[Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question

Sat Mar 19 10:24:18 EST 2005

Gentlemen,

The following quote is taken from the SAFE ANCHORING TIPS sheet supplied in
the package by the NAV-X Corporation when I bought my Fortress anchor:

5: ANCHOR RODE: Use a short length of chain and three strand nylon rope.
The nylon rope is very elastic and greatly reduces the shock loads on your
boat and your anchoring system.  The chain protects the rope against chafe
from the sea-bed and also provides a more horizontal pull on the anchor when
it is just beginning to set.  If you normally anchor in 25' of water or
less, use 6' of chain.  For greater depths, add 6' of chain for every 25' of
depth.  For example, use 24' of chain if you anchor in 100' of water.

Note that the tip sheet cites two reasons why you should use chain: CHAFE
RESISTANCE against "stuff" on the sea-bed  +  WEIGHT at the anchor end of
the rode to help make the pull on the anchor more horizontal, especially
when the anchor is just beginning to set.  When cruising, I usually don't
know in advance how deep the water is going to be where I'm going to anchor.
In addition, even on a supposedly pristine sand or mud bottom, you just
never know when your nylon anchor rode is going to find a piece of broken
glass or an old sharp piece of metal.  Therefore, on Dynamic Equilibrium,
the anchors are rigged with one boat length of chain.

1/4" Hot Dip Galvanized Proof  Coil chain weighs 0.63 lbs/ft, so 22 feet of
this chain weighs about 13.9 lbs.  If you are worried about this amount of
weight on your boat or have trouble retrieving it, well God bless you.  For
me, it's cheap insurance.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 9:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question

> Bill,
>
> As I understand the function of chain, its primary purpose is to prevent
> line abrasion on the bottom.  If you don't have a rough bottom you
> really don't need chain.  As soon as you set a Danford type anchor you
> have pulled the chain off the bottom, and the chain and line should stay
> off the bottom, putting all the pressure on the anchor flukes and
> causing them to dig strongly into the bottom.
>
> If you have sufficient scope, the pressure on the anchor is horizontal
> within the design specifications, and it should reset itself as needed
> if the boat slowly swings around it due to wind or current shifts.  When
> you are ready to retrieve it, you move the boat over the anchor and pull
> vertically, and the anchor releases.  (You can pull the boat over the
> anchor by hauling in the line, but it's much easier to motor over, and
> pull just line straight up until you get to the anchor, which in our
> case should weigh less than 10 lbs.)  The beauty of the Fortress anchors
> is that they are both lighter and stronger than conventional anchors.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
> William E. Wickman wrote:
>
> > You are right Wally.  It is all mud and clay with the occasional rock
> > cropping here.  I think I may cut my 20 ft chain in half and carry the
> > resulting pair of 10 ft lengths for use when I go to the coast.
> > Bill W.
> > --------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: rhodes22-list-bounces
> > Sent: 03/19/2005 06:57 AM
> > To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question
> >
> > Bill,
> >
> > I agree with Bill here. I started out using about 8 feet of chain. For
> > my conditions I quickly found out that I don't need any chain. I
> > anchors in fairly shallow coves with red clay bottom. It has never
> > been a problem. The chain seemed like extra hassle and weight.
> > Everyone told me this was going to be a big problem. It has worked
> > just fine and I spend a bunch of nights anchored. I would guess your
> > conditions up river are much the same. If you plan on towing your boat
> > to the coast I would suggest chain but don't see any need on the river.
> >
> > Wally.
> >
> >> From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
> >> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question
> >> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:04:01 -0500
> >>
> >> Bill,
> >>
> >> I've got the Fortress FX11, and I think it's a terrific anchor.  I
> >> also have the smallest Guardian anchor, which I store in a pouch,
> >> unassembled, and I've been very happy with that one also.
> >>
> >> I think those people know a lot about anchors, and I would be
> >> inclined to follow their recommendations.
> >>
> >> I have several lines with differing amounts of chain on each, and
> >> several with no chain at all.  I find I always go for the no chain at
> >> all, because I've never had any trouble with it, and it's so much
> >> easier to handle.
> >>
> >> The trick to anchoring (as with so many other things) is practice.
> >> Try setting your anchor when it's not critical.  See if you have
> >> enough navigation skill to be able to determine if your anchor is
> >> dragging.
> >>
> >> When it's really blowing you shouldn't be on our boats in the first
> >> place.  Anchoring and praying is not the answer.  If you are trapped
> >> in a situation like this, and can't get to shore, head for open water
> >> and heave-to.  Practice heaving-to, too.  Work with the elements, not
> >> against them.
> >>
> >> The guy who developed those anchors recommends setting 2 at 180
> >> degrees apart and tying both off on the bow.  Then neither one will
> >> have to reset if current or wind shifts.  Differing lengths of chain
> >> will  not matter, longer scope can be set because the boat will
> >> rotate in a much smaller arc relative to other boats.
> >>
> >> Avoid anchor overkill.  That goes for the chain, too.
> >>
> >> Bill Effros
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> William E. Wickman wrote:
> >>
> >>> I just got my nifty Fortress FX7 anchor.  The instructions that came
> >>> with
> >>> the anchor said to use a short length of anchor chain (6 feet of
> >>> chain if
> >>> anchoring in 25' of water or less, and add another 6 feet of chain
> >>> for each
> >>> additional 25' of depth).  Their claim is that chain anchor rodes
> >>> lack the
> >>> shock absorbancy of nylon rope when the wind increases.  This advice
> >>> runs
> >>> contrary to what I have been reading in the Rhodes FAQ that most of
> >>> you are
> >>> using around 20 feet of chain.  So, does the Fortress require less
> >>> chain
> >>> because it is so light?  What gives?  I presume that these anchor
> >>> guys know
> >>> what they are talking about, but...
> >>>
> >>> Also, since I have 20 feet of chain that I use with my gbi anchor,
> >>> what are
> >>> the dynamics of using shorter chain on a second anchor when setting
two
> >>> anchors?  Does it really matter?
> >>>
> >>> B. Wickman
> >>>
> >>> __________________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> __________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
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