Anchor Rode question

[MikeP]

Our 53MY has 300ft of all chain rode. I am considering two things...

The first is because we boat in the Ches Bay, anchoring depth is quite shallow compared to what we typically saw in LI sound, I am considering reducing the rode length to 150 ft to reduce the weight. Secondly as a further weight reduction, I am considering changing the main anchor rode from all chain to mostly nylon. (I have a spare 300 FT of nylon rode/10ft of chain available to "add" if neccessary or to put out a 2nd anchor)

So here is my question...how do you recover a combination chain/line rode with the windlass? That may sound like a silly question but at the moment, the all chain feeds off the gypsy and into the chain locker on its own. No other action is necessary.

With a mix of chain and nylon, the nylon would have to be "hand fed" into the chain locker off the capstan and then, when we get to the chain, the rode has to be shifted from the capstan to the gypsy, right?

Seems like a lot of trouble but maybe it's not.... ???

 

[Genesis]

Yep - that's what you have to do.

It's not a particularly nasty operation, but it is manual. I had a combination rode on Gigabite and it worked well.

 

[MikeP]

Hmm, maybe I could do the best of both...I have never needed to put out more than 75ft of chain on the Chess. I think the deepest we have ever anchored was in Baltimore harbor at around 20 ft - usually we're in from 9-12 ft (at high tide). So if I left 100 ft of chain in place and attach 100 ft of nylon to it I would have plenty of rode length for any possibility, the handling for our normal anchoring would not change and I could drop over 200 lbs from the bow locker..

 

[Genesis]

I kinda like that strategy.

You're also going to get the "sentinel" effect from the chain on the anchor, so if you DO need the extra rode your effective scope will be materially longer than the numerical value indicates.

 

[Pascal]

i wouldn't bother! if you have the swinging room, having more rode out when it's windy not only gets you better holding but you increase the catenary effect and get much better shock absorbtion. So, using 150 to 200' on a windy has benefits, evein in 12' water.

the manual transition can be a real pita, especially on windy day or with heavy current if something goes wrong and you have to anchor out in deeper water.

if it ain't broken, dont' fix it. 200lbs extra on a hatt is nothing!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Keep the chain. The problem with transitioning to rope is that you have to feed it into the locker WET. With all rope you can leave it out on the deck to dry, but with too much chain in front of it you have no option but to put that wet rope into the locker to mildew and get all nasty.

 

[holtcl]

Agree - leave the chain alone.

 

[bobk]

I too would keep the chain. I had 140' on the Bay, and when I started ICW cruising decided 200' would be better. I haven't needed it all yet, but came close a time or two. In 20' of water with an 8' high bow, I'd want much more than 75' of rode if the wind pipes up.

Bob

 

[SunChaser]

I'd keep 150' and skip the rode. Given your description of depth, at 20' feet still gives you a 7 to 1 scope. If weather is too rough for that, you probably want a second anchor out anyway.

The line laying under the wet chain, as previously mentioned just leaves you open for a smelly mess.

 

[sportfish 45]

What's wrong with extra chain? Are you trying to reduce the weight of your boat by eliminating some chain?


Seth