I recently bought a Macgregor 26m. I would like to ask all Mac 26M owners, what type and diameter rode the use,also what size ( dia of links ) they use on the chain.Last but not least what weight anchot should I use. I will sail inland lakes and when I get experience Lake Erie and possibly east coat. Thanks for any input you might have.....Cockneyboy
Anchor, Chain and Rode
- Thread starter cockneyboy
- Start date
- Status
Anchors
Anchors, chains and rode has been a very heated subject on this forum. First, I would check the archives and read the very many opinions that you will find. Second, I would ask local boaters for their opinion. It all depends on current and sea bottom as for which anchor might work best for you. Having two anchors of different types is always a safe bet. You can always check other sources such as West Marine or your public library for some informative reading. Having the best anchor you can afford for your local conditions will definitely help you sleep better at night on the hook. But keep in mind what works for me in Florida or someone else in California may not be the best choice for you on the Great Lakes due to the various sea bottoms. Good luck. Jack
Anchors, chains and rode has been a very heated subject on this forum. First, I would check the archives and read the very many opinions that you will find. Second, I would ask local boaters for their opinion. It all depends on current and sea bottom as for which anchor might work best for you. Having two anchors of different types is always a safe bet. You can always check other sources such as West Marine or your public library for some informative reading. Having the best anchor you can afford for your local conditions will definitely help you sleep better at night on the hook. But keep in mind what works for me in Florida or someone else in California may not be the best choice for you on the Great Lakes due to the various sea bottoms. Good luck. Jack
RE: Anchor Archives
One final note: Don't pay any attention to the "downward water pressure" stuff. We were kidding.
One final note: Don't pay any attention to the "downward water pressure" stuff. We were kidding.
Another opinion
I own a couple of books and anchoring, rodes etc and read most of what I could find on the net including a couple of forums. You will find there are "working" anchors and "storm anchors." Working anchors are what are usually recommended when you see those charts telling you what size to buy. Storm anchors are larger puppies for that really big storm with your name on it. Next there are different characteristics for anchors, some are the "best" for holding power, others are the "best" for setting quickly. Setting quickly is important for me in the Pacific North West and coastal BC where there can be dramatic drop offs quickly along the shore; so I want the anchor to set quickly, especially with other boats hugging the area as well. Next, you really need more than one anchor so another "best" is what holds in what bottoms the best. The Dela plow, the Danforth and knock offs, and the Fortress are set well in identical bottoms. The Bruce is the "best" in a really soft bottom. So minimally you should have two anchors on board but many folks will have three or four. My boat came with a Danforth and a Bruce, but on the smaller side of the chart recommendations. My boat is a Catalina 27 and basically the same as yours (for anchoring purposes). I bought a Delta 22 pound anchor with 1/4 inch chain - 30 feet - with 250 feet of 1/2 nylon 3 stranded rope. Now if you do your research, you'll discover hardly no one knows what they are talking about when it comes to chain to rope length in a combined rode. Some say the length of your boat, others say the chain should weigh as much as your anchor and almost twice as much if the anchor is aluminium. Others say a short amount such as 8 or 10 feet. The problem is everyone is repeating what some one else said, with no one doing their research, including the guys that wrote the books. There is one site on the web with good research on chain/rope rode; he recommends 40% chain and 60% rope. The good news for you is that if you follow this recommendation, you will not only be purchasing anchor, shackles, chain and rope, but windless and battery and line to install it and you will be looking at a pretty serious bill. So back to the drawing board. I personally am following roughly the rode being the length of your boat. Chain length has been shown to be better than a kellet (extra weight slid down your rode to add weight to keep the angle of the rode to anchor down). But chain is very heavy so if your chain is too long (too long is when you are in deeper water and you add the weight of your chain to the weight of your anchor as you pull it up, then square (times two) the pain in your back as you pull it up, and you have the proper equation). So if I have a 22 pound anchor and I'm anchored in thirty five feet of water, when I'm pulling up the anchor and chain, I'll be pulling up around 64 pounds of weight (22 pounds of anchor with 30 feet of chain being around 42 pounds - proof coil). If I run into this scenario I plan on using the winch to get some of the chain in to reduce the "pull" on my back, thus square rooting the pain. One chap said that the best size anchor is one that when you put it on your boat, the rest of the marina laughs at you; this would be a good storm anchor. I would recommend you get 2 anchors; something plus a Bruce or Bruce knock off. Personally I wouldn't use a Bruce as my primary anchor, but you'll get lots of testimonials on the efficacy of a Bruce. But I would use the Bruce as my primary in a soft bottom. I would use the "something" else as my primary and Bruce as back up or second anchor. In my case, I use the Delta #22 as my primary, the Danforth as my second and stern anchor and the Bruce as my back up, and primary in soft bottoms.
