[Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question

Sat Mar 19 11:51:50 EST 2005

That is what I am talking about Bill. The coves I usually anchor in are well 
under 10 feet. I usually like to get close to shore to take advantage of 
shady trees.

It supposed to be perfect tomorow! Go sailing!

Fai winds!

Wally

>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.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: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 10:31:31 -0600
>
>Roger, I read the same thing in the instructions that came with my 
>Fortress.  The problem that I now see with 22' of chain is that most of the 
>time one anchors in less than 25' of water.  So let's say that you are in 
>10' of water and set a scope of 5:1.  Half of your anchor rode will be 
>chain.  Or if anchoring in 5' of water the entire rode would be chain.  
>Seems. Like you would lose a lot of the elasticity to absorb shock loads.
>
>Bill W.
>--------------------------
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces
>Sent: 03/19/2005 09:24 AM
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Anchor Chain Question
>
>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
> > >>>
> > >>> __________________________________________________
> > >>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >> __________________________________________________
> > >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
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> >
> >
>
>
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