Sorry I never got back to you about the link plates!! I just saw the little piece of paper with the masurements on it. My boat has a 6" link (2 in parallel), followed by a 6" adjustable link (has 12 different holes in i, again 2 in parallel), then the forestay. Overall on my boat, it comes out to 9.5 inches, 10 or 10 and a half would be more appropriate to clear the anchor locker.