Minimum chain length for the pacific

[FSmith]

What is the minimum length of chain would you consider having for crossing the pacific. I'm assuming an all chain rode is prudent.

[thinwater]

Try the search function. It will be faster.


I think you will find people have used every imaginable rig and they will all have strong opinions;0.

[boatman61]

100metres.. and 100ft of rode in the cockpit locker.

[Greg4cocokai]

Originally Posted by boatman61

100metres.. and 100ft of rode in the cockpit locker.

+1 all chain

[Shoalbay]

I used 250' of chain for North Pacific circumnavigation. 200' would have been barely adequate.

[onavegador]

I had 90 metres and it worked, but as boatman61 wrote a 100 metres give some more choice of anchrages.

[canyonbat]

The Pacific is a big place with wildly different anchoring conditions. In the Pacific Northwest we have 250 ft of chain plus 200 ft of rope. We have used all of it a few times.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by FSmith

What is the minimum length of chain would you consider having for crossing the pacific. I'm assuming an all chain rode is prudent.

300 feet of chain should cover all sins with the primary windlass. My secondary is 300 feet of 3/4" 3-strand nylon line plus 25 feet of chain.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[myocean]

We had 100m but others have been ok with 80.
It starts already being important at the very first anchorage after Galapagos: Fatu Hiva anchorage is deep (you can be lucky with a 20m spot), has a rocky bottom and there are nasty winds coming down from the mountains.

[gjordan]

I believe that the OP is talking about a multihull and they are more sensitive to loading than our lead mines. I would think 300 feet of chain on a cat would have a significant performance problem. I prefer all chain but I think 200 or a little more, with a good long length of nylon would work fine. In deep anchorages where you might need a lot of scope the nylon would never reach the bottom (rocks or coral heads) and would work safely. The other end of the idea is that some people think you can go around the world with 30 foot of chain and the rest nylon. I consider that to be dangerous. Like all things on CF, this is just my opinion. Grant.

[tarian]

From what I have read, as I plan this journey soon and Have researched a lot
it is between 80 to 100 m of chain this will be adequate for 99% of anchorages and should see you ok .
as always there are those that are over cautious and under , but on average I have never heard of anyone taking more than 100 meters

[Cpt Mark]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Try the search function. It will be faster.


I think you will find people have used every imaginable rig and they will all have strong opinions;0.

Sailors having a strong opinion? What sort of nonsense is that LOL

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by myocean

We had 100m but others have been ok with 80.
It starts already being important at the very first anchorage after Galapagos: Fatu Hiva anchorage is deep (you can be lucky with a 20m spot), has a rocky bottom and there are nasty winds coming down from the mountains.

So choose another island.. Nuku Hiva I anchored in 8metres and sand..
The charts tell all.. just need to plan for what you have, its all pretty simple..
Cater for where you want to go.

[FSmith]

Originally Posted by tarian

From what I have read, as I plan this journey soon and Have researched a lot
it is between 80 to 100 m of chain this will be adequate for 99% of anchorages and should see you ok .
as always there are those that are over cautious and under , but on average I have never heard of anyone taking more than 100 meters

Thank you all for the information. As gjordan mentioned, we have a cat and I woukd like to carry the minimal amount of chain that would be necessary in most situations.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by boatman61

So choose another island.. Nuku Hiva I anchored in 8metres and sand..
The charts tell all.. just need to plan for what you have, its all pretty simple..
Cater for where you want to go.

Right.


And you don't need anything for the crossing.


Only when you end up somewhere...