All chain anchor rode

Jeff,

I agree with trying sand bags prior to spending the $$ on the chain if you're only adding it to add weight to the bow. I don't necessarily agree with your Sovran being "poorly designed" however since the 36 was available with either gas or diesel as opposed to being built around diesel IPS like my 39, I could see how there could be some compromises trying to make a boat work with either.

If my boat sells (which I think it is), I may know of someone selling 250' of chain (that I was planning on adding to our Sovran for next season).

Good Luck!

max
 
Hey Max...figured you'd stop in at some point! I agree, I think they tend to ride bow high in general, and then add the weight of the diesels and it's exaggerated. Good for you on your boat, I know you've been thinking about it for a while. Any hints on the new one?! Keep me posted on the chain.

I am going to try to contact Tabman and see what he might have to say.

Thanks.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

Same here. All chain. I could not imagine holding 30,000 pounds worth of boat with rope.

Click to expand...
It will hold just fine. You are holding the boat in place, not lifting it. The anchor will pull loose before the (correctly sized and maintained) rope will fail.

Click to expand...


Maybe. Depends on how rotted you rode gets. And it may not always be visible. Chain will also lay on the bottom giving your anchor better purchase. And a better chance to reset if broke loose.

A line works fine in normal anchoring but when you are in bad weather and have a failure, do you want to trust the rope or chain to keep you off the shore?

But what do I know? I am only going by what I have read about here and other places. I have only used my anchor on this boat only a handful of times.

Click to expand...


In the strictest sense, line has significant advantage over chain. Properly sized, it is not a strength issue at all. Chain catenary advantage is almost as big of a myth as condensation. I would always use an appropriate amount of chain at the anchor, but a combo chain/line ground tackle has advantages over just chain.

In a practical sense, there is still a reason I prefer to anchor with all chain most of the time.

Another factor very much worth consideration. Last summer I had to rescue two boats that had a colossal mess when they hooked each others chain, then proceeded to burn out both windlasses and lose both engines on one of the boats. The short story is they had to retrieve all that ground tackle using nothing but their backs. Made me think twice about my own recovery plan if I was alone. But then, I carry a second set of ground tackle and eventually would just abandon the first set if push came to shove.

Anyhow, I just don't think it's a perfect either/or decision. Both materials have their characteristics and advantages. Chain can rot just as easily as line, so I reject that argument for either material as all ground tackle requires inspection. No excuses there.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

Same here. All chain. I could not imagine holding 30,000 pounds worth of boat with rope.

Click to expand...
It will hold just fine. You are holding the boat in place, not lifting it. The anchor will pull loose before the (correctly sized and maintained) rope will fail.

Click to expand...


Maybe. Depends on how rotted you rode gets. And it may not always be visible. Chain will also lay on the bottom giving your anchor better purchase. And a better chance to reset if broke loose.

A line works fine in normal anchoring but when you are in bad weather and have a failure, do you want to trust the rope or chain to keep you off the shore?

But what do I know? I am only going by what I have read about here and other places. I have only used my anchor on this boat only a handful of times.

Click to expand...

I'm not going to argue with you. There's nothing I can say that will change your mind and nothing you can say that will change mine.

Each of us has to be responsible for our own boat and make decisions based on conditions and our best information. If you believe an all chain rode is necessary for your boat, by all means use an all chain rode. My rode is 30 feet of heavy chain followed by 150 feet of 5/8" quality rope and it has met my needs.
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

......
Or was designed to have an all chain rode and the dealer raised the profit margin by substituting chain with line.

Click to expand...

One of the problems with web forums is that sometimes a member has nothing to add to the discussion but feels compelled to post anyway. [:-banghead]
 
BTW: For anyone with an all chain anchor rode, the last few feet (the bitter end) should be rope, not chain, in case you need to disconnect it from the boat in an emergency. Cutting rope is far easier and quicker than cutting chain.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

......
Or was designed to have an all chain rode and the dealer raised the profit margin by substituting chain with line.

Click to expand...

One of the problems with web forums is that sometimes a member has nothing to add to the discussion but feels compelled to post anyway. [:-banghead]

Click to expand...


a. My boat has all chain rode. My slip mate's boat (Same boat) is chain / line rode. Which is the correct setup. Sea Ray f*cked every person with a 1995 - 1999 330 Sundancer by equipping them with undersized tabs. They looked pretty but were pretty much useless. I ask you to refute the logic. There is bait and switch in every industry and every faction of the of every industry within itself. They use the laws of thermal dynamics. If the heat is on someone else, it ain't on me.

b. You want to run your last post through your brain one more time.....think about it.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

BTW: For anyone with an all chain anchor rode, the last few feet (the bitter end) should be rope, not chain, in case you need to disconnect it from the boat in an emergency. Cutting rope is far easier and quicker than cutting chain.

Click to expand...