I own a couple of books and anchoring, rodes etc and read most of what I could find on the net including a couple of forums. You will find there are "working" anchors and "storm anchors." Working anchors are what are usually recommended when you see those charts telling you what size to buy. Storm anchors are larger puppies for that really big storm with your name on it. Next there are different characteristics for anchors, some are the "best" for holding power, others are the "best" for setting quickly. Setting quickly is important for me in the Pacific North West and coastal BC where there can be dramatic drop offs quickly along the shore; so I want the anchor to set quickly, especially with other boats hugging the area as well. Next, you really need more than one anchor so another "best" is what holds in what bottoms the best. The Dela plow, the Danforth and knock offs, and the Fortress are set well in identical bottoms. The Bruce is the "best" in a really soft bottom. So minimally you should have two anchors on board but many folks will have three or four. My boat came with a Danforth and a Bruce, but on the smaller side of the chart recommendations. My boat is a Catalina 27 and basically the same as yours (for anchoring purposes). I bought a Delta 22 pound anchor with 1/4 inch chain - 30 feet - with 250 feet of 1/2 nylon 3 stranded rope. Now if you do your research, you'll discover hardly no one knows what they are talking about when it comes to chain to rope length in a combined rode. Some say the length of your boat, others say the chain should weigh as much as your anchor and almost twice as much if the anchor is aluminium. Others say a short amount such as 8 or 10 feet. The problem is everyone is repeating what some one else said, with no one doing their research, including the guys that wrote the books. There is one site on the web with good research on chain/rope rode; he recommends 40% chain and 60% rope. The good news for you is that if you follow this recommendation, you will not only be purchasing anchor, shackles, chain and rope, but windless and battery and line to install it and you will be looking at a pretty serious bill. So back to the drawing board. I personally am following roughly the rode being the length of your boat. Chain length has been shown to be better than a kellet (extra weight slid down your rode to add weight to keep the angle of the rode to anchor down). But chain is very heavy so if your chain is too long (too long is when you are in deeper water and you add the weight of your chain to the weight of your anchor as you pull it up, then square (times two) the pain in your back as you pull it up, and you have the proper equation). So if I have a 22 pound anchor and I'm anchored in thirty five feet of water, when I'm pulling up the anchor and chain, I'll be pulling up around 64 pounds of weight (22 pounds of anchor with 30 feet of chain being around 42 pounds - proof coil). If I run into this scenario I plan on using the winch to get some of the chain in to reduce the "pull" on my back, thus square rooting the pain. One chap said that the best size anchor is one that when you put it on your boat, the rest of the marina laughs at you; this would be a good storm anchor. I would recommend you get 2 anchors; something plus a Bruce or Bruce knock off. Personally I wouldn't use a Bruce as my primary anchor, but you'll get lots of testimonials on the efficacy of a Bruce. But I would use the Bruce as my primary in a soft bottom. I would use the "something" else as my primary and Bruce as back up or second anchor. In my case, I use the Delta #22 as my primary, the Danforth as my second and stern anchor and the Bruce as my back up, and primary in soft bottoms.
anchor another opinion
RSN48 Thankyou for all the information. I will get the rode tomorrow. I bought a 17lb hooker fluke anchor today. Do you think that will hold the boat....... cockneyboy
RSN48 Thankyou for all the information. I will get the rode tomorrow. I bought a 17lb hooker fluke anchor today. Do you think that will hold the boat....... cockneyboy
You should be fine with 17lb Hooker
I have a 25 Hunter. I use a 8 lb Danforth for a lunch hook anchor. I use a 20lb CQR for normal to storm conditions as well as a 20lb Danforth. Both storm anchors have 30 feet of chain. Lunch hook anchor has about 10 feet of chain. You are somewhat overkill with 17lbs so should work great. Just add 30 feet of chain and you should handle anything except a Hurricane.
I have a 25 Hunter. I use a 8 lb Danforth for a lunch hook anchor. I use a 20lb CQR for normal to storm conditions as well as a 20lb Danforth. Both storm anchors have 30 feet of chain. Lunch hook anchor has about 10 feet of chain. You are somewhat overkill with 17lbs so should work great. Just add 30 feet of chain and you should handle anything except a Hurricane.
Sorry forgot the size of chain and rode
I use 1/2 inch nylon 3 twist for rhode. I use oversize chain of 5/16 inches. This is the dia of the link steel itself.
I use 1/2 inch nylon 3 twist for rhode. I use oversize chain of 5/16 inches. This is the dia of the link steel itself.
