anchor chain length ?

[pine island fred]

putting our new boat together. want to make it easy on the anchor tender ( wife ). is there a rule for how much chain should be on the anchor? plan to use a 12 or 15 lb. fluke type on an 18 ft. ctr consol. will anchor off gulf beach in light rollers with the occasional rouge wave. would really bother me to watch the wife wrestle with to much chain. does half the boat length sound right ? thanks fred

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: anchor chain length ?

A 12# fluke style anchor is sufficient to anchor up to about a 25-28 ft boat. IMO a 9-10# anchor would be plenty using about 10ft of 1/4 inch galvanized chain. 1/4in chain weighs about 3/4# per ft. Total weight here about 18#. You might look into an aluminum fluke style. Same holding power at about 4# plus chain. Total weight about 11#. Aluminum anchors are a bit pricey but maybe she wont be to tired to clean the boat and fish when you get in. It might be worth considering.

 

[Sea Six]

Re: anchor chain length ?

The aluminum anchors are nice when the wife is doing the work. We got a 4# Fortress anchor for our 23ft boat, and only use 5 ft of 1/4" vinyl coated chain. The 4# Fortress has the same holding power as an 11# galvanized anchor, which is plenty for your boat.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: anchor chain length ?

thanks guys, the aluminun anchor sounds real nice considering valentines day is coming. BUT since she got the yamaha 115 4 stroke for her birthday, would i be spoiling her? think i can pull it off? got to love that woman. figure mothers day i will buy her a s/s prop. regards fred

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchor chain length ?

I have a 8 pound dansforth with 4 feet of chain for a 21 foot boat. It held fine but when the wife pulled it she could hardly pull it in.<br /><br />Got the Fortress FX7 a 4 pound aluminum anchor with 4 feet of chain. This anchor dig in faster and holds better and when the wife pulls it she has no problem at all. However this anchor is harder to get to the bottom. If you get to your spot and put the motor in reverse and slowly pay out line it will tend to float and not get to the bottom. Instead get to your spot and put boat in reverse and pay out some line then take motor out of gear and pay out line until anchor settles then back in gear to pay out the proper scope. At least a 3 to 1 scope in great conditions. When it nasty up to 7 to 1 required so make sure have enough line.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: anchor chain length ?

This floating anchor is the reason to consider extra length chain. Dont consider a heavier aluminum anchor because their flukes are larger and will "PLAIN" just like the smaller ones do. A little extra chain makes a lot of difference and helps keep the anchor planted anyway. <br /><br /> Boatist <br /> If you think your anchor goes down "to slow" add a little extra chain. Four feet of 1/4 inch chain weighs less than your anchor. And by chance you have 5/16, it weighs the same.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: anchor chain length ?

Quote from pine island fred:<br />

got to love that woman

Know the feeling! I love mine so much I've bought her four boats so far. I even bought her a new trailer last year. She loves it so much I let her use it as often as possible. I just tag along for the ride. And just now and then she lets me wash and wax the outfit - I don't intrude too much there, because I'm working hard to buy her a new lawnmower.

 

[rwidman]

Re: anchor chain length ?

I had trouble getting the aluminum (Fortress) anchor to set. Once set it held fine. I stopped using it for fear that it would pull loose from a change in tide while we were sleeping and not reset.<br /><br />I replaced it with this:<br /><br />

<br /><br />It's ten pounds heavier but sets quickly every time. I use about 1/2 boat length (12') of chain.

 

[Solittle]

Re: anchor chain length ?

fred - Go with the longer chain especially if you think you might ever need to anchor in Boca Grande pass. It can get deep in spots with a fair amount of current.

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: anchor chain length ?

I suggest you put on the maximum amount of chain recommended from either this post, or from any other source. The maximum. See what it does for you.<br /><br />Then try no chain at all.<br /><br />I run an 18 1/2' cuddy and use an 8S Danforth - usually set from the stern and just as likely as not we'll be rafted with another 18 footer.<br /><br />I took the chain off my anchor rode altogether about 6 years ago. It comes up dirty and it's hard to manage and if anything, I think the chainless rode holds better.<br /><br />When we lived aboard, I had an all chain rode which we used in rocks and coral to prevent chafe, but today the longest time we're on the hook is overnight so I can check the condition of the line at least once a day. I've been using the same 150' of 3/8" anchor line for 6 years and haven't even swapped it end for end yet.<br /><br />If you learn how to anchor properly and have the correct anchor for the type of bottom, it's been my experience that contrary to public opinion, chain adds nothing but inconveneince to the equation.<br /><br />YMMV

 

[Boatist]

Re: anchor chain length ?

Reelpoor<br />We have no problem setting our anchor. I was only pointing out the difference with a lighter anchor. Many have not liked the Fortress because they had trouble getting in down. The key is to pay out some line then stop your boat dead in the water and continue to pay out until anchor settles then pay out proper scope and set anchor. This anchor is expensive but worth it, but I have recommended it to some who did not like it because they had trouble getting it down. I just want to make sure anyone who buy this anchor knows what they are getting.<br /><br />Sure you can add 30 pounds chain and it will go down fast but wife could never pull. This anchor with proper scope and 4 feet of chain will never break loose as it digs in deep. The more pressure you put on it the deeper it goes. Now if you think 1.5 to 1 is proper scope then you must have a lot of chain and light wind and current. We see these people drift by all the time when Sturegon fishing. They try and anchor in 80 feet of water with a 100 foot line. As soon as any current picks up or any wind and they float by then pick up and race by and reanchor, 5 minutes later they float by again. I always carry 2 anchors one with 500 feet of line and one with 350 feet of line. Either one will hold my boat in any condition we will stay in.<br /><br />When we anchor in the fog the Wife has trouble driving the boat up on the anchor to recover anchor so she gets stuck pulling anchor, her choice and the fortress anchor has made it easy for her. When it clear and she drives we still use the Fortress it is just the best anchor we have ever seen. Coast Guard test found it the best and also many boating mag. When it breaks loose from the bottom your first reaction is that the line broke then you realize there is some weight there but it comes up easy.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: anchor chain length ?

I think I need to be a little nicer to my better half after reading this thread. Do you think she would like the SS prop for valentines or maybe a new tach ? I've already got her birthady gift in mind ... trim tabs so she doesn't have to sit in the bow anymore.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: anchor chain length ?

By all means a new SS prop would be appropiate for valantines day. Imagine how proud she would be when you raise the motor so she can show it off. Might even want to get her a small propeller charm to put on a neckless to go along with it, but the again, she should be thrilled with the shiny prop. <br /> Trim tabs sound nice. My wife automatically jumps on the bow when we approach mud flats here in the sound. She has figured it out that it is easier to pull the bow down than have to get out and push to deeper water while i operate the tilt/trim to help her. regards fred