The are no answers to boats. We want to think so but then there's another question as soon as you thought you had the answer. Each person goes with whatever they know as far as that knowing takes you.
The affordability of chain may sat you back in other
equipment you would be better off with.
Setting the
GPS alarm will warn you if you can or know how to set it. Practice when you don't need it so when you do it's dialed in. Chain is a pain on
bottom paint and goes R_RRR_RRRR__RRR at every tide change. Chain is heavy and I am old. Better buy the windless with the proper
gypsy, (not all chain fits the windless). I once saw a schooner dragging anchor through the fleet and it had no chain at all. One must have some chain to anchor or it will not get any grip. I am in love with a girl who stops when I jump off to cleat her and she co-oprerates. To have 300 feet of chain one must have very LARGE boat and a strong bow locker to hold it. It should be low in the boat or it will hobby horse or roll.
There are many sorts of anchors, many kinds of ground to anchor too. I have the new Rockna as well as a host of others. Affording the weight for multiple anchors is heavy, add the chain and it is a big investment for a
small boat, (I need room for my Hormel chili).
The anchor is the international sign of good luck for a reason. The
wind and
water are the two most dynamic forces on the planet so getting a boat to stop can be a chore of some magnitude.
There are choices you make in the boatyard before going. They are the guess's and you'd better be right. That said there are no perfect solutions there are only
trade offs.
Sorry, that's the way of the sea.