First off, I never said "all nylon rode" as I've always been a proponent of
eight to ten feet of heavy chain attached to the anchor then a shackle and
eye-spliced nylon around a thimble. Now that I'm well off and retired I even
use stainless steel chain lengths.


That may be well and good for your smaller day sailor but heavier
boats who anchor in places with unknown bottom obstructions or lack a
slip to retreat to when small craft or storm warnings are raised may
use a different arrangment. Personallly I have two ground tackel legs
each is 300'. 150' of 3/8" HT chain followed by 150' of double braid
line. NO SWIVEL. I use a snubber on the chain if I use less than 150'
but if weather comes up I ease out more scope . when i do that i now
have the double braid in the water plus increased scope plus 150' of
chain (which act as cantanery) . But of course when just passing
through and expect easy weather I use something different I think
recreational sailors call it a "day hook."

OH, the big difernce I do is I have my bow cleats located on the toe
rail area. Why...... look how deck cleats are positioned on CG 47'
lifeboats, tugs and other safely designed workboats. When a line is
passed through a closed chock located at the toe rail the line has an
increased posibility of parting when loads approach BS of line. That
is why the cleat goes on the toe rail area. I, of course, had to
reinforce the deck to hull joint and add bracing and extra glass on
the inside of the boat in my case the anchor locker area. I dont want
the cleats to pull out or take a chunk of my boat when a 26,000 lb
strain was placed on the cleat.

Fortunalty, do to planning, I have not expeienced anchoring in
sustained 90k+ winds............ so to be honest I dont if it will
work. I have sat nicely in sustained 50k gusts to 80k...



Hockling is NO PROBLEM unless you anchor for days or weeks at a time and go
round and round on the anchor.

The other condition when hockeling occures is when 3 strand is loaded
beond its SWL and put under repeating loads. Youknow.... as in
anchoring with a swell. that constant slack-load-slack-load will cause
the 3 strand to do all sorts of movement. There several toys that
demonstrate that action nicely.


Three-strand is easy to eye splice. Double-braid is a real pain in the ass.


3 strand is easy yes..... for some. Double braid is also easy for
some...... I am able to make a simple 7/8" double braid eye splice in
about 20 minuits. Of course my firs half dozen took almost an hour
each. But when its quiet on the bridge its a good way for an AB suck
up to the captain learning a new skill instead of sittin in the ness
drinking coffee or taling on the cell phone. I dont attempt splicing
used line. To many tricks I dont kow about with that stuff. But new DB
is very easy to work with.


Three-strand is more stretchy which is exactly what one wants in an anchor
rode to reduce shock loads on attachment points.


This is the common montra found in recrational sailing magzines.Yes, 3
strand nylon typically has a stratch

Samson 3 strand Elastic Elongation...
Total stretch of 35% at 75% of break strength and 42% at break
At % break strength: 10%-7.8% 20%-11.3% 30%- 15.9%

New England Double braid nylon Elastic Elongation
At % break strength: 10%-3.5% 20%-5.6% 30%-8.5%

So if I have 150' of DB line 150 x 8.5% = 12.75 feet of give. PLUS the
small cantanary from the 150' chain and Im just fine.

So the question is my dear friend is................. how much play is
adiquite for a given boat and given wave chariteristeics and given
wind

For me 12 feet stretch is what I prefer. I havnt ripped any deck hard
wear off my boat nor have I parted any lines.

I hope this is detailed enough Willbur.




Three-strand molds and
mildews far less. Three strand is less expensive.

A folly of comparisons. You may be a broke ass nigga I on the other
hand have a sizable investment to protect. Me and my boat. I use
materials best paired with a system and application.


Only an ignorant sailor
thinks double-braid is the superior choice for an anchor rode.

Wilbur Hubbard

Go vist Samson or England Rope and look at the Professional Marine
products ..... chose anchoring and docking. While your looking review
the other specility line product catigories.
read and learn. Only the cookasses in Louisiana still use 3 strand for
dock n hang off lines cause they are too stupid to be able to read and
learn the DB splicing instructions. The more professional boat
companines.... such as Edison Chouest Offshore use plait lines. Why,
cause thoes boat companies have a higher percent of literate mariners.
plus they also have a pretty good inhouse training facility.

Three strand is something like the 'answering machine" It a buggy whip
of lines.


Time for you to get our to the stone age Wilbur. Time marches on.
Bob