"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...
Kellets increase effective scope. Buoys decrease it.


Yes, that's the key. Kellets are only really useful when you can't put out enough
scope. Most anchors are optimized for an upward pull at 8 to 12 degrees, so they
shouldn't pull out if the scope is 7 to 1 or better, especially if the there's a
healthy bit of chain.

The other interesting property of a kellet is that boats that horse around an anchor
may be quieter if a kellet is lowered down so that it rests on the bottom. This
approximates a hammerlock setup, which is a small anchor on very short scope added to
keep the bow stable. When I had a Nonsuch I kept a dinghy anchor for that purpose.

And while a kellet may provide some shock absorbing in a limited scope, moderate wind
situation, it gives little advantage if longer scope is used. (And I'm sure we all
know by now, a caternary, as the term is used in anchoring, has virtually no shock
absorbing quality.) Also, the OP mentioned it in terms of an all chain rode, but
I've almost always heard of it used with a mixed chain/rope rode.

A buoyed anchor rode is used by fishing boats anchoring in a large sea - I'm not sure
its relevant to cruising boats. I suppose it might be handy in an area of coral heads
to keep the scope small in lighter air.