Anchor chain

[All U Get]

Hi all,

Just looking at my anchor chain that is in need of replacing. The chain has an 8 marked on the link and measures 38 links for 4 feet of chain. Is there a ready made chart to decide on the size chain I would need?

I cut 100 feet off the length and have about 150 left which I might add to my 2nd anchor. The PO had a connecting link which was never used so I'm cutting that out and tossing it. That would give me 300 feet on the back-up anchor with a connecting link at 150.

I'll add 300 feet to my primary anchor because of the areas we anchor in keep expanding. Any ideas as to how much it would weigh? I could barely move the 100 foot chain when I loaded it in to a 5 gallon bucket. I had to split it into two buckets.
All U Get

 

[Whatfiero1]

Wow where are you anchoring 300' chain. I bet it weigh a 100 lbs or more and really slow boat speed but that's just the racer talking

 

[jssailem]

Whatfiero. AllUGet, has a 53 foot boat that weighs in at 43,000 lbs displacement... The weight of the anchor chain is not as significant as it would be on your boat. A big boat needs chain to hold it in inclement weather.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Hi all,

Just looking at my anchor chain that is in need of replacing. The chain has an 8 marked on the link and measures 38 links for 4 feet of chain. Is there a ready made chart to decide on the size chain I would need?

I cut 100 feet off the length and have about 150 left which I might add to my 2nd anchor. The PO had a connecting link which was never used so I'm cutting that out and tossing it. That would give me 300 feet on the back-up anchor with a connecting link at 150.

I'll add 300 feet to my primary anchor because of the areas we anchor in keep expanding. Any ideas as to how much it would weigh? I could barely move the 100 foot chain when I loaded it in to a 5 gallon bucket. I had to split it into two buckets.
All U Get

3/8" BBB chain weighs about 165# per 100 ft.

 

[JamesG161]

This is Fortress Anchor guide...
http://fortressanchors.com/resources/safe-anchoring-guide

Chain link info...
1) The size of chain is by the diameter of the steel rod used to bend into the link. example: 3/8th chain is 3/8" rod.
2) The USA standard of tension strength has 125% over design, or you can corrode away 25% of the diameter and be at design loads. Thus the strength of chain is only as good as it weakest link.
3) Stainless steel chain is stronger in tension than carbon steel for same rod diameter.
4) Galvanized Chain is for show and not for much else. Why? Zinc coating scrapes off and how many hours in water versus a dry anchor closet. Water is needed for grounded electrochemical reaction (corrosion). Rusted dry steel is a good thing, but ugly.
________
My 43' boat came with 3/8ths 250 feet of chain and 350' of nylon rode. That would let me anchor ≈90-110' of water with coral cutting bottom in normal weather conditions. I have the same anchor chain for my 2nd bow anchor thus reducing the main strain in foul weather.

_______
Anchor weight only helps sink the anchor faster.
You should match your anchor tension load strength to the chain/boat holding force. That link above suggests ≈3200 pounds of force tension load for your boat size in a single anchor in a tropical storm.

So...
How deep , How many anchors, and what sea state, What size windlass gypsy, do you plan for?

 

[JamesG161]

This is Fortress Anchor guide...
http://fortressanchors.com/resources/safe-anchoring-guide

Chain link info...
1) The size of chain is by the diameter of the steel rod used to bend into the link. example: 3/8th chain is 3/8" rod.
2) The USA standard of tension strength has 125% over design, or you can corrode away 25% of the diameter and be at design loads. Thus the strength of chain is only as good as it weakest link.
3) Stainless steel chain is stronger in tension than carbon steel for same rod diameter.
4) Galvanized Chain is for show and not for much else. Why? Zinc coating scrapes off and how many hours in water versus a dry anchor closet. Water is needed for grounded electrochemical reaction (corrosion). Rusted dry steel is a good thing, but ugly.
________
My 43' boat came with 3/8ths 250 feet of chain and 350' of nylon rode. That would let me anchor ≈90-110' of water with coral cutting bottom in normal weather conditions. I have the same anchor chain for my 2nd bow anchor thus reducing the main strain in foul weather.

_______
Anchor weight only helps sink the anchor faster.
You should match your anchor tension load strength to the chain/boat holding force. That link above suggests ≈3200 pounds of force tension load for your boat size in a single anchor in a tropical storm.

So...
How deep , How many anchors, and what sea state, What size windlass gypsy, do you plan for?

Jim...

 

[capta]

Maine sail has some interesting things to say about using connecting links and swivels. You might want to read up on that before you decide to use one.
Check this out for chain info:http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/aboutgrading.htm
Since you have the windlass @ the manufacturer, why not ask them what gypsies you have on your unit?
Also, I'd ask them about a ½" BBB chain gypsy. 3/8ths chain really isn't big enough for your boat. It's alright for your #2, but not so much for your #1. If you can afford the swap over, I think you'll not regret it. We sleep so much better since we moved up to ½".
Also, you'll need less chain in the water if it is 3 times heavier. Caution though, about all we can fit in the chain locker is 200 feet of the ½", so don't buy more unless you have a different chain locker than we do, which is unlikely?

 

[All U Get]

3/8" BBB chain weighs about 165# per 100 ft.

Thanks, that's why I couldn't lift it. The bucket was sagging quite a bit, too.

All U Get

 

[jssailem]

that's why I couldn't lift it.

