On Fri, 08 May 2015 07:59:32 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 08 May 2015 07:30:12 +0700, wrote:

Strange, you know. I've been aboard a number of vessels ranging from
super tankers to ocean going fishing boats and they all, I say "all",
have anchor winches.

===

Yes, the navy and merchant marine have been using chain rodes and
anchor winches/windlasses for hundreds of years, and with a great deal
of success. Small, weight sensitive boats, not so much. It's amusing
that folks with boats under 30 feet who rarely cruise anywhere feel
qualified to offer a "one size fits all" solution.

The first, publicized, use of a steel anchor rode seems to have been
in 1808 but even more revealing is that in 1834: Lloyd's Register
rules stating the length of cable to be supplied, called for a reduced
length for iron cables compared to hemp cables at a 6:7 ratio.

The IASCS (International Association of Classification Societies) has,
for many years, required steel anchor "cables".

I think that "rarely" should be replaced by "never" :-)
--
Cheers,

Bruce