You do not have to use chain at all if you anchor right but you should know what the chain is used for before you make that decision.
The chain is use mainly for two reasons.
1: If you anchor in rocks the chain stops the anchor road from rubbing on sharp rocks and cutting your anchor line.
2: If you anchor with a short Scope (less than 7 to 1) the chain will help to hold the shank of the anchor lower and helping it dig in and hold. This is only a factor with light wind or current loads. When condition get bad high currents or wind load even with chain and a short scope the anchor shank will point at your bow where the anchor line is tied. With a short scope this will be a angle high enough to cause the Flutes to angle up instead of down. At this point the only answer is pay out line until your get to normal scope. With normal scope or more the anchor shank still points at the point it is tied but the angle is so low the flutes still point down so as load increases the anchor goes deeper and holds better.
