My rule of thumb, the length of your boat in chain, the rest nylon rope. I also am careful to match the working load limit on the anchor shackle to the working load limit of the chain.
Florida bound
- Thread starter wyctoronto
- Start date
Thanks to all for your input. I'm going with the chain and snubber, and the windlass will save my back. Cheees.
I carry 110' of chain and 350' of triple braided rode on a 35 pound Manson Supreme, and 65' of chain and 250' of triple braided rode with a 40 pound Danforth. I also have in my lazerette another rig with about 25' of chain and 200' of triple braided rode with another 40 pound Danforth in case I want to secure the stern. There have been times when I needed to drop the hook in 50 foot of water and I did and slept very tight knowing that I was going to be where I was when I dropped it. Here in Florida, I use a 7:1 scope and drop about 70 to 80 foot of chain and sleep tight. If I need to be secure in really foul weather, I can drop both those hooks up front and know that I will be secure. If I am in a tight anchorage, I toss the one in the lazaretto off the stern and know I will stay put. Extra work, but I sleep tight. I use a snubber on my primary ground tackle.
Here in SW Florida we have very shallow water and in Charlotte Harbor there is one section that is about 22' and that is the deepest part of the harbor and so when anchoring with my 5' draft I really need to worry about running aground and so that is why most times I could put out maybe 50' if the anchorage is very crowded but most times just go with at least 60' but if it gets really windy I will let out more before going to sleep but since adding the the 35lb Mantus 3 years ago I have not needed to put out more than 60' and if getting a new anchor I really love the Mantus and I also use a rode snubber and the Mantus digs in always the first time and grabs like cement when retrieving my windless really needs me to motor to help get it up.
But just adding more chain makes any anchor twice as good and can't help stating that more chain is like night and day how much better holding does.
Nick
But just adding more chain makes any anchor twice as good and can't help stating that more chain is like night and day how much better holding does.
Nick
When I added a windlass to my 356 I also updated the anchor to a 35lb delta with 50' of G4 and 150' of 5/8" 3 strand. Extra chain definitely helps the boat not sail around at anchor, also run up a anchor riding sail.
Weight of the chain adds to the holding power of the anchor.
Jeff
Weight of the chain adds to the holding power of the anchor.
Jeff