Why? because the SC 31 has a short waterline (25 feet? 23 feet? I am trying
to recall for sure, but certainly short) and 300# of chain on the bow will push
it waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off its lines, making a terrible sailor out of the
boat.

btw, depth of water is NOT the reason to carry 300# of chain (chain is mostly
useful in coral and/or rocky bottoms, and even then you really, really, really
want not much more chain than might be needed to stay off the bottom). people
carry 300# of chain because chain goes through an electric windlass easier than
a chain/rope rode does. In other words, it is useful if the boat owner is too
weak and decrepit to haul up by hand 35# of anchor and 20# of chain, or manual
windlass 45# of anchor and 40# of chain.

Why is this relevant?

Surely the amount of chain carried is more a function of the depth of water
one expects to anchor in, rather than the length of the hull (up to a point
anyway)

steveb