NOYB wrote in message
ink.net...

I just lost a nice Fortress anchor yesterday because I don't think I had
enough chain on the line while trying to use an Anchor buoy retrieval
system. I started powering forward at a 30 degree angle to the
line/anchor,
and the buoy normally pops it loose. In this case, the line apparently
dragged across some of the sharp relief (rocks ?) on the bottom and cut
through the rope like butter. I had on about 10 feet of chain...and now
wish
it was 15 feet.

As they advise in the power Squadron courses...the anchor chain length
should be equal to your boat LOA.

"Don White" wrote in message
...

NOYB wrote in message
ink.net...

I just lost a nice Fortress anchor yesterday because I don't think I had
enough chain on the line while trying to use an Anchor buoy retrieval
system. I started powering forward at a 30 degree angle to the
line/anchor,
and the buoy normally pops it loose. In this case, the line apparently
dragged across some of the sharp relief (rocks ?) on the bottom and cut
through the rope like butter. I had on about 10 feet of chain...and now
wish
it was 15 feet.

As they advise in the power Squadron courses...the anchor chain length
should be equal to your boat LOA.


Most of the time I'm fishing reefs in water shallower than the length of my
boat. I was tarpon fishing in 19 feet on Sunday when I lost my anchor. I'd
have mostly chain out rather than rope. 25 feet seems like a lot of chain
for a 5000 lb. 25' center console with a cuddy.

Famous last words......

Most of the time

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

Most of the time I'm fishing reefs in water shallower than the length of
my
boat. I was tarpon fishing in 19 feet on Sunday when I lost my anchor.
I'd
have mostly chain out rather than rope. 25 feet seems like a lot of chain
for a 5000 lb. 25' center console with a cuddy.


Even just dropping an anchor for fishing in 19 feet of water you'd probably
want a 3:1 ratio.
That's at least 60 feet of rode. We always put out 5:1 for the 9500 lb
mirage 33 I sail on.
On 100 ft of rode...the 33 feet of chain doesn't seem so bad.
When I pick up my Sandpiper 565 this weekend, (I hope) I'll be putting 19
feet of chain and about 100 feet of line on the anchor. Since the boat has
a retractable keel, I can anchor in shallow water.

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 Mon, 03 May 2004 14:07:54 GMT, "Ivan Yonge"
wrote:

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

Chain serves a dual purpose:

It prevents chafe on the rode as it scrapes along the bottom.

It adds to the ability of the anchor to remain set by providing extra
weight and by adding some shock absorbing.

Jack
__________________________________________________
Jack Dale
Swiftsure Sailing Academy
Director/ISPA and CYA Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free)
__________________________________________________

.....and due to its weight, it can also reduce the angle between the rode and
the sea/lake bed, which will help the anchor "bite" better. I've read this,
but I'm not sure how important it really is. Probably depends on the
prevailing conditions when you first drop anchor.

"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

...and due to its weight, it can also reduce the angle between the rode and
the sea/lake bed, which will help the anchor "bite" better. I've read this,
but I'm not sure how important it really is.

Critical.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
...and due to its weight, it can also reduce the angle between the rode
and
the sea/lake bed, which will help the anchor "bite" better. I've read
this,
but I'm not sure how important it really is.

Critical.

I wondered about it because (at least in my imagination), you could anchor
in a VERY stiff wind, which might straighten the rode so quickly that the
chain might not have the time to achieve the smaller angle. Who knows....

Back to my boring sandwich. Yawn........

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
....and due to its weight, it can also reduce the angle between the rode
and
the sea/lake bed, which will help the anchor "bite" better. I've read
this,
but I'm not sure how important it really is.

Until I lost that anchor yesterday, I thought your aforementioned reason was
*the* most important reason for rode. Now I see both reasons (prevent
strafe and reduce the pulling angle) are equally important.