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All chain rode is for old men
On 18 Apr 2004 13:33:07 GMT, (JAXAshby) wrote:
Old men too weak to lift 100 feet of nylon rope plus an anchor insist on all
chain rode -- claiming it is safer -- because chain fits through an electric
windlass with less effort than tailing a rope on an electric windlass.
I don't know that it's safer (although it can be in certain
situations, such as a rocky bottom), and I much prefer the shock
absorbing characteristics of a mixed rode, but.........I went to all
chain myself not because I'm a weak old man (well, maybe I am, but
that's beside the point), but because my mixed rode turned out to be a
nightmare to use with my windlass, and the all chain rode is much more
reliable.
The rope portion of my rode turned so stiff that it would jump from
the gypsy on the windlass. When that happens while you're trying to
anchor in a cross-wind with waves pushing you ashore, it's an eye
opener. Not that alone, but the tailing would jam in the windlass
over time, requiring that I head up on deck to release it. Again,
it's not fun having to do this, because it always happens at the worst
possible time.
Heavy seas require more scope and the use of a snubber to provide the
shock absorbing characteristics necessary to prevent tackle damage.
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