Gould

Could I get an estimate of chain needed for my 31 foot ChrisCraft, all wood,
approximately 10,000 lbs.

If it were mine, I'd use at least 30 feet
of 1/2" chain, but you might "squeak by" with 3/8.

3/8 weighs about 14 pounds per ten feet.
1/2 weighs about 26.

That said, there are other factors to consider.

Where do you plan to anchor? If a lot of the prospective anchorages are fairly
deep, or crowded, you will want to use significantly more chain so that you're
not swinging a mile with every little shift in the wind or current. One of the
big advantages of more chain is that it your hook will continue to hold at low
scope levels that would fail in an all rope approach.

Out where I boat, we get 13-14 foot tide changes fairly routinely. Takes a bit
of noodlin' and a little more scope to be prepared for the impending additional
depth when anchoring at low tide.

"Chain" is not always chain. You're likely to have a windlass on a 30-footer,
so make sure you get a chain with properly configured links. Some chains, (BBB
for example), seem to mate up with the gypsy
more accurately.

On Mon, 03 May 2004 22:17:04 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

25 feet seems like a lot of chain
for a 5000 lb. 25' center console with a cuddy.

======================================

It is a lot for casual anchoring, about right for overnight,
unattended, or storm conditions. For fishing or a lunch hook, 4 to 6
feet of chain would be typical on a 24 footer.

On 04 May 2004 03:00:28 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:

Gould

Could I get an estimate of chain needed for my 31 foot ChrisCraft, all wood,
approximately 10,000 lbs.

If it were mine, I'd use at least 30 feet
of 1/2" chain, but you might "squeak by" with 3/8.

============================================

5/16ths HT chain would be my choice. It's about as strong as 3/8ths
but significantly lighter and less bulky. I used in on my 20,000 lb
Bertram with no problems at all.

Gould 0738 wrote:
I only have a six foot chain on the Parker 25. Lots of times I anchor in
shallow water, and I don't like the "all chain rode" a 25' chain would
give me.


Unless you're in less than 8 feet of water, you should have some rope out as
well.
Even at a short 3 to 1 scope, in 9 feet of wtaer you'd have 27 feet of rode
deployed...actually more if you follow good practice and take the distance
between the bow roller and the surface into account as well as the depth.

In terms of anchor rode scope, there are many times in which
practicality trumps "good practice." The amount of line I let out
depends upon the weather, current and tide conditions, the bottom, the
closeness of other boats or more solid objects, et cetera.

Gould

Thanks for the info...

I'll be anchoring only in temporary locations off the coast of Florida.
Mainly just when out to cruise, all other times she will be tied off in a
marina.

No windlass installed on her, but she does have a rather large anchorage
locker for chain stowage.

It appears, from the original equipment found onboard, that it was
originally set up with about 1/2 inch rope as the anchor line.

Keeps everything interesting, trying to locate what was supposed to be there
as I get the restoration completed.


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Gould

Could I get an estimate of chain needed for my 31 foot ChrisCraft, all
wood,
approximately 10,000 lbs.

If it were mine, I'd use at least 30 feet
of 1/2" chain, but you might "squeak by" with 3/8.

3/8 weighs about 14 pounds per ten feet.
1/2 weighs about 26.

That said, there are other factors to consider.

Where do you plan to anchor? If a lot of the prospective anchorages are
fairly
deep, or crowded, you will want to use significantly more chain so that
you're
not swinging a mile with every little shift in the wind or current. One of
the
big advantages of more chain is that it your hook will continue to hold at
low
scope levels that would fail in an all rope approach.

Out where I boat, we get 13-14 foot tide changes fairly routinely. Takes a
bit
of noodlin' and a little more scope to be prepared for the impending
additional
depth when anchoring at low tide.

"Chain" is not always chain. You're likely to have a windlass on a
30-footer,
so make sure you get a chain with properly configured links. Some chains,
(BBB
for example), seem to mate up with the gypsy
more accurately.

"NOYB" wrote in message
ink.net...


Gulp! 25 feet of chain? What diameter? Can you use a heavier chain to
get
away with a shorter rode? Remember, I don't have a windless.


"Rules of thumb" have their use, but they also have their limits.

As other people have pointed out, one primary reason for chain is that it is
much more resistant to abrasion, which is really important if you anchor in
coral or rocky areas. For sandy or muddy bottoms it is not so important.

Another reason for chain is that it makes the pull on the anchor more
horizontal. If you had no chain at all, when the boat pulled on the anchor
line it will straighten the line out between the boat and the anchor. The
angle you see the rope entering the water will be essentially the same as
the angle it is at when it reaches the anchor. The more vertical this angle
is the more it will want to pull the anchor UP instead of setting it deeper.

With chain, the weight of the chain will hold the line down. If you have
sufficient chain and sufficient scope you will never lift all the chain off
the bottom, and thus the pull on the anchor will always be horizontal. This
will make the anchor set deeper when it drags.

One way to achieve the same effect is to use a "caternary weight", which is
simply a heavy weight that is hanging from your anchor line between the boat
and the anchor. This pulls the rope down so that the pull on the anchor is
more horizontal.

This is all great and wonderful if you need to a good secure anchor. If you
are just dropping the hook for lunch or a little fishing and will be
observing your position all the time then you can usually get by with lots
less. Chain is a real bitch when you don't have a windlass and can be a
safety issue (it is a really bad idea to be handling chain under tension).
If the chain is longer than the water is deep then you may have to deal with
freeing a stuck anchor without being able to cleat it off. With rope it is
simple, you power up till you are over the anchor, cleat off the line and
then use the boat to power the anchor up. If you have reached the chain
when you are above the anchor then you need to have a hook handy so that you
can fasten the chain.

Rod

Bowgus is correct. the chain is a shock absorber. and the
anchor rope should be 7 times the depth of the water. Capt.
boots
"Bowgus" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
The weight of the chain acts as a shock absorber and the
length should be
minimum the length of the boat ... 18' boat, 18' chain.

Ivan Yonge wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
My friend told me to use Anchor chain to attach between
the anchor and the
rope.. what is the reason? I was trying to search on
Internet but
couldn't
find a good explanation. Can anyone tell me why please?
thanks

I.Y

great question!!
d
"Ivan Yonge" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
My friend told me to use Anchor chain to attach between the anchor and the
rope.. what is the reason? I was trying to search on Internet but
couldn't
find a good explanation. Can anyone tell me why please? thanks

I.Y

"djb" wrote in message
news
great question!!
d
"Ivan Yonge" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
My friend told me to use Anchor chain to attach between the anchor and
the
rope.. what is the reason? I was trying to search on Internet but
couldn't
find a good explanation. Can anyone tell me why please? thanks



1) It decreases the pulling angle on the anchor relative to the bottom, thus
improving the the ability of the anchor to *bite* the bottom better.

2) It serves as a shock absorber, helping to absorb the boat's movement due
to the wave action.

3) It provides abrasion resistance against sharp bottom structure.

4) It helps the anchor drop straight down, rather than "sailing" when
there's a strong current.

1) It decreases the pulling angle on the anchor relative to the bottom, thus
improving the the ability of the anchor to *bite* the bottom better.

not really, except under lite wind conditions. Then it is true.