Anchor poll

[ConchyDug]

8 plait lays better and also works with some windlasses and I bet has a higher breaking strength. On the other hand 8 plait is impossible to splice after it's been used for a while, say you get a chafe in it and want to cut that off and resplice further up the rode(I couldn't pull the twisted pairs thru because of the friction, the splice just wouldn't evenly lay).

3 strand is super easy to splice even after being used for a while, but it gets stiff after it ages. Double braided anchor rode is easy to splice and easy on the hands(they make stretchy double braid rode).

Before I installed the windlass I oversized the rope not for strength but for better grip when hand hauling. I had a 35lb Bruce, 60' of 5/16" chain and like 5/8" or bigger anchor rode. We have really silty mud and grabbing a 1/2" muddy anchor rode is like grabbing a comically long eel. I also found having a chain lock when hand hauling helped break the anchors hold when I couldn't by hand.

 

[AK67]

I'm about to buy new rode & chain; want to check a last time before committing the money. Advice appreciated.

Boat: E34, 13,500 lb.
Area: Northern CA coast (Drakes Bay, etc.), and emergencies/coastal lee shore.
Anchor: I have a primary 22 lb CQR style; may move eventually to a 15kg Rocna/Mantus style, but maybe not. Sizing chain and rode for the heavier anchor (15 kg /33 lb) in case I do.
Note: I have a secondary/lunch hook Fortress with 150' 1/2" 3-strand rode for inside SF Bay. I'll eventually put a few (10-20) feet of chain on that. However, this post is about the primary.

Questions:

Rode type: 8-plait. West Marine tells me Yale Cordage's 'Brait' is the thing... but it is $3/ft. Defender no longer does splices, and I am unsure of my ability to get the splice fully correct as it will be my first (and probably only) 8-plait splice, and yet if I mess up I'm aground at the worst time.

--> Do you suggest other brands? Yale says theirs ("Brait") absorbs more energy (reads: stretches, I assume) more than 3-strand, which seems good.
--> Is splicing 8-plait to chain really simple enough that a few hours and the right fid do it? Or should I just pay extra for WM?

Rode: dia. -- 5/8" based on prior discussion in this thread, unless you advise otherwise. (Will also get chafing gear; thanks @Gaviate !)

Rode: length: 250' -- unless one of you tells me different. I can see an argument for 300', but the E34 has a very small anchor locker... Expected max anchoring depth is 50', which would be ~ 6:1 scope at 250' (if one includes the chain.) Obviously more scope if it's shallower.

Chain: 5/16", length 35' ??? -- advice desired on this and rode length. No windlass, so lifting the chain and even the 22lb anchor seems like a lot. With a bigger anchor it rapidly seems close to untenable in anything less than a calm (50' chain + 35 lb anchor -- 85 lb? By hand? You see why I'd prefer a 22 lb anchor and 35' chain...) I'd like to go as short on chain as anyone thinks is safe, but figuring that length out is part of why I am posting this.

Many thanks!

FWIW and I realize you're on the left coast, but Hamilton Marine here in Maine (my go-to chandlery) will splice to your order. They are top notch and serve our commercial fisher/lobstermen and recreational boaters https://hamiltonmarine.com/splicing/

 

[Prairie Schooner]

. . . I also found having a chain lock when hand hauling helped break the anchors hold when I couldn't by hand.

Doug,
What do you mean by a chain lock? New term to me.
Jeff

 

[AK67]

Doug,
What do you mean by a chain lock? New term to me.
Jeff

Probably something like this: https://www.westmarine.com/lewmar-s...el-stopper-1-4inch-3-8inch-chain-9397258.html

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Probably something like this: https://www.westmarine.com/lewmar-s...el-stopper-1-4inch-3-8inch-chain-9397258.html

Ahh, like a ratchet!

 

[bsangs]

Interesting thread development-- I had to look up "8-plait" for anchoring purposes; turns out it is indeed a 'thing'.
I use three strand nylon, always recommended for its stretch. Am I missing out on a technology advance in anchor lines? i.e. is this an upgrade or just an alternative?

