just for kicks, ask yourself what happens to a boat that is *chained* to a
dock.

Eventually the repo man shows up and tows it away? :-)

Seriously, If you use a long enough, and heavy enough chain here's what will
happen..............

The wind or current might set the boat off the dock, beginning a process that
will attempt to pull the chain into a horizontal position between the dock and
the boat. The unsupported weight in the middle of the chain is exerting equal
lateral force on the boat and the dock. The dock isn't going anyhwhere (hope
hope hope) so something has to give in response to that force. What gives, is
before the limit of the chain is reached the increasing weight of the belly in
the chain either stabilizes the set off of the boat or causes it to drift back
toward the fixed end at the dock.

just for kicks, ask yourself what happens to a boat that is *chained* to a
dock.


Gould 0738 wrote:
Eventually the repo man shows up and tows it away? :-)

And you wouldn't have to worry about chafe. Of course, the marina might
take a dim view of your dockchain sawing through their pilings, but hey,
you're paying them right?

DSK

the marina might
take a dim view of your dockchain sawing through their pilings

in wind and waves, the chain will tear the decks chock and/or the dock chocks
loose. At least that is the experience of the US Navy.

Next time I take my oil rig out for a spin..

you might want to check out just how the oil rigs are anchored. There is a
simiplified, 380 page overview of catenaries (in the context of oil rigs)
available for a mere $1,015, plus shipping and handling.

are we anchoring at the dock? You
equate anchoring with tying up to a dock? Reaching again, aren't we?


so, all chain to the dock is NOT okay, and all chain to a rock onshore is also
NOT okay but all chain to a rock on the bottom is?

Why is that?

Why, then, pray tell, do they make anchor chain, chain windlasses, and
hardware specifically designed to attach chain to anchors?


because fat, weak, lazy old men will buy them.Why, then, pray tell, do they
make anchor chain, chain windlasses, and
hardware specifically designed to attach chain to anchors?

Is everyone misguided, save you?

my opinion is no different that the physicists, US Mil Spec and the oil rig
designers.

Seriously, If you use a long enough, and heavy enough chain here's what will
happen..............


[snip the lazy b/s]

NObody chains a boat to a dock. Not even the US Navy with its warships. They
rope. Always.