anchor question?

[johnny howe]

I have a 16' 1500 lb boat, I only fish in lakes. I currently use just a 15 lb mushroom with a rope anchor line to hold the boat. I am thinking about buying a 10 lb mushroom with 6' of chain tied to a rope. my question is : if there are alot of trees and crappie beds, do chains get caught in underwater trees. am i just looking to get this thing caught up and am i going to be cutting it loose the first time i use it? does everyone use a bit of chain with there anchor? thanks

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: anchor question?

if its not broke why fix it?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: anchor question?

exactly, if what you are doing works, why change it... Chain isn't a requirement by any means. There are too many other variables. How much current? How deep? How windy? How secure do you need to be? Someone overnighting in an ocean bay somewhere has a whole different set of requirements vs someone fishing a small lake in good conditions without wind.

Personally, I don't run chain, nor do I have a need to be 100% secure in anchoring. I use either a mix of bungi and rope, or just 100% bungi as my anchor rode. It absorbs the stresses much like chain would, but is far lighter and easier to deal with onboard the boat vs chain. The bungi also works really well for temporary parking on sandbars. Just grab the anchor, and then start walking until you are tired. The bungi keeps tension on the line and keeps the boat from turning.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: anchor question?

A chain is necessary on an anchor of the Danforth style. It keeps the tension on the riverbed vs. being pulled upward by the boat. It helps keep the flukes of the anchor buried in the sand. Wouldn't make much difference on a mushroom anchor unless you had a LOT of chain.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: anchor question?

I never used chain until I moved up to my current heavier boat and got a Danforth style anchore. Now I have about 4' of plastic coated chain between the anchor and the rope. I still HATE this anchor as I have a tuff time getting it to dig in especially if it's weedy. Likely I'm doing something wrong.
But when I had my 16' Lund WC, , just an open fishing boat, all I used for years was a 15 lb navy style anchore with rope right off the anchor, worked like a million bucks.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: anchor question?

Chain is also noisy when rubbed , going in or out,against the side of a boat, especially an aluminum hull. I say if anything, just get a slightly heavier anchor or buy a second to use as a stern anchor, and just use regular anchor rope(rode) without the chain.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: anchor question?

The main reason to use chain is so the rope doesn't get cut when you do drag through bottom debris. I have two foot of chain on my main anchor.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: anchor question?

I never used chain until I moved up to my current heavier boat and got a Danforth style anchore. Now I have about 4' of plastic coated chain between the anchor and the rope. I still HATE this anchor as I have a tuff time getting it to dig in especially if it's weedy. Likely I'm doing something wrong.

Danforths don't work well in weeds, they tend to slide across the surface of the weeds and not dig in. Go to a "claw" or "plow" style and your prayers will be answered, and use a minimum of 8' of chain.

Fireman explained it best. The chain is used to move the angle of rode to anchor farther away from the anchor, enabling it to lay on the bottom. Too little or no chain is ineffective in situations that require a chain to be part of the anchor tackle. But chain it self wont compensate for the wrong anchor being used.

It boils down to knowing the "sea bed" of the water you are boating on.

A good boating class will help explain the intricacies of anchoring, and will bring you into contact with people experienced with anchoring in your area. Some Power Squadrons hold seminars on specific topics, anchoring being one of them. Suggest you check them out, they are only 2 hrs long and can make a difference in your understanding of the concept.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: anchor question?

The main reason to use chain is so the rope doesn't get cut when you do drag through bottom debris. I have two foot of chain on my main anchor.

This is unfortunately incorrect. Please see above post.

One should never make generalize statements based on their own uninformed experience.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: anchor question?

The primary function of chain is to help the anchor dig in by maintaining a low profile; a secondary function is to act as a shock absorber from the tugging from above.

A mushroom anchor will dig into a mud bottom, not as well as a danforth obviously, so some chain might make a slight difference by keeping the anchor laying down. But I wouldn't think enough to be worth it (including the noise factor). On a hard bottom, it would serve little purpose.

Mushrooms are of limited utility, but are high on convenience for something to plop over and help you stay put. I use them along with real anchors for more serious applications.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: anchor question?

Mushrooms are of limited utility, but are high on convenience for something to plop over and help you stay put. I use them along with real anchors for more serious applications.

Mushrooms also work well in a body of water where tides and currents aren't a factor and the only force you're trying overcome is the wind.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: anchor question?

This is unfortunately incorrect. Please see above post.

One should never make generalize statements based on their own uninformed experience.

3 pounds of chain does not do a thing to change how my 25 pound anchor lays on the bottom.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: anchor question?

3 pounds of chain does not do a thing to change how my 25 pound anchor lays on the bottom.

I should explain myself instead of just being a *****. The op said he wants to add a 5 pound chain and drop to a 10 pound mushroom anchor. It will be a wash. He will still have around a 15 pound anchor. 5lb in chain and 10lb in anchor. The chain really does not do a thing on a small mushroom anchor. The chain does not do a thing on my 25 pound anchor. Mine is also a modified mushroom type anchor. Anyone who boats with small craft in internal lakes or rivers use the chain for the primary purpose of protecting from bottom debries. I lost two over the years on sharp rocks. I have lost 0 since I went with 2 foot of chain. I get it for those boating with 25 foot or larger boats and for sure if you are boating offshore with a huge boat you have to consider the length of chain, how to set the rode and weight on the rode ect. Your not dropping a 10 pound mushroom weight.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: anchor question?

I should explain myself instead of just being a *****. The op said he wants to add a 5 pound chain and drop to a 10 pound mushroom anchor. It will be a wash. He will still have around a 15 pound anchor. 5lb in chain and 10lb in anchor. The chain really does not do a thing on a small mushroom anchor. The chain does not do a thing on my 25 pound anchor. Mine is also a modified mushroom type anchor. Anyone who boats with small craft in internal lakes or rivers use the chain for the primary purpose of protecting from bottom debries. I lost two over the years on sharp rocks. I have lost 0 since I went with 2 foot of chain. I get it for those boating with 25 foot or larger boats and for sure if you are boating offshore with a huge boat you have to consider the length of chain, how to set the rode and weight on the rode ect. Your not dropping a 10 pound mushroom weight.

I also need to temper what I said. when instructing someone on how to perform a function that has broad possibilities, it is important to be specific to the advise given as not all situations are the same. This is particularly true on a wide reaching forum. In your situation the chain performs as stated but is not the "main" reason chain is used, only one of the many possible reasons.

The primary function of a chain is to perform as previously stated, to increase the horizontal pull of the boat against the anchor. It also does a good job of acting as a stress relief between the rode and the anchor.

I would think that on inland lakes a concrete block would work just as well and easier to leave behind if necessary.