Max anchor chain length

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jswesterman
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Posts: 22
Max anchor chain length

Hi,

I'm thinking of upgrading to an all chain anchor rode.  The boat is a Catalina 36 Mk II.

Currently I have 40' chain and 200' rope rode with a 33lbs SL Claw.  I sail on SF Bay and have no issues with dragging in reasonable conditions.

Planning to do more sailing and anchoring on the Pacific Coast and would like a more robust setup.  I'm thinking of upgrade to 250' all chain - more strength and more peace of mind.  Plus I've done a lot of anchoring with charter yachts with all chain and it's very easy to handle.

Also thinking of upgrading the anchor to a 44lbs SL Claw - still debating that.

I have a Maxwell VW800 windless so will be using 5/16" chain per the manual.

Was wondering if anyone else has carried this length of chain and their experiences.

Thanks,
Jeremy
 

Jeremy Westerman
"Odette", 2005 Catalina 36 Mk II, #2213
Benicia, CA

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HowLin
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I've got 180 ft chain backed up by 150 ft 5/8 rode on a Maxwell Freedom 800 windlass with 35lb genuine CQR.
 Seems to cover every situation for me.

---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----

--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----

--- 1999  C36 MkII  #1776 M35BC ---

Murray Hooper
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Posts: 3

Hi Jeremy, we sail in north west Mexico, mostly sand bottoms and small tides but often have 15 knots of night time winds. We us 200' of 5/16" chain with a 35lb. CQR and sleep well at night but have to use a rope snubber to stop the noise of the chain telegraphing up through the hull. The weight in the bow doesn't  seem to bother the boats performance.
Murray

Murray

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stu jackson c34
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My friend Steve’s Anchoring 101

The Rocna.  All 20kg of it with 100ft of chain.  The rest of the world can debate all they like.   When I pull into a place like Bodega Bay at midnight and the fog is so thick I can't see the jetty 50 feet away to make an entrance, I drop my hook in the rolling ocean swells with the surf crashing (Foster says it's like staying in a cheap Best Western beside the highway), and I sleep.  And in the morning I have a windlass to pull the beast up and I wouldn't trade it for anything.   (I also wouldn't add more chain - this works perfectly in 25 to 30 feet of water - you let all the chain out and you tie off nylon at the preferred scope and don't bother with snubbers and chain hooks and all that stuff...

This was our best upgrade.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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clennox
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Stu's set up is close to what I use. I would go all chain if I had the money.
I had a rode part at 60ft due to a 10 ft high rock . Had a friend this past weekend that lost his ground tackle  due to chafe at 50 ft.He and his wife happened to be awake when the line gave up.  He told his going all chain or not going out.
In our sailing group we are all talking about the best anchor alarms.  

Chuck Lennox
97 MKii Ventura Ca
Island Girl Hull #1611

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TomSoko
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Posts: 978

Jeremy,
Defender sells a "bucket" of chain (as I'm sure other places do), and the length of chain in the bucket is determined by the size of the chain.  The 5/16" chain bucket contains 90'.  I use that with 250' of 12-plait rode, and it all works well with my VW800.  For most overnights I use 100-125', which means the last 10-35' is rode, which acts as a snubber, to a cleat.  That, combined with a Rocna or Manson Supreme, and you will be very comfortable and secure. I agree completely with Stu's friend Steve.  My $0.02

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

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sseltzer
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Posts: 26

Trying not to derail this thread but what are your thoughts on 1/4" chain for our boats? I have 200 feet of High Test 1/4" with a 33 lb Rocna. I have a Maxwell VW500 which dictated the chain size.

Thanks,
Steve

'96 36 mkII #1569 Waltzing Matilda Channel Islands, CA

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Phil L
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Posts: 104

I too am at Channel Islands harbor and no way I'd overnight at Santa Cruz in 50kt winds at Smugglers with 1/4" .  I have 80' of 3/8" plus 300' of 5/8" rode and sleep well in those blows.

Phil L 
Southern Cross
Channel Islands, CA
C36MKI #400

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sseltzer
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Phil, what size/type anchor do you use?

Thanks,
Steve

'96 36 mkII #1569 Waltzing Matilda Channel Islands, CA

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clennox
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Steve
Are your sure you have a VW 500? I had one and it only had a Capstan (sp) No chain wheel . Maxwwell"s rep told me that I couldn't get a chain wheel for the 500. A lot of the 36s came with a VW 800 which most used 5/16 chain. Just curious.
Chuck

Chuck Lennox
97 MKii Ventura Ca
Island Girl Hull #1611

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sseltzer
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Hi Chuck,

Just checked and it is a VW500 and I am using 1/4" HT. Haven't had any issues so far but am definitely a fair weather sailor. Maybe an upgrade should be on my long list of upgrades.

Steve

'96 36 mkII #1569 Waltzing Matilda Channel Islands, CA

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