Actually neither the ball no the kellet has any effect in extreme
conditions. Nor is chain desirable under such coditions. The problems is
that above 35 knots of wind or so you have a straight rode. Neither kellet
nor ball makes any difference...its straight. At that point nylon is a lot
better than chain because of its elasticity. A long nylon rode keeps the
anchor from tearing your boat up as a chain rode can do. The downside of
course is you really need to maintain a nylon rode under such
conditions...rigging chaff protection or letting out small increments to
minimize chaff. Hinz deals with all this in his books.


Jim Donohue

"Steve Smith" wrote in message
om...
Hi all

Having looked at Chapman's 'Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat
Handling' (now available in your local library for UK readers), I was
a bit surprised to see recommended that a mooring-type buoy be used
rather than attaching some other flotation to the intact anchor chain
(one more link to go wrong). I think Hinz discusses this in his books
but I haven't managed to get hold of any in the UK.

I know this method of anchoring is for extreme conditions but has
anyone any experience with it or the alternative method of using
weights slid down the rode. I would guess there is a better argument
for avoiding shock loading than there is for anchor dragging and that
the buoy method is better at doing this.
I am assuming all chain here due to chafe resistance.

Regards

Steve

Remove defcv if etc.