In our case Loren it's mainly because 8-plait is very windlass friendly. Was recommended to me by a representative of Maxwell, the makers of our windlass. Very easy on the hands, stays soft and pliable, even after having been exposed to salt water and drying. Stretches well too. Grew up using three strand on many boats, and always hated how stiff it would become after a short time, so I find 8-plait to be a pleasure.

 

[p.gazibara]

Use is mainly emergency off the Northern CA coast (Monterey to PT. Reyes, roughly). That is unfriendly territory.

Secondary use is rare anchoring in (e.g.) Drake's Bay, which is not a super protected anchorage, and prone to high winds (20-30 ish).

*** NO windlass ! ***

Not world cruising.

I'm thinking (and still reading advice about 250' 8-plait rode, 30' 5/16" chain. Trying to decide whether 1/2" or 5/8" of 8-plait.

--> "recommended" is 35-70' of chain; Yale Cordage suggests 37-40'. But...
Earl Hinz, author of the famous book, says "chain weight at least as much as anchor", so again only ~ 30-35' at 1 lb/ft and a max. (future) anchor of 33lb.
Hinz also says 1/2" 3-strand rode is best for ~ 36' boats like ours, as the stretch is a big factor in secure anchoring. Yale cordage makes a similar point. Per Hinz, oversizing rode results in less stretch and larger shock loads on the boat/anchor, reducing anchoring security. Of course, someone above pointed out that they feel better with 5/8" on a bad night, which I totally understand. @p.gazibara's use to two anchors seems to be the obvious way to reduce fear of one 1/2" parting if chafe gear fails... maybe I should go w/ 1/2" rode on the primary, and just get longer rode for the secondary and plan to double up in an emergency.

I’d expect 1/2” is plenty, but 5/8 may let you sleep better. Either way, we typically set the second anchor astern to line you up with the swell. Makes life much more comfortable.

-p

 

[Prairie Schooner]

I’d expect 1/2” is plenty, but 5/8 may let you sleep better. Either way, we typically set the second anchor astern to line you up with the swell. Makes life much more comfortable.

-p

I haven't had much experience anchoring. This is probably a stupid question, but do you mean line up perpendicular or parallel to the swell?

 

[mjsouleman]

Mine is a Racnor 20 (44 lbs) Galvanized Fixed Shank Scoop Anchor with 250 ft of 5/16 chain. She held in sand and mud in high winds at Block Island and Sandy Hook New Jersey during two recent blows.

 

[p.gazibara]

I haven't had much experience anchoring. This is probably a stupid question, but do you mean line up perpendicular or parallel to the swell?

Perpendicular, really helps ease the rolling motion when the bow takes on the wave.

Ah, the cruising days!
-p

 

[N.A.]

Hell Loren-

Hinz (Handbook of Anchoring and Mooring book guy) recommends 3-strand due to its stretch and abrasion resistance, but also prceded these new rode types. However, literally everyone I have talked to suggests, rather strongly, "8-plait", which doesn't hockle or get stiff with age. The go-to brand seems to be New England Ropes' 'Megaplait II', but Yale Cordage makes 'Brait', which they claim (with zero data presented) "absorbs 75% more energy than" other rodes. I am not sure how energy absorption is defined here, i.e., whether that means it can stretch more without passing the breaking / damage limit or what, or what their elongation under load is -- stretchier is better per Hinz. A seemingly knowledgeable person at Westmarine said the Yale 'Brait' was a clearly higher-quality product, but what defined higher quality here I do not know. These various non-three-strand options are also used for their properties running through windlasses; some windlass manufatcurers apparently recommend Yale's offering as working especially well.

Which rodes work best for the actual security of the anchor setting is an unknown (to me), but for convenince 3-strand seems to have lost the batttle many years ago.