I have all chain rode and have thought about this before without acting to remedy it. Thanks for the reminder. I hooked a heavy object a few years back and had that sinking feeling that comes with thinking I might have to undo the u-bolt from inside the anchor locker and jettison the chain with a float attached. I was lucky that time and the anchor broke free. I'm not sure of the cost of replacing 160 feet of 1/4 bbb but I wouldn't give it up without at least a couple of dives to try to free it if the water wasn't to deep. I have anchored in sand in 60 feet of water against a good breeze and current while fishing with what was just over 2.5/1 scope and my fortress held tight. I'm not sure that would be possible with line and a few feet of chain.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

......
Or was designed to have an all chain rode and the dealer raised the profit margin by substituting chain with line.

Click to expand...

One of the problems with web forums is that sometimes a member has nothing to add to the discussion but feels compelled to post anyway. [:-banghead]

Click to expand...


Now that's funny
 
Properly size rope is not going to fail and modern ropes just don't rot. UV degradation maybe a concern with dock lines but typically your anchor rode isn't exposed enough for that to be a concern.

I don't know if chain will make a significant difference in running angle, it s easy to find out by having someone sit at the bow to see if it improves things.

What speed at you cruising at? Speed has a huge impact on running angle, maybe you need to run a little faster to generate more lift at the stern,

I like no hassle anchoring... I want to drop the anchor and required scope and know the anchor will set, hold and reset if needed. I don't want to spend anytime worrying or doing multiple set. If on my own boat, I want to sit down and relax not wast my valuable time. On charter it s even more critical as it is not my time but the guests and they want to enjoy their time, not watching us mess with an anchor,

On. This last 6 weeks trip to the exumas, we must have anchored 35 to 40 times. Anchor never failed to set, never dragged. That's what ground tackle is supposed to do,
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

Same here. All chain. I could not imagine holding 30,000 pounds worth of boat with rope.

Click to expand...
It will hold just fine. You are holding the boat in place, not lifting it. The anchor will pull loose before the (correctly sized and maintained) rope will fail.

Click to expand...


Maybe. Depends on how rotted you rode gets. And it may not always be visible. Chain will also lay on the bottom giving your anchor better purchase. And a better chance to reset if broke loose.

A line works fine in normal anchoring but when you are in bad weather and have a failure, do you want to trust the rope or chain to keep you off the shore?

But what do I know? I am only going by what I have read about here and other places. I have only used my anchor on this boat only a handful of times.

Click to expand...

I'm not going to argue with you. There's nothing I can say that will change your mind and nothing you can say that will change mine.

Each of us has to be responsible for our own boat and make decisions based on conditions and our best information. If you believe an all chain rode is necessary for your boat, by all means use an all chain rode. My rode is 30 feet of heavy chain followed by 150 feet of 5/8" quality rope and it has met my needs.

Click to expand...


All chain is great. And you should always use a bridle with it of some kind. The windlass, a cleat or the chain stop should never be used to take the strain for anything but very light duty if at all.

That said, the best all around rode for small to medium + size boats is chain and line. A good long length of chain, say the length of the boat or so plus the correct size line gives you setting and holding power plus strain relieve from the stretch in the line. This combination is very hard to beat. Test and experience have shown that in a blow anchors will break free due to all chain rode coming tight and jerking on the anchor. Where as the chain/line combination provides stretch that keeps the anchor from being jerked out.

So Ron has a very good point. In most cases, while all chain might be nice to have, it's not necessarily the best set up for several reasons.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

Chain can rot just as easily as line, so I reject that argument

Click to expand...


Now THAT's funny! I suppose chain can abrade as easily as line, as well...
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

BTW: For anyone with an all chain anchor rode, the last few feet (the bitter end) should be rope, not chain, in case you need to disconnect it from the boat in an emergency. Cutting rope is far easier and quicker than cutting chain.

Click to expand...
I have all chain, because the boat came with it, had chain and line on all previous boats and never had a problem, the first thing I added to my tools when I got this boat was a heavy set of bolt cutters for the emergency chain removal or entanglement.
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

Chain can rot just as easily as line, so I reject that argument

Click to expand...


Now THAT's funny! I suppose chain can abrade as easily as line, as well...

Click to expand...


Okay, okay. But what's truly funny is that there really are people here who think that chain is strong, just because its chain. They use it so they don't have to inspect anything, not because they understand the strengths/weaknesses of the material.

I like to pull my chain out every chance I get. Just to look at it. I want to make sure its in good working order. I rarely see other dock brothers inspecting their own chain. They just throw it out whenever they please, always expect their chain is just going to work.

How often do you like to pull your own chain?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

Chain can rot just as easily as line, so I reject that argument

Click to expand...


Now THAT's funny! I suppose chain can abrade as easily as line, as well...

Click to expand...


Okay, okay. But what's truly funny is that there really are people here who think that chain is strong, just because its chain. They use it so they don't have to inspect anything, not because they understand the strengths/weaknesses of the material.

I like to pull my chain out every chance I get. Just to look at it. I want to make sure its in good working order. I rarely see other dock brothers inspecting their own chain. They just throw it out whenever they please, always expect their chain is just going to work.

How often do you like to pull your own chain?

Click to expand...


You owe me a keyboard.

DING!
DING!
DING!
DING!
DING!
DING!

We have a winner!
 
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