Anchor Chain and Alcohol

[BOAT]

The two don't mix? Or DO they?

How's that for a thread starter?

Anyways, two questions:

How much chain do you carry and is denatured alcohol illegal in California??

[Inquisitor]

I'd say the name says it all for California. It de-natured... thus de-legal.
Chain's probably not allowed either if it's galvanized. Zink might off gas and give someone cancer.

[NiceAft]

I have no idea of the alcohol conection in this thread, but as to a chain, I have thirty feet of it on both of my anchors.

[Jimmyt]

About 20. Yes.

[BOAT]

Okay, so 20 to 30 feet on the chain - another question - do you use 1/4 inch chain?

I ask because I was at anchor in a really crowded anchorage 2 weeks ago and all the boats had over 50 feet of chain! Of course all the boats were over 40 feet (you rarely find sailboats under 40 feet plying the ocean here between harbors which requires overnight sailing or anchoring) so I parked in a nice protected anchorage for the night and at sunset about 9 other huge boats suddenly showed up anchoring all around me (scary cuz I thought they would all crush me) and in 20 feet of water I noticed they all had chain all the way to the anchor - that gotta be 50 feet or more of chain!

It just seems like a lot in such shallow water.

And on the denatured alcohol - whatz up with that? Is that what you use in your stove?

[Inquisitor]

I'm no expert, but mine's 20' x 1/4"

I had the same question and asked an ASA instructor for larger cruising boats. Most in 40'+ have all anchor rode. He gave two reasons.

• longer chain rode helps set and keep the anchor more securely planted
• in those boats you might be anchoring in deeper and more unknown bottom conditions. Coral might chew up the rope portion and set you adrift... and lose the anchor.

Made sense to me... I always set mine in pretty shallow water that I can see (since we can). More than half the time I'm putting the anchor up the beach in the dry. If I ever get comfortable enough to take it to the Bahama's, I'd get a second anchor and up the ante with longer anchor rode to get the scope right.

https://www.boatus.com/magazine/2014/oc ... -scope.asp

[Jimmyt]

Okay, so 20 to 30 feet on the chain - another question - do you use 1/4 inch chain?

I ask because I was at anchor in a really crowded anchorage 2 weeks ago and all the boats had over 50 feet of chain! Of course all the boats were over 40 feet (you rarely find sailboats under 40 feet plying the ocean here between harbors which requires overnight sailing or anchoring) so I parked in a nice protected anchorage for the night and at sunset about 9 other huge boats suddenly showed up anchoring all around me (scary cuz I thought they would all crush me) and in 20 feet of water I noticed they all had chain all the way to the anchor - that gotta be 50 feet or more of chain!

It just seems like a lot in such shallow water.

And on the denatured alcohol - whatz up with that? Is that what you use in your stove?

Yes, 1/4" galvanized chain. But, I'm anchoring in sand, and under 40 ft depth. Actually, never in 40 ft because that would be in the ship channel; where anchoring is generally frowned upon. If I had coral, rock, or something less boring than sand, I might rethink my strategy.

Re: Alcohol; CARB banned it because they considered it a significant source of VOC emissions, as most of it winds up evaporating in air.

I wound up going with Butane. The small can holds less fuel than the green propane bottle. So, after a quick calc, I figured the Butane, in the smaller quantity was safer in our size boat. I could not find a source for a new Origo, so I didn't go alcohol, even though I preferred it for safety reasons. Although, the price comparison between Origo and the Butane stove was ridiculous.

Still plumbing the galley, so can't give feedback on stove performance yet, but I get the impression that plenty of others are using them.

[Highlander]

as for chain 1/4" & linked to match my anchor winch, chain I beleive 50' & 200' of anchor rode for a total of 250' combined
as for alcohol Scotch or vodka has never failed me yet !

J

[BOAT]

as for chain 1/4" & linked to match my anchor winch, chain I beleive 50' & 200' of anchor rode for a total of 250' combined
as for alcohol Scotch or vodka has never failed me yet !

J

50 feet makes sense for a boat over 3000 pounds - i do not anchor in coral so i don't expect to fray my rode on the bottom so 30 feet should be okay

[Seapup]

Everywhere is different for anchoring needs. A side effect I noticed of chain is in normal conditions, say under 20 knts wind, chain kept my from sailing at anchor or swinging in the wind. When I had a short amount of chain it was constantly sailing left and right, when the rode is mostly chain the swing is pretty much eliminated on the .

[NiceAft]

Sea pup said:

A side effect I noticed of chain is in normal conditions, say under 20 knts wind, chain kept my from sailing at anchor or swinging in the wind. When I had a short amount of chain it was constantly sailing left and right, when the rode is mostly chain the swing is pretty much eliminated on the .

I never thought about this; makes sense

[Russ]

Everywhere is different for anchoring needs. A side effect I noticed of chain is in normal conditions, say under 20 knts wind, chain kept my from sailing at anchor or swinging in the wind. When I had a short amount of chain it was constantly sailing left and right, when the rode is mostly chain the swing is pretty much eliminated on the .

Interesting. The boat sure does sail on anchor. Might have to try this.

[Tomfoolery]

Sure does. It's quite awful down below when it really gets going. Perhaps an anchor sail might help, as the bow is what gets shoved off-line by the wind, so maybe an anchor sail at the end of the boom could help keep it straight. Never tried one, though.

[NiceAft]

I have an anchor sail. The problem with an is how to attach it.

To be propperly attached, it should be hoisted on the backstay, and then attached forward, and to the side of the boat.

Since the has no backstay, I have to get creative.

Here is an article from Sailrite.
https://www.sailrite.com/Using-an-Ancho ... structions

[BOAT]

the boat will not swing much if you use only chain - this i have already tested