[Rhodes22-list] anchoring

[Bill Effros]

Rob,

You need chain if your anchor is so heavy you can't pull it up by hand.  
Then you need a windlass.  The windlasses destroy rope -- they work best 
on chain.  Everybody makes a lot of money by suggesting that you anchor 
better if you have a chain rode, but that is nonsense, and the enormous 
weight of the chain in the bow totally throws off the balance of boats.

In the process, people start drawing diagrams and providing pseudo 
scientific explanations that make absolutely no sense when you start to 
think about them.

Then somebody comes up with the 22 feet of chain on the 22 foot boat 
rode rule.  Which also makes absolutely no sense.

A modern anchor is not like a cinderblock or an engine block.  It does 
not just sit on the bottom, it digs in like a railroad spike, and is 
designed so it can be easily released by changing the angle of the rode 
from the surface.  Adding weight does not help it in any way.  Modern 
anchors are designed to be  pulled at specific angles -- mostly around 
45 degrees -- which is what the 7:1 scope accomplishes.  Chain sitting 
on the bottom defeats the angle of the scope relative to the anchor.  It 
is counter-productive.

If you want more weight on your anchor, get a heavier anchor.  But there 
is no need to do so.  A 2 1/2 lb guardian anchor, properly set, will 
hold you in place forever.  Your rope rode will withstand far more load 
than the fittings on your boat. 

Bill Effros


Lowe, Rob wrote:
> Bill,
> So why does everyone (well, most everyone) suggest using chain on the
> rode? - rob
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Bill Effros
> Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:59 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] anchoring
>
> Ben,
>
> In order to set the anchor you must put tension on it.  This pulls the 
> rode taut.  When there is no wind or current, the rode will lie flat on 
> the bottom, or float to the surface if it is a floating rode.  But it is
>
> not holding the boat in place.
>
> What most people call "dragging the anchor" is usually "dragging the 
> chain".  If you fail to set your anchor -- which you will fail to set 
> properly if you never draw the rode taut -- you can drag the chain all 
> over the place, without ever properly setting the anchor.  If you draw 
> the rode taut and properly set the anchor it just won't drag. 
>
> A very small anchor can be used to hold a very large boat in place if 
> the anchor is properly set.  It is much easier to set an anchor with an 
> all rope rode.  The chain portion of the rode does not change the angle 
> of pull.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
>
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