's why it needs to be stored for racing. The danforth works exceptionally well in the mud we have on the Ottawa river and is light enough I could manage without a roller.

jon hansen · Mar 20, 2020

up on the great lakes and other fresh water areas the is zero need for chain. there is no coral to chafe on. chain is a pain to deal with that the salt water boys have to have.
your rode should have a thimble spiced on the end, then shackled to the anchor.
it makes anchoring a lot easier

jon

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Mar 20, 2020

How about a roller on the bow- here's my 21 footer

and my 25

Both have the rode spliced to the chain

capta · Mar 20, 2020

Kings Gambit said:
The rope-chain splice is essential if the whole rode (rope +chain) must pass through a windlass. Otherwise, one should use the shackle & eye-splice. Allows you to store the rope w/o lugging chain around with it, etc.

Eye splice with a thimble!

thinwater · Mar 20, 2020

My last boat had a combination gypsy on the windlass. I used mostly chain, but if the water was particularly deep (not every year) I would let rope out as well. The solution for smooth feed is not the common chain splice, but the more subtle irony splice. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-best-rope-to-chain-splice.html

Now that I have no windlass I still splice the chain to the rope, although I use the standard 3-strand back splice (it simpler than the irony splice). Why? Smoother on the hands. Easier than splicing a thimble. Thimbles can come loose and shift under high load when the nylon rope stertches--I've seen ropes cut that way. Easier down the hawse pipe. The thimble doesn't help unless the rope is attached to something fixed that will cause friction. Spliced to chain, the next link flexes and the splice does not move, at all, relative to the link it is attached to. Fact. I know this is counter intuitive, but if you try it you will see. I've never seen s a rope-to-chain splice chafe at all, even after long use to the point where the chain and rope were trash.

Kings Gambit · Mar 20, 2020

capta said:
Eye splice with a thimble!

See my post number #2.

David in Sandusky · Mar 21, 2020

The first 15 years with our h27, our Bruce, 20+ feet of chain. and nylon rode lived in an open anchor bag tied to the toerail at the bow. The bitter end of the rode was permanently on the bow cleat. A very workable solution.

A few years ago, I installed a hawse pipe and a bow roller, so we have a more common configuration now.

Tom J · Mar 21, 2020

jon hansen said:
up on the great lakes and other fresh water areas the is zero need for chain. there is no coral to chafe on. chain is a pain to deal with that the salt water boys have to have.
your rode should have a thimble spiced on the end, then shackled to the anchor.
it makes anchoring a lot easier

jon

I have understood that the primary reason for anchor chain is for weight. The chain helps the anchor lay at the correct angle to engage the bottom. Most publications recommend at least one boat length of chain on the anchor rode.
Now, if we are talking ALL chain rode, then, yes, it is nice to have in deep salt water with coral heads, etc., around.
Anyway, I have watched more than one boater try to set an anchor with no chain. It didn't work.

jon hansen · Mar 21, 2020

there is zero need for chain on the great lakes. if some person or thing claimed other wise, they or it is wrong.
that's right i said it. cause it is fact. now you know too

jon hansen · Mar 21, 2020

chain on your rode is fine. chain on your rode is great. chain on your rode is A huge pain in the ass.
'ON THE GREAT LAKES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR CHAIN ON YOUR ANCHOR RODE'

jon hansen · Mar 21, 2020

i'm a danforth man!

Hunter216 · Mar 21, 2020

jon hansen said:
chain on your rode is fine. chain on your rode is great. chain on your rode is A huge pain in the ass.
'ON THE GREAT LAKES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR CHAIN ON YOUR ANCHOR RODE'

Jon

I think we can safely mark you down as “decided” if this was a debate

I’m curious about your underlying reasoning?