Beneteau 411 ground tackle

[Robert Kennell]

I want to upgrade the ground tackle on my 2001 Beneteau 411and am considering 200' of all chain (3/8" BBB). We hope in the next couple of years to take the boat to the Caribbean. Is this the right length for this and will this quantity fit in the anchor locker.

Thx

 

[Gunni]

A good choice Robert. You need chain in the tradewinds. I have 175' of 3/8 3B and it doesn't half fill the locker. Make sure your windlass gypsy is sized for the chain. My main concern would be putting too much chain that far forward. I like my bow buoyant offshore in a blow. I have a place in the bilge near the base of the mast that holds my chain when I go offshore, the anchor gets stowed deep in the chain locker. And you will want at least two sets of ground tackle....150' of rope w/30' of chain and a Fortress are compactly bagged in my port cockpit locker. I'm shopping for a plow right now, I plan to rig with a rope rode and have at the ready in that very proper second bow roller.

 

[twofoot]

This is a great topic. Recently I had a friend sail my BENETEAU 373 and he noticed my bow was light. He recommended that I replace my rode with chain, adding weight where necessary. I would assume the BENETEAU boats were primarily designed to sail considering the weigh of chain forward. Advice on how much chain?

 

[Gunni]

Looking at how the boat sits on her "lines" in the marina or flat water will tell you alot about how you have her balanced, fore and aft. My boat has a fine groove in the gel-coat at the boot strip that appears to be the factory calibration of how she should float, and the boot is laid to that groove. Therefore the boot stripe tells me how she is balanced. In most conditions I need 175' of chain forward to get good light to mid range wind conditions. But when she's got a bone in her teeth, jib powered up and bow down, I don't like seeing green water over the bow. Make sure your locker drains are getting the job done.