MacGregors
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/ Try asking some MacGregor owners specifically. Around 20lbs seems to be about right. Some specific links of interest: http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5944 http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin/modtracker.pl?action=view&record=704
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/ Try asking some MacGregor owners specifically. Around 20lbs seems to be about right. Some specific links of interest: http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5944 http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin/modtracker.pl?action=view&record=704
rsn48
rsn, your posts are usually very good, and your advice to cockneyboy was very helpful, but I think you've made a slight mental error and overlooked a factor when estimating the weight of rode you're pulliing up over the prow. (Guys, this has NOTHING to do with the "water presure keeping the rode down" thread we all had a larf about recently: this is basic physics) Yes, it's true that a 22lb. anchor and 42lb. of chain will weigh 64lbs. up on your deck. But in the water, the water pressure (technically, salt water's specific gravity) reduces its effective "weight." So if the water is deep enough that you get the anchor to break out while all your chain is still under the surface, and then attach a spring scale (fish scale) to the rode, it will read quite a bit less than 64lbs. Haul it all up and throw it into a bag, and the bag will weigh 64lbs. Kids playing in the pool figure out objects they can barely lift pooside can be lifted off the bottom fairy easily. As a foolish example, my teenage friends and I invented "under water powerlifting" in my pool, using a barbell and backyard weights: it was ridiculous how much "weight" we could lift over our heads, standing on the bottom of the pool. But when my dad caught us and it was time to stop, we had to disassemble the whole thing and bring it out piece-by-piece. It was much more than we could ever lift on land. I sometimes miss that abundance of testosterone… How do you like your Delta? I'm using a Bruce on the bow (previous owner) and a Danforth stern-mounted as a kedge (my install) on my C30 that are both sized right, but the Bruce is awkward to deploy, recover and stow, and really doesn't fit in the roller very well. I'd lke to relegate it to be a a weed-and-rock penetrator and switch to an easier-to-use, all-around primary anchor. I'm thinking Delta or Spade. Do you think the Delta is a good choice for that role?
rsn, your posts are usually very good, and your advice to cockneyboy was very helpful, but I think you've made a slight mental error and overlooked a factor when estimating the weight of rode you're pulliing up over the prow. (Guys, this has NOTHING to do with the "water presure keeping the rode down" thread we all had a larf about recently: this is basic physics) Yes, it's true that a 22lb. anchor and 42lb. of chain will weigh 64lbs. up on your deck. But in the water, the water pressure (technically, salt water's specific gravity) reduces its effective "weight." So if the water is deep enough that you get the anchor to break out while all your chain is still under the surface, and then attach a spring scale (fish scale) to the rode, it will read quite a bit less than 64lbs. Haul it all up and throw it into a bag, and the bag will weigh 64lbs. Kids playing in the pool figure out objects they can barely lift pooside can be lifted off the bottom fairy easily. As a foolish example, my teenage friends and I invented "under water powerlifting" in my pool, using a barbell and backyard weights: it was ridiculous how much "weight" we could lift over our heads, standing on the bottom of the pool. But when my dad caught us and it was time to stop, we had to disassemble the whole thing and bring it out piece-by-piece. It was much more than we could ever lift on land. I sometimes miss that abundance of testosterone… How do you like your Delta? I'm using a Bruce on the bow (previous owner) and a Danforth stern-mounted as a kedge (my install) on my C30 that are both sized right, but the Bruce is awkward to deploy, recover and stow, and really doesn't fit in the roller very well. I'd lke to relegate it to be a a weed-and-rock penetrator and switch to an easier-to-use, all-around primary anchor. I'm thinking Delta or Spade. Do you think the Delta is a good choice for that role?
Delta
Anchor Down, FWIW, We have a Delta 22 on our C-320 with 25' 0f 5/16 chain. Typical anchoring here is sand or mud and 10'-20' depth. In this environment the Delta has perfoirmed superbly weathering many summer squalls. It also served as the sole storm anchor on our old Cal 27-T/2 that took a direct hit from Cat-3, Hurricane Isabel where my second anchor rode was cut by driftwood. It held flawlessly throughout the storm with a 360 degree swing. I moved it to the C-320 afterward.
Anchor Down, FWIW, We have a Delta 22 on our C-320 with 25' 0f 5/16 chain. Typical anchoring here is sand or mud and 10'-20' depth. In this environment the Delta has perfoirmed superbly weathering many summer squalls. It also served as the sole storm anchor on our old Cal 27-T/2 that took a direct hit from Cat-3, Hurricane Isabel where my second anchor rode was cut by driftwood. It held flawlessly throughout the storm with a 360 degree swing. I moved it to the C-320 afterward.
kellet
Put together a kellet from old dumbell set that I picked up at a garage sale for a buck. I use about 40# but you could use less. Attached a chain loop covered in plastic hose to slide down the anchor rode. I use a chain quick link to "loop" the chain around the anchor rode. Makes a bridle attachment - anchor rode on one side, kellet rode on the other. Kellet also makes a great lunch anchor by itself. Interesting link below.
Put together a kellet from old dumbell set that I picked up at a garage sale for a buck. I use about 40# but you could use less. Attached a chain loop covered in plastic hose to slide down the anchor rode. I use a chain quick link to "loop" the chain around the anchor rode. Makes a bridle attachment - anchor rode on one side, kellet rode on the other. Kellet also makes a great lunch anchor by itself. Interesting link below.
- Status