On Tue, 18 May 2004 21:52:06 -0400, "Gene Kearns"
wrote:

In the Midwest one can expect the nautical experience of those
accustomed to a prairie schooner.

Dunno about that. Somehow, Michigan (part of
the Midwest) has more boats registered than
any other state. At least a few of us have
a bit of boating experience. The Great Lakes
(bordering several Midwestern states, and thus
Midwestern Lakes) have just about everything in
the way of boating pleasures except hurricanes
(we are limited to the occasional tornado and
80 kt straight-line winds) and (noticeable) tides.
You can go in a straight line for several days
out of the sight of land. Not an ocean crossing,
but I bet a lot of salt water cruisers don't
make open ocean crossings either.

My take on nomenclatu rope is the material;
lines (and a few named ropes) are what you
make from rope. Rode is like halyard, sheet,
painter, stay, or shroud: a special name for a
particular application.

Thus you take some rope (and maybe a bit of
chain) to make your anchor rode. Anchor line
is probably acceptable. Reducing precision
of usage dilutes the language. Maybe a lost
cause, but worth fighting for anyway.

On adding chain to the rode: I like to have chain
equal to the weight of the anchor. Unless you
are anchoring in coral or some other abrasive
bottom, six to ten feet is plenty, so you up the
size of the chain to get the weight up. With a
25# danforth, use ten feet of 1/2" chain (overkill
for strength, but about the right weight).

--
--Pete "Peter W. Meek"
Rec.boats caps and burgees at:
http://www.msen.com/~pwmeek/cap-main.html