 

[toddster]

FWIW, after living on anchor for three years, (and counting) I found that neither 3-strand or 8-plait would play nice with either Anchorlift or Lewmar windlasses (on my two boats). They both needed to be hand-tailed. (8-plait works OK when dry, but then again, it's always wet and slimy when coming up, isn't it?)
I ended up going with all chain.

 

[Solarken]

Old thread… anyone still able to see this? Wow big anchors ⚓️

I’ll go on if any interests.

 

[Solarken]

Hell Loren-

Hinz (Handbook of Anchoring and Mooring book guy) recommends 3-strand due to its stretch and abrasion resistance, but also prceded these new rode types. However, literally everyone I have talked to suggests, rather strongly, "8-plait", which doesn't hockle or get stiff with age. The go-to brand seems to be New England Ropes' 'Megaplait II', but Yale Cordage makes 'Brait', which they claim (with zero data presented) "absorbs 75% more energy than" other rodes. I am not sure how energy absorption is defined here, i.e., whether that means it can stretch more without passing the breaking / damage limit or what, or what their elongation under load is -- stretchier is better per Hinz. A seemingly knowledgeable person at Westmarine said the Yale 'Brait' was a clearly higher-quality product, but what defined higher quality here I do not know. These various non-three-strand options are also used for their properties running through windlasses; some windlass manufatcurers apparently recommend Yale's offering as working especially well.

Which rodes work best for the actual security of the anchor setting is an unknown (to me), but for convenince 3-strand seems to have lost the batttle many years ago.

I will only use 3 strand. NER is a good brand. I see this is new Post.
Ericson data on my 32-2 “75” says 10kg is storm anchor. ⚓️ I use a 12kg Vulcan Rocna on 100’ of 5/16” HT chain plus 220’ of ⅝” 3 strand. Mud, sand, rock mix, sea grass and so on. This is the best setup I’ve found. Even with an anchor rollover it just resets in a blink. Scope is a factor but this gear digs in good and holds.
tight spot but hooked well at this point.

hope you are all well.

 

[gabriel]

I will only use 3 strand. NER is a good brand. I see this is new Post.
Ericson data on my 32-2 “75” says 10kg is storm anchor. ⚓️ I use a 12kg Vulcan Rocna on 100’ of 5/16” HT chain plus 220’ of ⅝” 3 strand. Mud, sand, rock mix, sea grass and so on. This is the best setup I’ve found. Even with an anchor rollover it just resets in a blink. Scope is a factor but this gear digs in good and holds.
tight spot but hooked well at this point.

hope you are all well.

When it’s time to weight anchor, is it hard to break loose?

 

[Solarken]

When it’s time to weight anchor, is it hard to break loose?

Not if I pul it up snug and drive over it easy.

 

[Bepi]

Hinged plow. I have had excellent luck anchoring with it, though only in mud and sand, but I have a giant Danforth in case of rocks.

 

[kapnkd]

The best performing anchor for me early on in Florida and Bahamian sandy bottom waters was the light weight easy to handle aluminum style Danforth.

With 25’ of chain, it always grabbed and held - even through a summer storm with 90 plus mph winds!

We still have and use it, but now also have a built in bow roller with a traditional plow and an electric winch that takes pity on my aging back.

 

[AK67]

Apologies if there's a separate thread, but what are the Ericson Hivemind's thoughts on anchor swivels? Recently installed one, only to see an article in Practical Boat Owner (UK) on stainless steel corrosion and failure, showing complete failure (with sobering tale) of the exact type due to sideloading.

 

[bsangs]

Apologies if there's a separate thread, but what are the Ericson Hivemind's thoughts on anchor swivels? Recently installed one, only to see an article in Practical Boat Owner (UK) on stainless steel corrosion and failure, showing complete failure (with sobering tale) of the exact type due to sideloading.

Our boat came with an anchor swivel, but I removed it a few years back after reading something similar. However, the previous owner spent his summers anchored in Block Island with the swivel attached and never had any issues.