What a surprise... Try looping a couple of lengths over your shoulders like a bandolier... Bet you can't float or swim too.
But don't do it. Some things are better thought about then tested...

 

[All U Get]

Maine sail has some interesting things to say about using connecting links and swivels. You might want to read up on that before you decide to use one.
Check this out for chain info:http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/aboutgrading.htm
Since you have the windlass @ the manufacturer, why not ask them what gypsies you have on your unit?
Also, I'd ask them about a ½" BBB chain gypsy. 3/8ths chain really isn't big enough for your boat. It's alright for your #2, but not so much for your #1. If you can afford the swap over, I think you'll not regret it. We sleep so much better since we moved up to ½".
Also, you'll need less chain in the water if it is 3 times heavier. Caution though, about all we can fit in the chain locker is 200 feet of the ½", so don't buy more unless you have a different chain locker than we do, which is unlikely?

So I put on my glasses and had a second pair on to read the chain marking. Its G4 marked on the links. When Schaefer Marine calls with my quotes on the windlass, I'll ask about the gypsies. How did you load the 1/2 inch chain or even get it down the dock? I must be getting old.

All U Get

 

[capta]

How did you load the 1/2 inch chain or even get it down the dock? I must be getting old. All U Get

I wish I was as young as you!
BBB chain should be marked 3B, not G4.
Budget Marine delivered it to the dinghy dock and we loaded the chain hand over hand into the Zodiac there, then brought it out to the boat. After setting our #2, we pulled all the 3/8" chain out on deck and fed the ½" over the anchor roller from the dink and into the chain locker using the windlass. Put the Rocna back on the end, dropped it and pulled the #2.
Never really had to lift more than a few feet at a time.
By the way, our #2 is about 150' of 3/8ths BBB shackled to 350 feet of braided 1" nylon line, but for you with your double gypsies, as long as you have good snub lines, you probably should stick w/all chain on your #2.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Maine sail has some interesting things to say about using connecting links and swivels. You might want to read up on that before you decide to use one.

Try this:

Anchor System Sizing Tables (Reply #6) & Why Swivels are a bad idea http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4990.msg30400.html#msg30400

It's long, but MS's comments are in there.

 

[Ron20324]

... I must be getting old. All U Get

Probably are. I just saw a fellow's revised bucket list:
A bucket of beer, a bucket of ice, a bucket of crabs.

 

[David in Sandusky]

My experience with all chain rodes has been on about 6-7 weeklong charters. My understanding of the advantages of chain are:

1. The first boatlength of chain assures that the load on the anchor is along the bottom, promoting good sets, resets, and holding.
2. Chain will survive coral.
3. An all chain rode requires a scope of 5 versus 7 for chain/nylon -great for crowded anchorages.

Disadvantages are:

1. Cost.
2. Weight in the locker will increase pitching in a seaway. (More than we might think for weight in the bow.)
3. All chain probably requires a capstan.
4. Chain is a lousy shock absorber.

Considering all of this, I'm for a boatlength of chain and the rest nylon unless Lady Lillie was heading south of Miami. (Not going to happen!)

By the way, this thread and the link Stu gave us are great examples of how amazing this site can be!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Considering all of this, I'm for a boatlength of chain and the rest nylon

David,

There's another option:

my friend Steve’s Anchoring 101

The Rocna. All 20kg of it with 100ft of chain. The rest of the world can debate all they like. When I pull into a place like Bodega Bay at midnight and the fog is so thick I can't see the jetty 50 feet away to make an entrance, I drop my hook in the rolling ocean swells with the surf crashing (Foster says it's like staying in a cheap Best Western beside the highway), and I sleep. And in the morning I have a windlass to pull the beast up and I wouldn't trade it for anything. (I also wouldn't add more chain - this works perfectly in 25 to 30 feet of water - you let all the chain out and you tie off nylon at the preferred scope and don't bother with snubbers and chain hooks and all that stuff...)

 

[David in Sandusky]

Stu, I guess the question is what does the extra 70 to 50 feet of chain add the set-up? I can find many references to the boatlength of chain, few to 100 feet. I wonder if this has been tested? I've no problem with another skipper adding chain except I wouldn't want to haul it up by hand as I do on Lady Lillie, and some of the charters we have taken.

 

[jon hansen]

david in sandusky, on the great lakes there is zero need for any chain at all. there are no chafing issues on the lakes. 4 to 1 is fine for most situations, 7 to 1 if you want absolute , max security.
3 strand nylon rope, which stretches up to 40% is the way to go up here on the great lakes.
the salt water boys need chain due to chafing.
it's just that simple

 

[NYSail]

david in sandusky, on the great lakes there is zero need for any chain at all. there are no chafing issues on the lakes. 4 to 1 is fine for most situations, 7 to 1 if you want absolute , max security.
3 strand nylon rope, which stretches up to 40% is the way to go up here on the great lakes.
the salt water boys need chain due to chafing.
it's just that simple

Zero need for chain? It's not there just for chafing..... it's called holding power.

 

[jon hansen]

zero need for chain on the great lakes. zero!

 

[Deleted member 117556]

If you have large tidal ranges and currents an all chain setup is preferable because it will not wrap around you keel. The chain/rode combination will wrap around the keel with the reversing tide unless you use a kellet or sentinel. We have 7-9 foot tides and have learned all this the hard way and now have 100 ft of chain.