Well, now have the entire system setup and working nicely.
The Mantus M1 really sticks to the bottom nicely and the new chain is running through the
windlass perfectly.
Additional observations with regard to stern hook.
Just for fun tried a 35 pound
delta off the stern in 20 feet of
water, 30 feet of chain, and 300 feet of line. Was primarily trying to keep the stern from moving around when the
wind was light and end up with the stern into the small waves coming in.
The
boat with a light current/wind happily drug the 35 pound delta all over the anchorage. Reset it several times but just would not consistently hold. It would definitely set and be solid but 55000lbs of
boat tugging just would pop it out of the bottom eventually.
Tried the same thing with a 44lb bruce and 30 feet of chain, 300 feet of line and held nicely. However, the extra weight was enough to make retrieval from the dingy a real struggle.
May end up with 44lb Bruce and a large
Aluminum Fortress (which I don't currently have) as stern hook alternatives.
I wonder what the spade was for (came with the boat, might have just been a really good dingy hook?