Anchor Chain Size

[Pete]

I serched here for chain size but it seams most people just say the length they have but not the size. I had in my mind that 25-30 feet of 1/4 inch chain would be Ideal. However when I got to the store 1/4" chain seams overkill for my v22 or even your 26' boats. Sometimes things apear on a diffrent scale in the store and then out on the water. What size should I get?

Pete

[NiceAft]

According to West Marine (page 159 in their current catalog).

The primary function of chain is to handle the chafe from rough bottoms that would otherwise abrade the soft nylon line. Long scope (7:1) must be used to compensate for the lack of weight to keep the pull horizontal. Nylon is preferred for its elasticity. Its stretch reduces peak loads on the anchor and on your boat.

They go on and produce a chart of recommended chain for different boats. For light weight boats from 26' - 30' and for medium weight boats from 23' - 27' they recommend a three strand, 3/8" nylon rope attached to 3/16" Proof Coil chain (6' - 30').

My belief is a heavier chain of 1/4" just lends to more weight on the bottom. With a shorter chain, I don't see that as a bad thing. If you go for a greater length of chain, say in excess of 10', then the weight difference could make a difference on your back

Ray

[irayone]

Hi
I just upgraded my chain to a 14 lb Delta with 25 feet of 5/8 chain and 300 feet of 1/2 in rode. I wish I would have gotten 50 feet of chain because that makes me 7:1 at 50 feet. And because I could get 25 feet more chain into the anchor locker with the Delta on the roller.
They say a foot of chain for every foot of your boat.. Thus; 26 feet of chain. I was told I would have been better off with 1/2 in chain at 50 feet. Everyone has a different experiance so you get different ideas which is what makes this web site great!!! If your on the river you need a different set up. I mostly anchor in 50 feet or less Catalina, Santa Cruz island.

[James V]

3/8 is the smallest that the horn of the cleat will fit over. I suggest at least 25 feet of BB grade 3 or better.

A lot of the length of the chain will be determined by the type of anchor you use.

[Pete]

I ended up getting 25 ft of 1/4" chain. I think its plenty strong yet not too heavy when in the bow. I found another problem this weekend tho. I have one of those plastic coated anchors. It did not hold at all. I ended up using my brothers anchor halve the size, and tying his boat to mine.

Pete

[extreem]

I have one of those plastic coated anchors. It did not hold at all.

Please tell me it's not a mushroom anchor. Those are just useless. Spend the money and get a real anchor, you will be glad you did.

[Pete]

Its a danforth type but with the vinyl coating so it doesent bang up your boat. no holding power at all. Might as well been a mushroom, or a block of cheese. it came with the boat.

[FLembo18]

I'm planning on purchasing a Delta anchor (14 lb.), so how exactly do you connect it to the bow roller without it scratching the Hull/Deck ?? Some close up pic's would be great or just a real good explanation.

Thanks,

Frank L.

[Rick Westlake]

Bossa Nova came with a Danforth S600 in the locker ... under a coil of stiff 3/8 nylon rode that looked as if it hadn't been touched since the Chesapeake Bay's Mac dealership flaked it down into the locker for my boat's previous owner.

I've replaced it with a "one-size-up" Fortress FX-11, which is rated for boats 28-32 feet in length, and a new rode to match; took the Fortress advice and am using 6 feet of 1/4-inch chain spliced directly to the rode. BUT - this is eventually going to be my second anchor, my "kedge" or "lunch hook".

Ancora Latina in Brazil is finishing a "Raya Tempest 800" for the Bossa Nova, and will be shipping it in the next week or two. The Raya was designed for Cape Horn - it is a reverse-plow anchor, like the Rocna but without the roll bar, and the "800" is rated to hold a 10-meter boat of 9000# displacement in winds of 60 mph!

The "Raya Tempest" model has a demountable stock, so it fits into the bottom of the anchor locker of a 26X. I've checked this with an AutoCAD full-scale drawing of the blueprints, and there's room to spare. I'm going to fit it with 150 feet of 1/2" Yale Brait spliced to 25 feet of 1/4" proof coil chain.

Now THAT's overkill!


I plan to do some cruising with Bossa Nova - though not offshore - and to stay aboard at anchor over nights. The cheapest insurance and the best sleeping-aid I can have will be "too much anchor".

[Kelly Hanson East]

I recommend 3/8 inch chain or larger for Macs. They are light boats, but this means they swing on anchor a lot, and you need every bit of weight on your rode that you can get to keep your anchor in place in high winds. 25 feet of 3/8 chain doesnt fill the locker, and is easy to pull up by hand. 1/2 inch might mean some gym workout to get that up. You do want enough chain to reach bottom, without nylon rode, in your intended anchorage - this makes retrieval of a stuck anchor easy, as covered elsewhere.