Chain length

[schoonerdog]

For those who are doing more than coastal cruising, and Multihulls only please, how much chain do you carry? In our previous boat we had 33 ft of chain and would target an anchor depths of around 6 ft deep in places without too significant a tide (southern US, chesapeake, bahamas, cuba).

It seems the perfect amount really, we would always let out all the chain and then rolling hitch a bridle onto the rode. The rode and bridle would absorb the shocks, and we were able to ride to storms very easily. Our new boat has 100 ft of chain but the same draft of 3 ft as our older PDQ 36 which I was thinking of shortening to around 50 ft, but many warn of the problems with deep anchorages. I know that many catamaran owners have to face the same trade off.

Let's have your reasons!

[gosstyla]

47ft cat. Started with 100ft chain + 300ft line for primary anchor and 50ft chain for first down.

However, boat squats and cruising weight is a few 1,000lbs under max weight so decided to change to 300ft all chain for primary.

[sv_makai]

250' all chain primary, 80 foot chain and rhode secondary. I will be changing the secondary for all chain when I add the second winch into the starboard sail locker.

Makai's chain locker is at the base of the mast near the center of the boat. Helps the balance.

[schoonerdog]

Capt. Bill,

What's your main reason for changing to all chain on the secondary anchor? Convenience with the anchor windless?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by schoonerdog

For those who are doing more than coastal cruising, and Multihulls only please, how much chain do you carry? In our previous boat we had 33 ft of chain and would target an anchor depths of around 6 ft deep in places without too significant a tide (southern US, chesapeake, bahamas, cuba).
...

I didn't vote, cause I'm not a multi. The answer depends a lot on where you plan to cruise. If you are sticking with the areas you mentioned above, you just don't need a lot of chain. You really do have options to anchor in 6ft of water. Try that in Alaska or the PNW and the 12-15 ft tide will get in your way. Try it in the S. Pacific and you'll find a fair number of places that require much deeper anchoring along with coral issues - shallow draft or not.

Paul L

[Ram]

130' of chain to 300' nylon rode as my Primary & 40' chain to 350 nylon rode. second & third is 300' nylon only

Ram

[Kapena]

Paul summed it up nicely!

I have 250 feet all chain primary, 150 feet chain with 150 rope for the second. South Pacific you need to be able to anchor deep.

Been in blows where I wish I had another 100 feet of chain but in the carib I'd cut everything back to 100 feet.

Just a note....when calculating scope remember to add the deck height to the bottom depth. In 6 feet of water with a deck height of 6 feet the total is 12 feet for the depth. Means 36 feet of rode for a 3:1 in calm conditions and 84 feet of rode (or more) in weather. My preference under any conditions (except severe) is 7:1 due to windage. Severe I put out everything I own. It's not doing any good sitting in the anchor locker.

[Tnflakbait]

Where are all the deep anchorages in the S Pacific? I can't remember anchoring in deeper than 40 ft.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Tnflakbait

Where are all the deep anchorages in the S Pacific? I can't remember anchoring in deeper than 40 ft.

The original poster was discussing anchoring in 6 feet water. Compared to 6 ft, 40 ft is deep. Anchoring in 6 ft is common in the Bahamas.

Paul L

[maxingout]

I am a Privilege 39 catamaran, and I used 200 feet of 3/8 inch high test chain during an eleven year circumnavigation. We regalvanized the chain twice - once in New Zealand and once in Australia. If I do another circumnavigation, I will use the same chain, but regalvanize it again before I set sail.

An all chain rode is absolutely necessary when anchoring in coral. I have seen yachts lost who used a combined chain and rope anchor rode in the South Pacific.

Equally important is the type of anchor. Not all anchors are created equal. Our final and definitive solution to the anchoring puzzle was to get a 70 pound Beugel anchor. 200 feet of chain and a 70 pound Beugel make an awesome combination for our style of cruising.

Cheers

[Kapena]

How about Hunga in Tonga? Probably the best shelter in the Vava'u group. 80 feet though there is small shelf that a single boat can anchor on that's 50 feet. Half of Tonga is 30 feet at a MINIMUM. Hawai'i has quite a few anchorages minimum of 30 feet. Niue is another place you need to dump everything you have overboard, hoping it's enough, if you aren't lucky enough to have a mooring available.

[ssullivan]

I didn't vote, since I'm currently "coastal cruising" while chartering.

My primary system is 200' of 3/8" BBB chain spliced to another 200' of 5/8" rode.

I'm pretty sure this would work cruising along foreign coasts as well.

[ssullivan]

Oh jeez... multihulls only... Sorry! Didn't see that. Ignore my post.

[Dunkers]

Sean, I guess that us mono-hulls use different anchoring criteria??!!!! The matter is universal really no matter what hull configuration you have, carry as much chain as you can and forget 6ft of chain and nine miles of rope - chain is what counts and gives you a good night's sleep.

[slomotion]

Agree with Dunkers, I like all chain. But, I only have monohull experience and achor mostly in shallow waters - 30' wouldn't be enough, but 100' is usually plenty. Do multihulls have different scope rules? Do you use bridles instead of snubbers?